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Battle of Mers-el-Kébir (1501)

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This article is about the battle in 1501. For the WWII British naval raid, see Attack on Mers-el-Kébir.
Battle of Mers-el-Kébir
DateLate July 1501
Location
Mers-el-Kébir, Kingdom of Tlemcen
Result Zayyanid victory
Belligerents
Portuguese Empire Kingdom of Tlemcen
Commanders and leaders
John of Meneses, 1st Count of Tarouca Abu Abdallah IV
Strength
3,500 soldiers
35 ships		 Unknown
Casualties and losses
Heavy Unknown

The Battle of Mers-el-Kébir occurred in 1501 and was a failed attempt to capture Mers-el-Kébir by the Portuguese.

Background

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After the conquest of Granada in 1492, Spain began establishing their rule on the coasts of Algeria and Tunis. Portugal could not afford to be left behind if they did not launch campaigns in Morocco. Portugal sought to expand more in Morocco as it would be easier, cheaper, and more convenient than traveling to the East.[1] Another issue was to deal with the Barbary corsairs who were ravaging the coasts of Spain[2] and the Ottomans, who were having a war with the Venetians. The Venetians sought Portugal's help; the Portuguese king, Manuel I agreed to help.[3][4]

Battle

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In late July 1501, Manuel dispatched a fleet of 35 ships consisting of 3,500 men led by Joao de Meneses to seize Mers-el-Kébir and establish a garrison there.[5][6] The Portuguese armada faced a storm that did not allow them to disembark easily and struggled for 8 days. The Moors and the Arabs, aware of the upcoming invasion, began preparations to oppose them. They gathered many men to the shores.[7][8] The Muslims predicted the landing point where the Portuguese would disembark. The Portuguese landed but found great resistance, forcing them to retreat.[9][10] Those who could not escape were captured and sold as slaves in Oran.[11]

References

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  1. ^ Malyn Newitt, p. 66
  2. ^ Jean Joseph Léandre Bargès, p. 406-7
  3. ^ Sanjay Subrahmanyam, p. 188
  4. ^ Malyn Newitt, p. 66
  5. ^ Malyn Newitt, p. 66
  6. ^ Sanjay Subrahmanyam, p. 188
  7. ^ L. Didier, p. 13
  8. ^ Ministère des travaux publics, p. 236
  9. ^ L. Didier, p. 13
  10. ^ Jean Joseph Léandre Bargès, p. 407
  11. ^ Ministère des travaux publics, p. 236

Sources

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  • Malyn Newitt (2004), A History of Portuguese Overseas Expansion 1400–1668.[1]
  • Sanjay Subrahmanyam (1997), The Career and Legend of Vasco Da Gama.[2]
  • Ministère des travaux publics (1890), Ports maritimes de la France, Vol 8, Part I.[3]
  • Jean Joseph Léandre Bargès (1887), Complément de l'histoire des Beni-Zeiyan, rois de Tlemcen.[4]
  • L. Didier (1927), Histoire d'Oran période de 1501 à 1550.[5]


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