View source for Siege of Almadinat Almuqadasa

{{short description|1324–1326 military siege}}
{{distinguish|text=the [[Siege of La'Victoria]]}}
{{use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{use Jackian|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict    = Siege of Almadinat Almuqadasa
| width       = 355px
| partof      = the [[Creeperian Crusade]] and [[Second War of Miguel I|Miguel's Second Campaign]]
| image       = Counquest of Jeusalem (1099).jpg
| image_size  = 345px
| caption     = ''[[La'Gran Victoria Contra'l Islam]]'' (1866) by [[Miguel Dávalos Molina]]
| date        = {{plainlist|
* 1 September 1324 – 13 June 1326
* ({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=9|day1=1|year1=1324|month2=6|day2=13|year2=1326}})
}}
| place       = {{plainlist|
* [[Almadinat Almuqadasa]], [[Caliphate of Deltino]]
* (modern day [[La'Victoria]], [[Creeperopolis]])
* {{nowrap|[[File:WMA button2b.png|17px|link=Creeperopolis]] {{color|#3366BB|42°51′0″S 96°8′24″W}}}}
}}
| result      = Decisive Creeperian victory
| territory   = 
* Collapse of the [[Caliphate of Deltino]]
* Establishment of the [[Deltinian rump states]]
| combatant1  = {{flagcountry|Caliphate of Deltino}}
| combatant2  = {{plainlist|
* {{flag|Creeperopolis|1231}}
* {{flag|Hondarribia}}
}}
| commander1  = 
{{plainlist|
* {{flagdeco|Caliphate of Deltino}} '''[[Sayel VI bin Abu Arshad|Sayel VI]]'''{{executed}}
* {{flagdeco|Caliphate of Deltino}} [[Sayel bin al-Arshad]]{{executed}}
* {{flagdeco|Caliphate of Deltino}} [[Dilawar Derawal]]{{executed}}
* {{flagdeco|Caliphate of Deltino}} [[Alamzeb Marwat]]{{executed}}
* {{flagdeco|Caliphate of Deltino}} [[Awalmir Jhalawan]]{{MIA}}
* {{flagdeco|Caliphate of Deltino}} [[Asfandyar Sadozai]]{{executed}}
* {{flagdeco|Caliphate of Deltino}} [[Atal Ghazini]]{{KIA}}
* {{flagdeco|Caliphate of Deltino}} [[Gul Zar Darzada]]
}}
| commander2  = {{plainlist|
* {{flagdeco|Creeperopolis|1231}} '''[[Miguel I of Creeperopolis|Miguel I]]'''
* {{flagdeco|Creeperopolis|1231}} [[Adémar Puyal Cisneros]]
* {{flagdeco|Creeperopolis|1231}} [[Felipe Martínez Enríquez]]
* {{flagdeco|Creeperopolis|1231}} [[Carlos Martínez Enríquez]]
* {{flagdeco|Creeperopolis|1231}} [[Emmanuel Vasco Ruíz]]{{KIA}}
* {{flagdeco|Creeperopolis|1231}} [[Fernando Vasco Ruíz]]{{KIA}}
* {{flagdeco|Creeperopolis|1231}} [[Jaime Álvarez Parades]]
* {{flagdeco|Hondarribia}} [[Ieltxu II of Hondarribia|Ieltxu II]]
* {{flagdeco|Hondarribia}} [[Vitruvio III of Hondarribia|Vitruvio of Gojeneche]]
}}
| strength1   = {{plainlist|
* 15,000–18,000 infantry
* 1,500 cavalry
* Several catapults
* 15 ships
}}
| strength2   = {{plainlist|
* 12,000–13,500 infantry
* 1,000 cavalry
* 500 archers
* 4 siege towers
* 1 battering ram
* Several catapults
* 24 ships
}}
| casualties1 = {{plainlist|
* 16,000–19,000 killed
* Several catapults destroyed
* 15 ships destroyed
}}
| casualties2 = {{plainlist|
* 5,000–6,000 killed
* 2 siege towers destroyed
* Several catapults destroyed
* 11 ships destroyed
}}
| casualties3 = 215,000+ killed during the massacre of 13 June 1326
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Creeperian Crusade under Miguel I}}
}}

