...they advanced toward Lisbon, laying siege to…

...they advanced toward Lisbon, laying siege to the city by land and deploying their naval fleet to blockade its port.

A Daring Act of Heroism

During the siege, a Portuguese soldier carried out a bold and decisive act, swimming to the Almohad fleet’s largest ship and successfully sinking it. This vessel, towering over the harbor, posed a serious threat to Lisbon’s defenses, as it would have allowed the besieging forces to easily scale the city walls.

The Almohad Retreat

With the loss of their most critical naval asset, the Almohads found themselves at a disadvantage. By the next day, they were forced to abandon the siege, though they withdrew with a number of Portuguese civilian captives taken during their retreat.

This failed siege marked an important moment in the ongoing struggle between Christian Portugal and Muslim Al-Andalus, reaffirming Lisbon’s strategic resilience and the growing strength of Afonso I’s kingdom.