Battle of La Higueruela

Battle of La Higueruela
Part of the Spanish Reconquista

The Battle of Higueruela as depicted in the Gallery of Battles at the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain.
Date1 July 1431
Location
Vega de Granada, Kingdom of Granada
Result Castilian victory
Belligerents
Crown of Castile Kingdom of Granada
Commanders and leaders
Álvaro de Luna Muhammad IX
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown about 12,000

The Battle of La Higueruela (lit.'Battle at the little fig tree') was fought in the vega of the river Genil near Granada on 1 July 1431 between the forces of John II of Castile, led by Álvaro de Luna, and troops loyal to Muhammed IX, Nasrid Sultan of Granada. The battle was a modest victory for the forces of Castile, with no territorial gain and failing to take Granada.[1] Following this battle, John II of Castile installed Yusuf IV, grandson of Muhammed VI,[2] as Sultan of Granada.[3]

The battle is depicted in a famous series of fresco paintings by Fabrizio Castello, Orazio Cambiasi and Lazzaro Tavarone in the Gallery of Battles at the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial.

  1. ^ Joseph F. O'Callaghan, The Last Crusade in the West: Castile and the Conquest of Granada, (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2014), 214.
  2. ^ Houtsma 1987, p. 880
  3. ^ Suárez Fernández 1989, p. 75