Battle of Torà
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Torà was a defensive battle of the Reconquista
, fought between an alliance of Catalonian
counts and an army of the Caliphate of Córdoba
in 1003 at Torà
, Lleida
. The main source for the battle is Andrew of Fleury
, who probably received his information, which is detailed and generally accurate, during a trip to Catalonia. He incorporated the account in his Miracula sancti Benedicti around 1043.
The four Christian counts of the battle were Raymond Borell of Barcelona, Bernard I of Besalú
, Wifred II of Cerdagne, and Ermengol I of Urgell
. The German historian of the Crusades Carl Erdmann
supposed the leader of the Muslim army to be Abdelmelik
, the son of the recently deceased hajib
Almanzor. When Andrew records that the caliph himself, then Hisham II, died in the encounter, he is probably rehearsing a local legend. The battle is not dated precisely by any chronicler, but the names of the counts (all given by Andrew) restrict it to between the years 992 and 1010. A date of 1003 has been deduced by Erdmann from other accounts that a Muslim army moved through the County of Barcelona and passed into the south of the County of Urgell in the summer of 1003. The exact location of the battle, Thoranum castrum (the castle, or fortified place, of Torà), is given by Andrew. The Muslims, according to both Latin and Arabic
sources, were defeated and one of their leading men killed. The Muslims retreated to their own territory, where a second battle was fought at Albesa
. The result of this second battle is unclear, but it was the end of the brief war, and possibly the campaigning season.
Importantly, Andrew reports the battle in terms as if describing a holy war
. The Muslims, whose numbers he puts at 17,000, are "new Philistines
". Bernard of Besalú he quotes as reasoning that if the saints Peter
and Michael and the Virgin Mary each kill 5,000 Muslims, there will be a manageable number left for the soldiers. Bernard recalls that the Muslims are often slain before they have a chance to retreat. According to Andrew, after the battle the Virgin Mary miraculously brought news of the Christian victory to as far away as Monte Sant'Angelo
. Despite the theme of religious warfare, Spanish historians have not picked up on Andrew's account.
Reconquista
The Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
, fought between an alliance of Catalonian
Principality of Catalonia
The Principality of Catalonia , is a historic territory in the northeastern Iberian Peninsula, mostly in Spain and with an adjoining portion in southern France....
counts and an army of the Caliphate of Córdoba
Caliphate of Córdoba
The Caliphate of Córdoba ruled the Iberian peninsula and part of North Africa, from the city of Córdoba, from 929 to 1031. This period was characterized by remarkable success in trade and culture; many of the masterpieces of Islamic Iberia were constructed in this period, including the famous...
in 1003 at Torà
Torà
Torà is a town and municipality in the North East of the comarca of Segarra, in the province of Lleida, Catalonia, Spain. The urban structure of the center has retained most of its original design, with narrow, twisting streets and blocks formed by rows of attached buildings. The Medieval town...
, Lleida
Lleida
Lleida is a city in the west of Catalonia, Spain. It is the capital city of the province of Lleida, as well as the largest city in the province and it had 137,387 inhabitants , including the contiguous municipalities of Raimat and Sucs. The metro area has about 250,000 inhabitants...
. The main source for the battle is Andrew of Fleury
Andrew of Fleury
Andrew of Fleury was a Christian monk and contemporary historian of the Peace and Truce of God movements.A Benedictine at Fleury Abbey, Andrew's chief work was Miracula sancti Benedicti , written c.1043...
, who probably received his information, which is detailed and generally accurate, during a trip to Catalonia. He incorporated the account in his Miracula sancti Benedicti around 1043.
The four Christian counts of the battle were Raymond Borell of Barcelona, Bernard I of Besalú
Bernard I of Besalú
Bernard I , called Taillefer , was the Count of Besalú in Catalonia from 988 until his death...
, Wifred II of Cerdagne, and Ermengol I of Urgell
Ermengol I of Urgell
Ermengol I , called el de Córdoba, was the Count of Urgell from 992 to his death. He was the second son of Borrell II of Barcelona and his first wife, Letgarda...
. The German historian of the Crusades Carl Erdmann
Carl Erdmann
Carl Erdmann was a German historian who specialized in medieval political and intellectual history. He is noted in particular for his study of the origins of the idea of crusading in medieval Latin Christendom, as well as his work on letter collections and correspondence among secular and...
supposed the leader of the Muslim army to be Abdelmelik
Abd al-Malik al-Muzaffar
Abd al-Malik al-Muzaffar was hajib of Cordoba from the death of his father Al-Mansur Ibn Abi Aamir in 1002 until his own death in 1008. He was succeeded by his half-brother Abd al-Rahman Sanchuelo....
, the son of the recently deceased hajib
Hajib
The term "hajib" is not to be confused with the word "hijab", which is a headscarf for Muslim women.A hajib was a government official in Al-Andalus and Egypt. They began as treasurers or Chamberlains but by 756, the position had evolved to be equivalent to a vizier or higher....
Almanzor. When Andrew records that the caliph himself, then Hisham II, died in the encounter, he is probably rehearsing a local legend. The battle is not dated precisely by any chronicler, but the names of the counts (all given by Andrew) restrict it to between the years 992 and 1010. A date of 1003 has been deduced by Erdmann from other accounts that a Muslim army moved through the County of Barcelona and passed into the south of the County of Urgell in the summer of 1003. The exact location of the battle, Thoranum castrum (the castle, or fortified place, of Torà), is given by Andrew. The Muslims, according to both Latin and Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
sources, were defeated and one of their leading men killed. The Muslims retreated to their own territory, where a second battle was fought at Albesa
Battle of Albesa
The Battle of Albesa was a follow-up to the Battle of Torà that took place 25 February 1003 at Albesa, near Balaguer, between the united Christian forces of Catalonia and the Islamic forces of the Caliphate of Córdoba...
. The result of this second battle is unclear, but it was the end of the brief war, and possibly the campaigning season.
Importantly, Andrew reports the battle in terms as if describing a holy war
Religious war
A religious war; Latin: bellum sacrum; is a war caused by, or justified by, religious differences. It can involve one state with an established religion against another state with a different religion or a different sect within the same religion, or a religiously motivated group attempting to...
. The Muslims, whose numbers he puts at 17,000, are "new Philistines
Philistines
Philistines , Pleshet or Peleset, were a people who occupied the southern coast of Canaan at the beginning of the Iron Age . According to the Bible, they ruled the five city-states of Gaza, Askelon, Ashdod, Ekron and Gath, from the Wadi Gaza in the south to the Yarqon River in the north, but with...
". Bernard of Besalú he quotes as reasoning that if the saints Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
and Michael and the Virgin Mary each kill 5,000 Muslims, there will be a manageable number left for the soldiers. Bernard recalls that the Muslims are often slain before they have a chance to retreat. According to Andrew, after the battle the Virgin Mary miraculously brought news of the Christian victory to as far away as Monte Sant'Angelo
Sanctuary of Monte Sant'Angelo
The Sanctuary of Monte Sant'Angelo sul Gargano, sometimes called simply Monte Gargano, is a Catholic sanctuary on Mount Gargano, Italy, part of the commune of Monte Sant'Angelo, in the province of Foggia, northern Apulia....
. Despite the theme of religious warfare, Spanish historians have not picked up on Andrew's account.