Siege of Lisbon
1147 · Lisbon (in today's Portugal) · World · Medieval
After a siege of about four months, the garrison surrendered in late October, and Lisbon passed to the Kingdom of Portugal.
Belligerents
Kingdom of Portugal and Scandinavian crusaders
- Commanders
- Afonso I of Portugal (Afonso Henriques)
- Strength
- Over 10,000 crusaders, plus the Portuguese army
Lisbon garrison
- Commanders
- City governor (name unknown)
- Strength
- Unknown
Background
During the Second Crusade, a fleet of English, Flemish and German crusaders bound for the Holy Land put in at Porto, where Afonso I of Portugal (Afonso Henriques) persuaded them to help attack Lisbon, promising that the spoils of war would go to the crusaders.
Course of the battle
- Fleet sails southThe crusader fleet sailed south from Porto and joined Afonso's land army at the mouth of the Tagus.
- The SiegeThe allied forces blockaded the city, built siege towers and dug mines, and the city gradually ran out of food.
- Surrender and sackThe garrison agreed to surrender, but after entering the city the crusaders plundered it extensively, and many inhabitants died in the epidemics and massacres that followed.
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 1147 |
|---|---|
| Place | Lisbon (in today's Portugal) |
| Result | After a siege of about four months, the garrison surrendered in late October, and Lisbon passed to the Kingdom of Portugal. |
| Winner | Kingdom of Portugal and Scandinavian crusaders |
| Casualties | No exact records; after the city fell the crusaders broke the terms and plundered it, and the defending population suffered heavy losses. |
| Territorial change | Portugal's southern border advanced to the Tagus, and Lisbon later became the capital of Portugal. |
Impact
It was the only significant victory of the Second Crusade, and the most crucial battle of the Portuguese Reconquista.
See the world in 1147 on the map →