Battle of Río Verde
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| Battle of Río Verde (1448) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Spanish Reconquista | |||||||
.jpg) Río Verde | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Crown of Castile | Emirate of Granada | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Juan de Saavedra (POW) |
Ibrāhīm bin Abd al-Barr Abū l-Qāsim b. al-Sarrāŷ | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 400–600 cavalry | 1,500 cavalry | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| All but 4 killed | Unknown | ||||||
The Battle of Río Verde was a military engagement between the Granadans and the Castilians at the Río Verde near Marbella. The Granadans achieved a resounding victory.
In 1447, taking advantage of Castile political turmoil, the Granadan Sultan, Yusuf V, attacked Castile and restored the lost castles from Castile, including Arenas, Huéscar, Vélez-Blanco, Vélez-Rubio, Benamaurel, and Benzalema. In August of the same year, Yusuf was assassinated, and in September, Muhammad IX took control of Granada. War with Castile continued.[1]
Battle
On March 15, 1448, a Castilian force of 400[2] or 600 cavalry, attacked the Granadan territory and stole cattle.[3] The Castilians were led by Juan de Saavedra. Two days later, the Castilians advanced through the area of Estepona, towards Marbella, up to Río Verde. Upon retreating, the Castilians were attacked by a force of Granadans consisting of 1,500 cavalry.[4] The Granadans were led by Viziers Ibrāhīm bin Abd al-Barr and Abū l-Qāsim b. al-Sarrāŷ.[5] The Granadans massacred the majority of the force and took Juan as a captive.[6] It is said that only 4 managed to escape the massacre.[7] The Romance "Rio Verde" describes the battle:.[8]
Green River, Green River!__In you are washed so many bodies__Of Christians and Moors__Killed by the harsh sword!__Making your crystalline waves__Shine with red blood.