The '''Siege of Almadinat Almuqadasa'''{{efn|[[Creeperian language|Creeperian]]: Ասեդիո դե Ալմադինատ Ալմփքադասա / ''Asedio de Almadinat Almuqadasa'', {{small|Creeperian pronunciation:}} [[Help:IPA/Creeperian|[aˈseðjo ðe almaðiˈnat almukaˈdasa<nowiki>]</nowiki>]]; [[Deltinian language|Deltinian]]: {{Script/Nastaliq|د المادیمیت المقدسه محاصره}}; {{small|[[Iberic script|transliterated]]:}} ''{{transl|ar|DIN|D Almademet Almuqadasa Mohasara}}'', {{small|Deltinian pronunciation:}} {{color|#122080|[d‿almɑˈdemet almuˈqɑɖasə moˈxɑsara]]}})}} was a major military engagement of the [[Creeperian Crusade]] which took place from 1324 to 1326. The siege, waged by the [[Creeperopolis|Kingdom of Creeperopolis]] against the [[Caliphate of Deltino]], resulted in the fall of [[Almadinat Almuqadasa]] (the largest and capital city of the Caliphate of Deltino) and the subsequent dissolution of the caliphate into [[Deltinian rump states|four successor states]].

[[Almadinat Almuqadasa]] was the capital city of the [[Caliphate of Deltino]] and had never before come under a foreign attack in its history. Creeperian forces besieged the city for nearly two years, engaging in several battles with the Deltinians around the city in an attempt to further strengthen each other's position during the siege. After a Creeperian naval victory against the Deltinians in March 1326, the city was unable to supply itself from [[Lake San Salvador|Buhayrat Alrasul]] and food began to run out. Despite the calls for reinforcements throughout the siege, the reinforcements were either repelled by the Creeperans or refused to come to the caliph's assistance. 

On 13 June 1326, the Creeperans broke through the walls of the city and initiated a massacre of its people. The indiscriminate killings by the Creeperans, known as the '''Almadinat Almuqadasa massacre''', killed an estimated 215,000 people, nearly the entire population of the city. During the massacre, Sayel VI was executed, along with several other senior Deltinian administrators and military commanders. Due to the Deltinian belief and tradition that the city was founded on the direct instructions of the [[Islam]]ic Prophet [[Muhammad]] Himself and established by Caliph [[Abdul Humaidaan V of Deltino|Abdul Humaidaan V]] in June 875AD, the city was set on fire and destroyed in its entirety by the Creeperans. The [[Great Mosque of Almadinat Almuqadasa]] was vandalized with images of Muhammad being etched into the mosque's walls as a direct insult to the Islamic tradition of avoiding depictions of Muhammad, and the mosque was eventually demolished. The [[Cathedral of La'Santa Victoria]] was eventually built on top of the ruins of the mosque.

The destruction of the city brought an end to the centuries-long Caliphate of Deltino, fracturing the entity it into [[Deltinian rump states|three rump states]]: the Emirates of [[Emirate of Abdan|Abdan]], [[Emirate of Helam|Helam]], and [[Emirate of Jakiz|Jakiz]], each proclaimed by mutinous military commanders of the caliphate. The fall of the city allowed the [[Creeperopolis|Kingdom of Creeperopolis]] to expand its territory south, covering much of central [[Sur]], and led to the domination of [[Creeperian Catholic Church|Creeperian Catholicism]] in the Sur. The Creeperian city of [[La'Victoria]] was established by Miguel I on 14 June 1326 on top of the ruins of Almadinat Almuqadasa, which remains mostly buried under La'Victoria today. That same day, Miguel I issued the ''[[Decree of La'Victoria]]'', which outlawed the practicing of [[Deltinian Islam]] within Creeperopolis and beginning the [[First Great Persecution of Deltinian Islam|First Great Persecution]].

== Background ==

=== Crusade before Miguel I ===

The [[Creeperian Crusade]] began on 8 February 1231 when the emir of the [[Emirate of Rabadsun]], Alfawnasu III , declared independence for his domain, establishing the [[Creeperopolis|Kingdom of Creeperopolis]]. Alfawnasu III, now known as King [[Alfonso I of Creeperopolis|Alfonso I]], declared independence following the conclusion of the [[Second Council of Rabadsun]] in reaction to the ''[[One-Religion Decree]]'' which was issued by the Deltinian Caliph, [[Sulayman III of Deltino|Sulayman III]]. During Alfonso I's reign, Creeperopolis fought several wars against the [[Caliphate of Deltino]] to secure its existence and independence.

