© Mark Wade
| Cid's Spain © Mark Wade |
Major city, 92 km from Caceres, capital of a Moorish emirate on the Guadiana, the modern border between Spain and Portugal. The ruins of the Moorish castle are still visible above the city today.
Badajoz was not definitively reconquered until 1229. In the Cid's time (1022-1094) it was ruled by the Banu Aftas, Andalusian Berbers. The kings of Badajoz in this period were: Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn Maslama ibn al-Aftas al-Mansur (1022-1045); Muhammad ibn Abd Allah Al-Muzaffar (1045-1068); Al-Mansur (1068-1072); and Umar ibn Muhammad Al-Mutawakkil (1072-1094). Latitude: 38.88. Longitude: -6.97.
Now the greater part of these Moors had been they of Merida, Badajoz, Beja and Evora, and the King was minded to requite them in their own land according to their deeds; and he entered into the heart of their country, carrying with him fire and sword, and pressed them sorely so that they yielded vassalage.
And when they knew that there was no hope of him, the Moors sent to the King of Badajoz, inviting him to come and be their protector, saying that they would deliver the city into his hands in spite of Yahia.
Then both Kings came, thinking to have the city: and the King of Badajoz came first, and the gates were opened to him in despite of Yahia.
Howbeit King Don Alfonso speedily arrived, and the King of Badajoz, seeing that he could not maintain Toledo against him, retreated, and King Don Alfonso pursued him into his own dominions and gave orders that he should be attacked along the whole of his border, and did not leave him till he had plainly submitted.
In this manner was Yahia delivered from the King of Badajoz; but King Don Alfonso knowing how that city was to be taken, contented himself with overrunning the country, and despoiling it, even to the walls of the city; and thus he did for four years, so that he was master of the land.
Now, Yahia, when he saw that he could by no means hold Toledo, because on the one hand the Moors would give it to the King of Badajoz, and on the other King Don Alfonso warred against it, he made a covenant with King Don Alfonso to yield the city to him, if he with the help of Alvar Fanez would put him in possession of Valencia, which had belonged unto Hicem and Alimaymon, his fathers, but which the Guazil Abdalla Azis held now as his own, calling himself King thereof.