Capture of Mers-el-Kébir (1505)

Capture of Mers-el-Kébir

Part of the Spanish-Algerian war (1503–1512)

The Zayyanid Kingdom around the time of the Spanish invasion
| Date| 13 September 1505

|

Location|

Mers-el-Kébir, Kingdom of Tlemcen

Result|  Spanish victory
Territorial
changes|  Mers-el-Kébir captured by Spain
Belligerents
Kingdom of Spain|  Kingdom of Tlemcen
Commanders and leaders
Ramón de Cardona
Diego Fernández|  Abu Abdallah V
Strength
7,000 soldiers
170 sailing vessels|  1,500 soldiers
30 horsemen
Casualties and losses
Unknown|  Unknown

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Spanish-Algerian war
(1503-1512)

* Cullera (1503)
* Mers-el-Kébir (1505)
* Mers-el-Kébir (1507)
* Oran (1509)
* Algiers (1510)
* Mostaganem (1511)

The Capture of Mers-el-Kébir on 13 September 1505 was the first campaign carried out by the Spanish Empire in its war against the Zayyanid Kingdom of Tlemcen (in modern Algeria).[1][2] Mers-el-Kébir (Spanish: Mazalquivir) was a roadstead open to the southwest winds, and a refuge for corsairs. The port was protected by a strong and well-armed castle, and it had already been unsuccessfully attacked by Portuguese troops in 1496 and 1501.[3][4]

## Background[edit]

In Spain, after the conquest of Granada and the suppression of the Rebellion of the Alpujarras (1499–1501), a body of opinion including the highly influential Cardinal Cisneros favoured conquering the North African coast in order to prevent pirate attacks on the Spanish coast.[5] The Kingdom of Tlemcen at the time was ruled by Abu Abdallah V,[6] who was experiencing instability and weakness.

## Preparations[edit]

A fleet of one hundred and seventy ships assembled in the port of Malaga to transport and supply 7000. Command at sea was held by the Catalan Ramón de Cardona and command on land by Diego Fernández de Córdoba, with Mers-el-Kébir being the objective of the expedition.[7]

The navy left Malaga on August 20, 1505, but contrary winds made it return to port. She tried the start again on September 3, but for the same reason she was forced to stop in Almería. Finally, on 9 September, it managed to embark, arriving on the 11th in sight of the Mers-el-Kébir coast.[8]

The Algerians, warned by spies of the fleet's departure and objectives, had concentrated their forces in the vicinity of Mers-el-Kébir. However, because of the delays caused by weather, they believed that it was heading to another destination and had dispersed.

## The attack[edit]

Three carracks under the Basques Juan de Lezcano or Lazcano and Flores de Marquina, who had shielded their hulls with wool sacks, approached the castle as closely as possible and subjected it to intense bombardment, attracting artillery fire. The infantry disembarked in a torrential rainstorm, proceeded to take the heights near Mers-el-Kébir and dug into positions there. From here they were able to bombard the fortress below as well as the galleys in the port.[9]

The following day on September 12, the Algerian cavalry assaulted the Spanish positions but were repulsed. The defenders of the castle then proposed a truce until the 13th, promising to surrender the if they did not receive help from the king of Tlemcen. The truce was accepted, and as no Algerian troops appeared on September 13, the besieged with their families and possessions left, and the Spanish occupied the castle. Once they had taken positions in the castle, the Spaniards saw a large Algerian army coming to the aid of the city. However, seeing the city was already lost, it retreated back to Oran.[10]

On that day, Mers-el-Kébir fell, and nearly 300 years of Spanish control followed, interrupted only being occasionally, such as in the Recapture of Oran (1708).[11] On 24 September the fleet sailed for Malaga, leaving behind a Spanish garrison of 500 men.[12]

## References[edit]

1. ^ Laurent Charles Féraud (1869). Histoire Des Villes de la Province de Constantine. Dr. Arnolet. p. 146. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
2. ^ John Murray (publishers.) (1873). A handbook for travellers in Algeria. p. 68. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
3. ^ Algeria: Collection of 166 books, pamphlets, etc. concerning Algeria, published between 1833-51. 5 v. 1845. p. 180. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
4. ^ Henri Castonnet Des Fosses (1886). Les Portugais au Maroc. Challamel Ainé, Libraire-Éditeur. p. 11. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
5. ^ Meyerson, Mark D. "The Muslims of Valencia". publishing.cdlib.org. University of California Press. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
6. ^ Singh, Nagendra Kr; Singh, Nagendra Kumar (2000). International Encyclopaedia of Islamic Dynasties. New Delhi: Anmol Publications. ISBN 8126104031.
7. ^ Domínguez Caparrós, José (2014-09-01). "JESÚS BERMÚDEZ RAMIRO: Modulaciones rítmicas en la lírica latina. Las Odas de Horacio. Madrid: Ediciones Clásicas, 2007". Rhythmica. Revista Española de Métrica Comparada (9). doi:10.5944/rhythmica.13088. ISSN 1696-5744.
8. ^ Juan Cortada (1841). Historia de España, desde los tiempos mas remotos hasta 1839 ... Adornada con hermosas láminas grabadas, etc. p. 462. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
9. ^ Zurita, Jerónimo (1580). "15 Que el alcaide de Los Donceles capitán general de la armada de Castilla ganó el lugar de Mazarquivir". Historia del rey Don Fernando el Católico: De las empresas, y ligas de Italia. Vol. 6.
10. ^ León Galindo y de Vera (1884). Historia vicisitudes y política tradicional de España respecto de sus posesiones en las costas de África desde la monarquía gótica y en los tiempos posteriores á la restauración hasta el último siglo. Impr. y fundición de M. Tello. p. 77. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
11. ^ Abun-Nasr, Jamil M.; Abun-Nasr, Abun-Nasr, Jamil Mirʻi (1987-08-20). A History of the Maghrib in the Islamic Period. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-33767-0.
12. ^ Juan de MARIANA (1849). Historia General de España ... con la continuacion de Miniana; completada ... por E. Chao. Enriquecida con notas historicas y criticas, etc. p. 72. Retrieved 5 March 2021.

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