A Caliphate of Córdoba victory over the Kingdom of Viguera that resulted in significant Navarrese losses and possible high-ranking captives.
Key Facts
- Date
- 6 July 975
- Christian killed
- 33 men
- Christian captured
- 47 men
- Christian force size
- ~500 cavalrymen
- Caliphate commander
- al-Tuyibi, kaid of Zaragoza
- Viguera commander
- Ramiro Garcés, king of Viguera
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The kaid of Zaragoza, al-Tuyibi, was returning from a campaign under Galib ibn Abd al-Rahman when he encountered a Navarrese raiding force under Ramiro Garcés near Tudela. Ramiro had marched from Sos believing the Muslim governor was occupied at Gormaz, leaving the frontier exposed to Christian raiding activity.
On 6 July 975, al-Tuyibi's forces intercepted Ramiro Garcés and approximately 500 Christian cavalrymen near the town of Estercuel. The Muslims surprised the Christians at an Ebro river crossing, then harassed them in pursuit as far as the castle of al-Qastil, killing 33 men, including several named captains, and capturing 47 others.
Ramiro Garcés was wounded and escaped, but lost several leading magnates and his banner and silver horn. His younger brother Jimeno appeared as a hostage at the Córdoban court later in 975, and it has been speculated that Sancho II Garcés Abarca may also have been captured during or around this engagement.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Ramiro Garcés.
Side B
1 belligerent
al-Tuyibi.