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Which siege methods did El Cid use to force Valencia to surrender?
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El Cid
The Cid, sculpture in Balboa Park, San Diego.
To force the city of Valencia to surrender in 1094, El Cid employed a two-pronged military strategy:1
- Blockade: He established a blockade around the city, which effectively cut off supplies and reduced the population to a state of near starvation.1
- Bombardment: He utilized siege engines to bombard the city's walls, weakening its defenses until the inhabitants were forced into submission.1
These combined efforts allowed him to take control of the city on June 15, 1094, which he subsequently held for the remainder of his life.1