Expedition of Mostaganem (1558)
Encyclopedia
The Expedition of Mostaganem occurred in 1558, when Spanish forces attempted to capture the city of Mostaganem
, in modern Algeria
, from the Ottomans. The expedition ended in failure, and has been called a "disaster". It was supposed to be a decisive step in the conquest of the Ottoman base of Algiers
.
(1496), Mers-el-Kebir
(1505), Oran
(1509), Bougie
(1510), Tripoli
(1510), Algiers
, Shershell, Dellys
, Tenes
.
In 1516, Mostaganem was seized by Hayreddin Barbarossa from his base of Algiers
, who then strengthened its defences. The city then became a rival of Oran
. From 1519, Barbarossa placed himself under the protection of the Ottomans, thereby transforming Mostaganem into an Ottoman dominion.
Previous Spanish expeditions had taken place in 1543 and 1547, which failed as the Spanish forces were repulsed and then pursued in retreat by Turkish and tribal forces.
The expedition of 1558 to retake Mostaganem from the Ottomans followed a string of Ottoman successes in the Mediterranean, especially with the Siege of Tripoli
in 1551, and the evacuation of Al-Mahdiyeh by the Spaniards. Concurrently, the corsairs of Barbary were operating from their base in Algiers
.
, although unsuccessfully, while in the meantime the Moroccans seized the opportunity to capture Tlemcen
from the Turks. In 1557, the Ottomans demanded the submission of Morocco to the Ottoman Empire, but murdered the Moroccan ruler Mohammed ash-Sheikh
, who was collaborating with Spain, when he refused.
In March 1558, the Ottomans under Hasan Pasha
, the son of Barbarossa and ruler of Algiers, had invaded the Moroccan territory toward Fez
, but were stopped at the indecisive Battle of Wadi al-Laban
just north of Fes
. The Ottomans retreated when they learned about Spanish preparations for an offensive in Oran.
by Philip II of Spain
, and concentrated at the Spanish base of Oran to join local Spanish troops and the Moroccan Goum troops of the Caïd of Tlemcen
, Abdallah al-Ghalib
. They departed from Oran on 22 or 26 August 1558.
The Spanish expedition first successfully managed to capture . They then attacked Mostaganem but were repulsed. With supplies running low, they learnt that Hasan Pasha
was arriving from Algiers with a relief force of about 6,000 troops. This led to a panic retreat by the Spanish troops. In the end, around 12,000 Spanish soldiers were taken prisoner. Count Alcaudete, Governor of Oran
, died in the expedition. His son Don Martín de Córdoba, himself future Governor of Oran, was also captured in the disaster and would be imprisoned as a Christian slave in Algiers under the beylerbey
Hasan Pasha
, until he was exchanged for the huge ransom of 23,000 escudos.
The failure of the expedition of Mostaganem ended attempts at a grand alliance between Spain
and Morocco
against the common Ottoman enemy.
Mostaganem
Mostaganem is a port city in and capital of Mostaganem province, in the northwest of Algeria. The city, founded in the 11th century lies on the Gulf of Arzew, Mediterranean Sea and is 72 km ENE of Oran...
, in modern Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, from the Ottomans. The expedition ended in failure, and has been called a "disaster". It was supposed to be a decisive step in the conquest of the Ottoman base of Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
.
Background
The harbour of Mostaganem had been captured by the Spanish from the Muslims in 1506. The harbour became part of numerous Spanish possession on the North African coast, which had been captured since 1496: MelillaMelilla
Melilla is a autonomous city of Spain and an exclave on the north coast of Morocco. Melilla, along with the Spanish exclave Ceuta, is one of the two Spanish territories located in mainland Africa...
(1496), Mers-el-Kebir
Mers-el-Kébir
Mers-el-Kébir is a port town in northwestern Algeria, located by the Mediterranean Sea near Oran, in the Oran Province.-History:Originally a Roman port, Mers-el-Kébir became an Almohad naval arsenal in the 12th century, fell under the rulers of Tlemcen in the 15th century, and eventually became a...
(1505), Oran
Oran
Oran is a major city on the northwestern Mediterranean coast of Algeria, and the second largest city of the country.It is the capital of the Oran Province . The city has a population of 759,645 , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second largest...
(1509), Bougie
Bougie
Bougie, Bougis or Bougy as a place name or surname may refer to:- Places :*Bougy , village, Département Calvados, Normandy, France*Bougy-lez-Neuville, village, Département Loiret, France...
(1510), Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
(1510), Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, Shershell, Dellys
Dellys
Dellys is a small coastal town in northern Algeria, almost due north of Tizi-Ouzou and just east of the river Sebaou. It is notable for an Ottoman-era casbah, two colonial-era lighthouses , and some beaches; the principal activities of the area are fishing and farming. In Roman times, it was...
