February 4, 2006
Heroes of the Great War VII
Alfonso VIII of Castile was the European general who lead a coalition of Christian princes and crusaders in the pivotal victory of Las Navas de Tolosa.
The battle was a major turning point in the Reconquista, the liberation of the Iberian penninsula from the hands of the Muslim invaders. Caliph al-Nasir was at the head of the Almohad armies, numbering some 125,000 troops, while Alfonso lead a Christian army of under 50,000. By sneaking through the Despeņaperros pass, Alfonso was able to lead the Christians to a crushing defeat, inflicting massive casualties which lead to a Muslim rout.
