Crusade of Tedelis explained

Conflict:Crusade of Tedelis
Place:Tedelis, Kingdom of Tlemcen
Date:27 August, 1398
Result:Aragonese victory
Combatant1: Crown of Aragon
Combatant2: Kingdom of Tlemcen
Commander1: Jofré de Rocabertí
Hugo de Anglesola
Commander2:Unknown
Strength1:70 ships
7.500 crusaders
Strength2:Unknown
Casualties1:1.000 killed
300 captured
Casualties2:Low

The Crusade of Tedelis was a major conflict within the overarching struggle between the Crown of Aragon and the Kingdom of Tlemcen in the late 14th century.

Background

In 1397, as a result of the Sack of Torreblanca,[1] in which Tlmeceni pirates captured the consecrated host [2] and 108 prisoners,[3] King Martin of Aragon ordered a retaliatory attack on Dellys also known as Tedelis,[4] [5] chartering a fleet led by Joan Gascó[6] and an army led by Jaume de Pertusa.[7]

The Crusade

The fleet gathered in Ibiza, amassing a total force of 70 ships and 7,500 crusaders. The fleet set sail in August 1398, and successfully reached Dellys, which was sacked, killing around 1,000 villagers.

After attacking the North African Coast, the expedition then headed towards Avignon to try to relive Pope Benedict XIII from a siege led by Geoffrey Boucicaut who was opposed to the Avignon Pope.[8] However, the fleet could not cross the Rhône due to low water levels and directly provide aid, though they did manage to grant a three-month truce for the besieged.

Aftermath

King Martin managed to negotiate the release of the captured Aragonese in exchange for releasing 300 Tlmeceni prisoners captured during the raid on Tedelis. The following year, Martin ordered a repeat of the campaign, this time, directed at Bona.

References

  1. Martínez Romero, Tomàs. La cultura catalana en projecció de futur: homenatge a Josep Massot i Muntaner. Universitat Jaume I, 2004, p.219. .
  2. Insa Montava, Josep. La Costa Daurada arran de mar. Cossetània Edicions, 2006, p. 90. .
  3. Sanchis, Antonio. Historia del Grau. Carena Editors, 2005, p. 45. .
  4. Ximeno, Vicente. Escritores del reyno de Valencia, chronologicamente ordenados desde el año M.CC.XXXVIII hasta el de M.DCC.XLVII. Joseph Estevan Dolz, 1747, p.129.
  5. Laporte . J.-P. . 1995-04-01 . Dellys . Encyclopédie berbère . fr . 15 . 2255–2261 . 10.4000/encyclopedieberbere.2231 . 1015-7344. free .
  6. Jornades sobre el Cisma d'Occident a Catalunya, les Illes i el País Valencià. Institut d'Estudis Catalans, 1986, p. 67. .
  7. Ximeno, Vicente. La Costa Daurada arran de mar. Cossetània Edicions, 2006, p.88. .
  8. Waugh, William Templeton. A History of Europe From 1378 to 1494. Methuen & co, 1932, p. 138.