Siege of Málaga (1487)

Siege of Málaga (1487)
Part of Reconquista
Alcazaba of Málaga, built by the Hammudid dynasty in the 11th century
Date 7 May 1487 – 18 August 1487 Location Málaga 36°43′08″N 4°25′12″W / 36.719°N 4.42°W / 36.719; -4.42 Result Decisive Christian victory – conquest of the city
Belligerents
Emirate of Granada	Crown of Castile Crown of Aragon
Commanders and leaders
Hamad al Tagrí	Isabella and Ferdinand II
Málaga Location in Spain

Coordinates: 36°43′08″N 4°25′12″W / 36.719°N 4.42°W / 36.719; -4.42

Isabella

The Siege of Málaga (1487) was an action during the Reconquest of Spain in which the Catholic Monarchs conquered the city of Málaga from the Muslims. The siege lasted about four months. It was the first conflict in which ambulances, or dedicated vehicles for the purpose of carrying injured persons, were used.

Málaga was the main objective of the 1487 campaign by the Catholic Monarchs against the Emirate of Granada, which had been steadily losing territory to the Christian forces. King Ferdinand II of Aragon left Córdoba with an army of 20,000 horsemen, 50,000 laborers and 8,000 support troops. This contingent joined the artillery commanded by Francisco Ramírez de Madrid that left Écija. The army decided to first attack Vélez-Málaga, and then continue west to Malaga.Nasrid spies gave word of the movements of the Christians, and the inhabitants of Vélez fled to the mountains and the Bentomiz castle.