During the period of the crusades beginning at the end of the eleventh century, Valencia went back and forth several times between the Muslims and the Christians, with it finally be destroyed and abandoned by the Christians under the rule of Alfonso Emperor of Spain leaving Almoravid Masdali to take possession of it in May 1109. The situation remained as such until 1238 when King James I of Aragon, assisted by German, English, French and Italian troops laid siege to the city leading to the final surrender of a reputed 50, 000 Moors in October of that year.