Battle of Orihuela (713)

Abd al-Aziz began his advance from Seville in early March 713. The Muslims had not gone far beyond Granada when they made their first contact with the Visigoths. Theodmir had no intention to fight on an open battlefield but rather in valleys and hill passes. He began harassing Muslims as they marched, sallying out to attack isolated groups, appearing where least expected and vanishing again into the safety of his hills.^[4] The location of the battle is unknown, but it was probably fought on a plain near Orihuela at the end of March 713.^[5]

Both sides fought with each other until they reached Segura River which was an ineffective obstacle. At the plain, the Visigoth had no cover, which allowed the Muslims to attack and slaughter them, routing the Visigoth. Theodmir survived the battle with little of his forces. He crossed the river and arrived in Orihuela. There he had little men to defend the city, which forced Theodmir to surrender to the Muslims. The Muslims granted him safe conduct and a favorable treaty, which allowed him to retain his wealth and lands. There would be no violence in his lands.^[6][7][8]

• Agha Ibrahim Akram (2004), The Muslim Conquest of Spain.

• David James (2012), A History of Early Al-Andalus, The Akhbar Majmu'a.

• Ulick Ralph Burke (1900), A History of Spain from the Earliest Times to the Death of Ferdinand the Catholic, Vol I.