Great Triana Raid
The Great raid of Triana in 1178 was an expedition under the orders of Prince Sancho of Portugal against the Almohad Caliphate in the modern territories of Extremadura and Alentejo. Sancho would achieve an astonishing victory over the Muslims. It would be one of the most daring military operations conducted in the history of Portugal and allowed the prince Sancho to affirm himself as a worthy commander and heir to the throne.Miguel Gomes Martins: De Ourique a Aljubarrota - A Guerra Na Idade Média, A Esfera dos Livros, 2011, pp. 105-124.

History

Portuguese ambassadors had been dispatched to Seville and a truce was established in 1173.

Once the truce with the Muslims was over, Sancho decided to launch a raid into Almohad territory. Soldiers were gathered in Coimbra. They included both infantry and cavalry from the Order of Calatrava, as well as the militias of the city of Coimbra, Santarém, Lisbon, Évora and many others. Many hosts of some of the main nobles in Portugal also participated. The contingent consisted of around 5000 footmen and 2300 cavalry. It had been one of the largest forces mobilized by the Portuguese yet.

They started the campaign by sacking the Almohad regions of Beja. Going through modern territories of Extremadura in Spain, the Portuguese crossed Sierra Morena and arrived in Seville in November, yet their forces were not enough to attack the city. They set up camp just a few kilometers to the west of Seville and defeated an Almohad army, in a large battle outside the city, that was sent to stop them.

The city was situated on the west bank of the river, while the Triana suburbs were on the east bank and were connected by a bridge of barques near the Torre del Oro. The suburbs were then sacked and rich spoils were captured.

While coming back to Coimbra, Gibraleón and Niebla were raided. A Portuguese contingent of 1400 cavalry and the garrison of Alcácer do Sal defeated an Almohad army coming from Beja and Serpa led by the qaids Ibn Wazir and Ibn Timsalit, who both died in the battle. Retaliation for Sancho's bold "Triana Raid", as it was later called, came soon. The Muslims invaded Portugal again in 1179. They besieged the city of Abrantes, but they were unsuccessful in capturing it. A Muslim fleet also attacked the outskirts of Lisbon.

Portugal gained recognition as an independent kingdom in 1179 through the Papal decree Manifestis Probatum, marking a significant moment in Portuguese history attributed to King Afonso I for his efforts in fighting the Muslims. 

In 1182 and 1183 a new Portuguese campaign against the Muslims was launched. Formed by local militias from Lisbon and Santarém, they sacked Ajarafe, a land of villages and olive orchards to the west of Seville. They took numerous captives.

See also
 Portugal in the Middle Ages
 Military history of Portugal
 Reconquista
 Portugal in the Reconquista
 Sancho I of Portugal

References

Category:Battles involving the Almohad Caliphate
Category:Battles involving Portugal
Category:Conflicts in 1178
Category:Battles involving Morocco