Atlas of Battles

siege, medieval

Siege of Silves

Siege of Silves was a siege conducted in 1189 at Silves, in what is now Portugal. Its exact site is not recorded; the atlas places it at Silves. It was part of the Almohad wars in the Iberian Peninsula, which ran from 1172 to 1212. The recorded result: Portuguese–Crusader victory. Recorded strength: 75 ships; 3,500 crusaders; + Portuguese army against 15,800 inhabitants; 400 prisoners.

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Portuguese: D. Sancho aceitando a capitulação aos mouros de Silves, os salva depois do furôr das tropas vencedorastitle QS:P1476,pt:"D. Sancho aceitando a capitulação aos mouros de Silves, os salva de
Portuguese: D. Sancho aceitando a capitulação aos mouros de Silves, os salva depois do furôr das tropas vencedorastitle QS:P1476,pt:"D. Sancho aceitando a capitulação aos mouros de Silves, os salva de. Roque Gameiro, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought1189
WhereSilves, Portugal37.183N, 8.433W, placed at the location, approximate
OutcomePortuguese–Crusader victory
BelligerentsKingdom of Portugal; Crusaders from northern EuropeagainstAlmohad Caliphate
Part ofAlmohad wars in the Iberian Peninsula1172 to 1212

Where it sits in the Almohad wars in the Iberian Peninsula

Battle of Palmela, 1165Battle of Fahs al-Jullab, 1165Siege of Santarém, 1171Battle of Calatrava, 1173Conquest of Cuenca, 1177Siege of Abrantes, 1179Capture of Coruche, 1180Battle of Cape Espichel, 1180Siege of Évora, 1181Battle of Silves, 1182Siege of Cáceres, 1184Siege of Santarém, 1184Siege of Silves, 1189Siege of Silves, 1190Siege of Tomar, 1190Siege of Alcácer do Sal, 1191Siege of Silves, 1191Battle of Alarcos, 1195Siege of Al-Dāmūs, 1210Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, 1212Fall of Ubeda, 121211651212Siege of Silves, 1189
22 placed engagements of the Almohad wars in the Iberian Peninsula in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date1189 (year precision)
to 1189
PlaceSilves, Portugal
37.183N, 8.433W
KindSiege, medieval
Territorial changeSilves and ten other castles in al-Gharb acquired by Portugal
Strength75 ships; 3,500 crusaders; + Portuguese army15,800 inhabitants; 400 prisoners
Commanders
  • Sancho I of Portugal
Siege of SilvesSiege of SilvesSiege of SilvesBattle of LagosBattle of Cape St. VincentBattle of Cape St. VincentAction of 30 September 1681Battle of LagosBattle of Cape St. VincentBattle of Cape St. VincentHuelvaBeja100 km37.183N, 8.433W
Placed at Silves; the exact site is not recorded. with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1189

Siege of Silves is one of 438 engagements of the 12th century in the atlas and one of 135 in present-day Portugal.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q65166689, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Siege of Silves (1189), revision 1384380661, 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.