Andalusian campaign (1133)

The Andalusian campaign of 1133 was a military expedition launched by Alfonso VII of León and Castile against the Almoravid-held territories in Al-Andalus (present-day southern Spain). The campaign primarily targeted the region around Seville and involved raids and sieges, aimed at weakening Almoravid control and extracting tribute. While Alfonso VII achieved some initial successes, including the capture of towns and the acquisition of plunder, the campaign ultimately failed to achieve a decisive strategic victory. The Almoravids remained in control of the major cities, and the Leonese forces eventually withdrew due to logistical challenges and the resilience of Almoravid defenses. The campaign, however, demonstrated the growing power of the Christian kingdoms in the Iberian Peninsula and contributed to the weakening of the Almoravid dynasty, which would eventually be replaced by the Almohad Caliphate. Sources for this campaign are often fragmented and derived from chronicles written on both the Christian and Muslim sides, requiring careful analysis to reconstruct events.