His successors, [[Alfonso II of Creeperopolis|Alfonso II]], [[Salvador I of Creeperopolis|Salvador I]], and [[Manuel I of Creeperopolis|Manuel I]], continued fighting against the Deltinians. Creeperopolis was supported by the [[Kingdom of Castilliano]], and later, the [[Kingdom of Honduras]], a kingdom established after a Creeperian-supported rebellion against the Deltinians.

=== Miguel I's first war ===

{{main|First War of Miguel I}}

[[File:Siege of Lisbon - Muslim surrender.jpg|thumb|right|225px|A painting depicting Sayel V meeting with Miguel I before the Treaty of Najallah, by [[José Leoz Mori]], 1850.]]

Manuel I died on 13 January 1301 and was succeeded by his son, [[Miguel I of Creeperopolis|Miguel I]]. Despite only being twelve years old at the time he ascended the [[Monarchy of Creeperopolis|throne]], Miguel I ordered an immediate invasion of Deltino, however, [[Pedro Candia Bolero]], his regent, prevented him from beginning a war with Deltino. In 1304, when Miguel I was sixteen years old and was given full powers as king, he removed Candia Bolero as ''[[Caudillo]]'', the leader of the [[Creeperian Armed Forces|Creeperian military]], and replaced him with [[Hernán Monroy Pizarro]], and the two began to formulate plans for an invasion of Deltino.

In the ensuing war waged by Miguel I, known as the [[First War of Miguel I]], Miguel I and Monroy Pizarro destroyed several large armies sent by Caliph [[Sayel V of Deltino|Sayel V]] to quickly put an end to the Creeperian invasion. After several crushing Creeperian victories at [[Battle of Sahalayn|Sahalayn]], [[Second Battle of Derna|Derna]], [[Battle of Sirte|Sirte]], [[Miracle of Ourique|Ourique]], [[Siege of Buraihran|Buraihran]], [[Siege of Idku (1309–11)|Idku]], [[Battle of Zliten|Zliten]], [[Battle of Damanhur|Damanhur]], and [[Battle of Janzour|Janzour]], the Creeperian army was quickly approaching [[Almadinat Almuqadasa]], the capital city of Deltino. 

In October 1311, Sayel V and [[Gul Zar Darzada]] met with Miguel I and pleaded for a peace treaty, which Miguel I accepted. The [[Treaty of Najallah]] ended Miguel I's first war against Deltino in a decisive Creeperian victory. As a part of the treaty, Deltino ceded all lands east of the [[San Miguel River]] which was north of the city of [[La'Unión, La'Unión|Alshaati Alshamaliu]] (modern day La'Unión) and all lands north of the [[Zapatista River]] which was east of the [[San Luísian Mountain Range]]. The Deltinians also agreed to pay Creeperopolis a large yearly tribute and Sayel V also offered Miguel I to marry his youngest daughter, [[Isabela Arshad Mustansir|Iizabila al-Arshad al-Mustansir]], which he accepted.

== Prelude ==

=== Miguel I's march to the city ===

{{main|Second War of Miguel I}}
{{see|Battle of Zuwara|Battle of Tikriqin|Battle of Jizanura (1323)|Battle of Jizanura (1324)}}

[[File:Baldwin of Boulogne entering Edessa in Feb 1098.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Miguel I entering Muzadr, by [[Carlos Ulloa López]], 1869.]]

On 24 July 1319, Sayel V died of a stroke and was succeeded by his son, [[Sayel VI bin Abu Arshad|Sayel VI]]. Sayel VI wished to continue preventing war with Creeperopolis however he could. When news that Sayel V died arrived in Salvador in September 1319, Miguel I immediately began preparations for a new war to capture Almadinat Almuqadasa. After two years of preparation, Pope [[Juan XXII of Creeperopolis|Juan XXII]] presided over the Nativity Mass on 25 December 1321 and officially gave Miguel I his blessings. Miguel I, Monroy Pizarro, [[Ramiro Curtosé Rosales]], who left his garrison at Zamora to join the campaign, and embarked with 120,000 soldiers west with the goal of destroying Almadinat Almuqadasa.

