Fourteenth‑century Moorish siege capturing fortified Gibraltar from Castilian control.
The Third Siege of Gibraltar, from February to June 1333, was a Moorish campaign led by Prince Abd al‑Malik Abd al‑Wahid under Marinid Sultan Abu al‑Hasan, aided by Muhammad IV of Granada. After months of starvation and bombardment, Castilian governor Vasco Perez de Meira surrendered the fortified town.
The Third Siege of Gibraltar took place between February and June 1333 at Gibraltar. A Moorish army commanded by Prince Abd al‑Malik Abd al‑Wahid of Morocco, under the recently crowned Marinid sultan Abu al‑Hasan Ali ibn Uthman and in alliance with Nasrid ruler Muhammad IV of Granada, attacked the fortified town, which had been held by Castile since its capture from Granada in 1309. Gibraltar’s governor, Vasco Perez de Meira, had stolen royal funds intended for food and maintenance of the castle and fortifications, and diverted provisions for his own profit. As a result, when the Moorish forces secretly crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and began the siege, the Castilian garrison had very limited supplies. Moorish catapults bombarded the defences for more than four months. Attempts by King Alfonso XI of Castile and Admiral Alfonso Jofre Tenorio to relieve the town were delayed and ultimately ineffective. By mid‑June, Gibraltar’s defenders and townspeople were starving and even resorted to eating leather from shields, belts and shoes. On 17 June 1333, Vasco Perez surrendered Gibraltar to Abd al‑Malik. The Marinids thereby conquered Gibraltar from Castile, and the fall of the town was celebrated in Morocco.
