Twilight of the Moors, Battle of Jerez, 1231 AD

After the crushing defeat suffered at Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212, the battle of Jerez was a coup-de-gras for the Almohads in Iberia. Ibn Hud, emir of Andalusia, moved from the frontier he was defending to stop a castillan cavalgada or chevauceè, raiding deep into Andalusia. Near Jerez, the two armies clashed and the Moors suffered an heavy defeat. It is said that 500 of them, taken prisoners, were executed. This battle opened a crysis for the emir which resulted in the creation of a new emirate, the Emirate of Granada of the Nasirid Dinasy in 1238, the last muslim fortress in Iberia, which lasted until 1492.

In the drawing, a mounted scout, armed with crossbow, reports to Ibn Hud. Such light cavalry and infantry units were the bulk of the andalusian armies, altough heavy infantry and cavalry were also present, as shown in 1282's manuscript Las Cantigas de Santa Maria. A strong western influence was present, even if, personally, I'm not sure if it just a simplified vision from a christian amanuens. As you may guess, the illustrations of Las Cantigas de Santa Maria are the main source for the drawing, in clothing as well as in heraldry.

 

 

Enlace a la imagen original: http://fritzvicari.deviantart.com/gallery/?offset=24#/art/Twilight-of-the-Moors-Battle-of-Jerez-1231-AD-336353324?_sid=3d9fb72c