Siege of Silves (1189)

Siege of Silves (1189)
Part of the Third Crusade and Portuguese Reconquista
A tower of Silves today
Date 21 July – 3 September 1189 Location Silves, al-Gharb 37°11′13″N 8°26′20″W / 37.18694°N 8.43889°W / 37.18694; -8.43889 Result Portuguese–Crusader victory Territorial changes Silves and ten other castles in al-Gharb acquired by Portugal
Belligerents
Kingdom of Portugal Crusaders from northern Europe	Almohad Caliphate
Commanders and leaders
Sancho I of Portugal	ʿĪsā ibn Abī Ḥafṣ ibn ʿĀlī
Strength
75 ships 3,500 crusaders + Portuguese army	15,800 inhabitants 400 prisoners

The siege of Silves was an action of the Third Crusade and the Portuguese Reconquista in 1189. The city of Silves in the Almohad Caliphate was besieged from 21 July until 3 September by the forces of Portugal and a group of crusaders from northern Europe on their way to the siege of Acre. The defenders capitulated on terms, the city was handed over to Portugal and the crusaders took a portion of the spoils.

The call for a new crusade went out in 1187, following the loss of Jerusalem. The first fleets from the north arrived in Portuguese waters in the spring of 1189. One of these sacked Alvor and massacred its inhabitants some weeks before the fleet that would attack Silves had assembled in Lisbon in early July. The combined Portuguese–crusader fleet contained 75 ships—37 cogs of the northern type and 38 galleys. It carried an army of 3,500 crusaders, while King Sancho I of Portugal marched overland with his own army.

The crusaders camped before Silves on 20 July and launched an assault with scaling ladders the following day. They successfully captured the walled lower town and began preparing siege engines. Sancho arrived on 29 July and his army a day later, at which point the city was completely surrounded. The assault with engines began on 6 August. Attempts to undermine the walls and towers began on 9 August and continued, with varied success, until the end. The defenders countermined and there was fighting underground, possibly including the use of Greek fire by the Almohads.

On 10 August, the breastwork was captured. By mid-August, the defenders were suffering from a shortage of water. On 1 September, the Portuguese offered terms and the defenders agreed to negotiate. The crusaders refused to relinquish their right to plunder, but the defenders were permitted to leave in peace. On 3 September, the city was handed over to Sancho, who in turn permitted its occupation by the crusaders for dividing the booty. They eventually abandoned the city under pressure and, after establishing a garrison, Sancho left on 12 September.

The fall of Silves meant that nine outlying castles subject to its Almohad governor came under Portuguese control. In addition, Albufeira surrendered. The crusaders, however, refused to help besiege Faro and sailed away on 20 September to resume their crusade. The success at Silves was relatively short-lived. In April 1190, the Caliph Yaʿqūb al-Manṣūr launched an offensive intending to take back Silves. His first effort failed, but he renewed his invasion in April 1191 and Silves was recaptured in July.