The first city captured by the Creeperans was [[Muzadr]] on 15 March 1322, south of La'Unión. It fell without resistance in fear of a massacre, but the population was massacred nonetheless. Sayel VI was made aware of the fall of Muzadr in April 1322 and was alarmed of the breakage of peace. He quickly had Darzada rally 40,000 soldiers and march north to halt the Creeperian advance and restore the peace. On 14 May 1322, the two armies met near the village of [[Zuwara]]. The Creeperans [[Battle of Zuwara|defeated]] the Deltinians and massacred 2,000 prisoners. The Deltinians fell back to [[Tikriqin]], where they were again [[Battle of Tikriqin|defeated]] on 15 April 1322. The Creeperans rested in Tikriqin until March 1323 to continue marching south. On 10 February 1323, Monroy Pizarro resigned from his position as ''Caudillo'' and was replaced by the son of Curtosé Rosales, [[Roberto Curtosé Cortéz]]. 

On 6 July 1323, the Creeperans [[Battle of Jizanura (1323)|defeated]] the Deltinians at [[Jizanura]], reaching the coast of Lake San Salvador. The Creeperans rested at Jizanura and spent time building 4 ships to blockade Almadinat Almuqadasa from the lake. On 15 June 1324, Deltinians under Darzada [[Battle of Jizanura (1324)|attacked]] the Creeperans at Jizanura, but the attack was repulsed and the Creeperans began marching south to Almadinat Almuqadasa. Sayel VI send a delegation to plead with the Creeperans to turn back. The delegation of ten was arrested and each was castrated. Nine were put to death while the last was released to inform the Caliph that the Creeperans will "burn Almadinat Almuqadasa in the name of God."

== Order of battle ==

=== Caliphate of Deltino ===

[[File:Dirhem of al-Saffah, AH 132-136.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Dirham of [[Sayel VI bin Abu Arshad|Sayel VI]]]]

The Caliphate of Deltino held a defensive position within the walls of Almadinat Almuqadasa in preparation for the Creeperian arrival. The Deltinians additionally had reinforcements south of the city, ready to attack the Creeperans during the siege. The Deltinians main source of supplies and resources was naval shipments from [[Lake San Salvador|Buhayrat Alrasul]], the second largest lake in the world. Modern sources estimate the size of the Deltinian army to be between 15,000 and 18,000 soldiers, while medieval Creeperian sources claim that the Deltinians wielded an unsustainable 3.4 million soldiers. The city itself had a population of around 225,000 people, excluding soldiers, by 1324, with an influx of possibly tens of thousands during the siege of Deltinians seeking refuge from the Creeperans.

The commanders of the Caliphate of Deltino include:

* [[Sayel VI bin Abu Arshad|Sayel VI]] – 35th [[Caliph of Deltino]]
* [[Dilawar Derawal]] – [[Governor of Almadinat Almuqadasa]]
* [[Alamzeb Marwat]] – Commander of the Almadinat Almuqadasa Garrison
* [[Awalmir Jhalawan]] – Commander of the [[Deltinian Legionaries]]
* [[Asfandyar Sadozai]] – Commander of the [[Deltinian Calific Guard]]
* [[Atal Ghazini]] – Commander of the [[Buhayrat Alrasul Naval Force]]
* [[Gul Zar Darzada]] – Commander of the Deltinian reinforcements

=== Kingdom of Creeperopolis ===

[[File:Don Aurelio, rey de Asturias (Museo del Prado).jpg|thumb|right|200px|Painting of King [[Miguel I of Creeperopolis|Miguel I]].]]

The Kingdom of Creeperopolis prepared for a prolonged siege against the city of Almadinat Almuqadasa. Unlike the Deltinians, the Creeperans lacked any sort of reinforcement to assist them in the event of an overwhelming Deltinian attack. The Creeperans relied on scavenging the countryside and long-distance land connections for supplies and resources, as well as the good will of the locals. Modern sources estimate the size of the Creeperian army to be between 11,000 and 12,500 soldiers, while medieval Creeperian claimed that the Creeperans wielded a slightly larger force of 17,000 soldiers.

