Battles & Campaigns · 1340
Battle of Río Salado
Río Salado, near Tarifa, Cádiz, Spain
What happened
King Alfonso XI of Castile and King Afonso IV of Portugal fought the Marinid sultan Abu al-Hasan of Morocco and Yusuf I of Granada. The Christian armies crossed the Salado River to attack, while the Tarifa garrison struck the sultan's camp at the same time. After about three hours, the Marinid army broke and fled.
Why it matters
Why it matters: No Muslim army ever invaded Spain from Africa again.
What came next
Castile captured Algeciras in 1344 after a long siege. Alfonso XI died of the Black Death in 1350 while besieging Gibraltar.
Did you know?
Out of respect, Yusuf I of Granada is said to have ordered his troops not to attack the procession carrying Alfonso's body to Seville.
Timeline
- 13 August 1311Alfonso XI is born.
- 30 October 1340Castile and Portugal win at Río Salado.
- 1344Castile captures Algeciras.
- 26 March 1350Alfonso XI dies at Gibraltar.