Fourth siege of Gibraltar

Fourth siege of Gibraltar
Part of the Battle of the Strait during the Reconquista

Map of military movements in the fourth siege of Gibraltar
DateJune – August 1333
Location
Result
  • Castilian siege lifted
  • Morocco retains control of Gibraltar
Belligerents
Kingdom of Castile Emirate of Granada
Morocco Sultanate of Morocco
Commanders and leaders
Alfonso XI of Castile Muhammed IV of Granada
Morocco Abd al-Malik Abd al-Wahid

The fourth siege of Gibraltar, fought from June until August 1333, pitted a Christian army under King Alfonso XI of Castile against a large Moorish army led by Muhammed IV of Granada and Abd al-Malik Abd al-Wahid of Fes. It followed on immediately from the third siege of Gibraltar, fought earlier in 1333. The siege began inauspiciously with a disastrous landing by Castilian forces on the west side of Gibraltar, before developing into a stalemate in which neither side had the strength to capture Gibraltar, nor to break out or lift the siege. Both sides faced acute shortages of food – the Gibraltar garrison was cut off from resupply, while the Castilians, deep within enemy territory, could only be resupplied via an unreliable sea route. After two months of inconclusive siege warfare, the Castilians and Moors reached a truce agreement that allowed both sides to make an honourable exit from the siege. Although the Moors managed to keep Gibraltar, the truce cost Muhammed IV his life when he was assassinated by disgruntled nobles the day after signing it.


Developed by StudentB