Atlas of Battles

battle, medieval

Battle of Polvoraria

Battle of Polvoraria was a battle fought in AD 878 in what is now Spain. The recorded result: Asturian victory.

See it on the globe Read the article

Rio Orbigo
Rio Orbigo. Alberto Sangil, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
FoughtAD 878
WhereSpain41.966N, 5.682W
OutcomeAsturian victory
BelligerentsKingdom of AsturiasagainstEmirate of Córdoba
Casualties and lossesunknownand12,000-13,000 killed (probably exaggerated)

Record

DateAD 878 (year precision)
PlaceSpain
41.966N, 5.682W
KindBattle, medieval
Casualties and lossesunknown12,000-13,000 killed (probably exaggerated)
Commanders
  • Alfonso III of Asturias
  • Muhammad I of Córdoba
Battle of PolvorariaBattle of PolvorariaBattle of ÓrbigoBattle of BenaventeBattle of VillagodioBattle of LobregalSiege of ZamoraBattle of BenaventeBattle of VillagodioBattle of LobregalSiege of ZamoraOurenseBurgosSalamancaLeónBragançaVila Real100 km41.966N, 5.682W
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

Contested ground: this site was fought over 3 times between AD 456 and 1808.

Elsewhere in AD 878

Battle of Polvoraria is one of 169 engagements of the 9th century in the atlas and one of 1,070 in present-day Spain.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q17622621, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Polvoraria, revision 1380302754, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.