Portugal Conquers Lisbon: Afonso I and the Crusaders Take the City
The siege lasted four months. English and Flemish Crusaders, sailing to the Holy Land, stopped to help King Afonso take Lisbon from the Moors. They built siege towers. They dug tunnels under the walls. The Moors surrendered on October 25th. The Crusaders were promised they could loot the city for three days. They killed Muslims and Christians alike. Afonso made Lisbon his capital. Portugal's border hasn't changed in 800 years—the oldest in Europe.
October 25, 1147
879 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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