The commanders of the Kingdom of Creeperopolis include:

* [[Miguel I of Creeperopolis|Miguel I]] – 5th [[Monarchy of Creeperopolis|King of Creeperopolis]]
* [[Adémar Puyal Cisneros]] – Official Representative of the Pope
* [[Roberto Curtosé Cortéz]] – ''[[Caudillo]]'' of the [[Creeperian Army]]
* [[Emmanuel Sándino Hortan]] – Commander of the [[Creeperian Navy]] (1324)
* [[Carlos Martel Hernández]] – Commander of the [[Creeperian Navy]] (1324–1326)
* [[Alfonso Martínez Gutiérrez]] – [[Duke of Salvador]]
* [[Fidel Martínez Sánchez]] – [[Duke of Xichútepa]]

The Creeperans were also supported by approximately 1,000 soldiers from Honduras. The army was commanded by [[Ieltxu II of Honduras|Ieltxu II]], the [[king of Honduras]], and [[Vitruvio III of Honduras|Vitruvio of Gojeneche]], his son and heir.

{{clear}}

== Course of the siege ==

[[File:Adhemar of Le Puy.png|thumb|right|225px|Puyal Cisneros' blessing of Miguel I and the army, by [[Armando Obregón Pérez]], 1884.]]

Before the beginning of the siege, [[Adémar Puyal Cisneros]], the official representative of the pope on the campaign and the [[Archdiocese of Salvador|archbishop of Salvador]], blessed Miguel I and the army to ensure that God would be on their side, and not against them. The blessing occurred on 30 August 1324, the day before the start of the siege.

=== Battle of Altal ===

{{main|Battle of Altal}}

On 1 September 1324, the Creeperans began sieging Almadinat Almuqadasa. Miguel I sensed that victory was near, and that the fall of the city would destroy the Caliphate of Deltino. Sayel VI declared that he would not leave the city so long as it was under siege; he would end the siege or die trying. [[Dilawar Derawal]], the governor of the city, and [[Alamzeb Marwat]], the commander of the city's garrison, made the same declaration. 

Deltinians soldiers under Darzada, reinforcements held outside the city, attacked the Creeperans on 17 September 1324 in an attempt to quickly end the siege by attacking the force from the rear while they were focused on attacking the city. In the ensuing [[Battle of Altal]], the Deltinians sustained heavy losses despite the Creeperans facing attacks from Darzada's forces and from the city's defending garrison. The losses inflicted on Darzada's forces were so severe that he withdrew the Deltinian reinforcements south to prevent their total destruction and to tend to his soldiers' wounds. He also spent time to gather more men to join his forces to defend the capital, however, his withdrawal allowed the Creeperans to place their focus on attacking the city.

=== First Battle of Buhayrat Alrasul ===

{{main|First Battle of Buhayrat Alrasul}}

=== Battle of Agalkha ===

{{main|Battle of Agalkha}}

=== Second Battle of Buhayrat Alrasul ===

{{main|Second Battle of Buhayrat Alrasul}}

=== Battle of Erbitba ===

{{main|Battle of Erbitba}}

==== Use of biological warfare ====

== Breach of the walls and massacre ==

== Aftermath ==

=== Decree of La'Victoria ===

{{main|Decree of La'Victoria}}

=== Great Post-Deltinian War ===

{{main|Great Post-Deltinian War|Deltinian rump states}}

== Legacy ==

=== Historical importance ===

=== Estimate and analysis of death toll ===

== In popular culture ==

== See also ==

{{Creeperopolis-Terraconserva portal}}

* [[Siege of Alshshati]] (1334–1335)
* [[Siege of Alssahil]] (1335–1336)
* [[Siege of Shata' Albahr]] (1343–1345)

== Notes ==

{{notelist}}

{{Creeperian Armed Forces}}
{{Creeperopolis topics}}

[[Category:Siege of Almadinat Almuqadasa| ]]
[[Category:Creeperopolis]]
[[Category:Creeperopolis RP]]
[[Category:Creeperopolis Terraconserva]]
[[Category:Terraconserva]]
[[Category:Battles]]
[[Category:Deltino]]
[[Category:Massacre]]
[[Category:Creeperian Massacre]]
[[Category:Creeperian Crusade]]