, Tenes
Tenes
In Greek mythology, Tenes was the eponymous hero of the island of Tenedos. He was the son either of Apollo or of King Cycnus of Colonae by Proclia, daughter or granddaughter of Laomedon. Cycnus' second wife Philonome, daughter of Tragasus or Cragasus, falsely accused Tenes of rape, bringing in a...
.
In 1516, Mostaganem was seized by Hayreddin Barbarossa from his base of Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, who then strengthened its defences. The city then became a rival of Oran
Oran
Oran is a major city on the northwestern Mediterranean coast of Algeria, and the second largest city of the country.It is the capital of the Oran Province . The city has a population of 759,645 , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second largest...
. From 1519, Barbarossa placed himself under the protection of the Ottomans, thereby transforming Mostaganem into an Ottoman dominion.
Previous Spanish expeditions had taken place in 1543 and 1547, which failed as the Spanish forces were repulsed and then pursued in retreat by Turkish and tribal forces.
The expedition of 1558 to retake Mostaganem from the Ottomans followed a string of Ottoman successes in the Mediterranean, especially with the Siege of Tripoli
Siege of Tripoli (1551)
The Siege of Tripoli occurred in 1551 when the Ottomans besieged and vanquished the Knights of Malta in the fortress of Tripoli, modern Libya. The Spanish Habsburgs had established a fort in Tripoli in 1510 under Charles V, and remitted it the Knights in 1530...
in 1551, and the evacuation of Al-Mahdiyeh by the Spaniards. Concurrently, the corsairs of Barbary were operating from their base in Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
.
Ottoman-Moroccan conflict
In 1556, the Ottomans of Algiers had besieged OranOran
Oran is a major city on the northwestern Mediterranean coast of Algeria, and the second largest city of the country.It is the capital of the Oran Province . The city has a population of 759,645 , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second largest...
, although unsuccessfully, while in the meantime the Moroccans seized the opportunity to capture Tlemcen
Tlemcen
Tlemcen is a town in Northwestern Algeria, and the capital of the province of the same name. It is located inland in the center of a region known for its olive plantations and vineyards...
from the Turks. In 1557, the Ottomans demanded the submission of Morocco to the Ottoman Empire, but murdered the Moroccan ruler Mohammed ash-Sheikh
Mohammed ash-Sheikh
Mawlay Mohammed ash-Sheikh ash Sharif al-Hassani al-Drawi at-Tagmadert was the first sultan of the Saadi dynasty ruling over Morocco . "Al-Drawi at-Tagmadert" means: the man from the Draa river valley, from Tagmadert. He was particularly successful in expelling the Portuguese from most of their...
, who was collaborating with Spain, when he refused.
In March 1558, the Ottomans under Hasan Pasha
Hasan Pasha (son of Barbarossa)
Hasan Pasha was the son of Hayreddin Barbarossa and three-times Beylerbey of Algiers, Algeria. His mother was a Morisco. He succeeded his father as ruler of Algiers, and replaced Barbarossa's deputy Hasan Agha who had been effectively holding the position of ruler of Algiers since 1533.-Ruler of...
, the son of Barbarossa and ruler of Algiers, had invaded the Moroccan territory toward Fez
Fes
Fes or Fez is the second largest city of Morocco, after Casablanca, with a population of approximately 1 million . It is the capital of the Fès-Boulemane region....
, but were stopped at the indecisive Battle of Wadi al-Laban
Battle of Wadi al-Laban
The Battle of Wadi al-Laban, also Battle of Oued el Leben, occurred in March–April 1558 between Morocco and Ottoman forces under Hasan Pasha, the son of Hayreddin Barbarossa...
just north of Fes
Fes
Fes or Fez is the second largest city of Morocco, after Casablanca, with a population of approximately 1 million . It is the capital of the Fès-Boulemane region....
. The Ottomans retreated when they learned about Spanish preparations for an offensive in Oran.
Expedition
An elite contingent, numbering 6,500, was dispatched from MalagaMálaga
Málaga is a city and a municipality in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, Spain. With a population of 568,507 in 2010, it is the second most populous city of Andalusia and the sixth largest in Spain. This is the southernmost large city in Europe...
by Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
, and concentrated at the Spanish base of Oran to join local Spanish troops and the Moroccan Goum troops of the Caïd of Tlemcen
Tlemcen
Tlemcen is a town in Northwestern Algeria, and the capital of the province of the same name. It is located inland in the center of a region known for its olive plantations and vineyards...
, Abdallah al-Ghalib
Abdallah al-Ghalib
Abdallah al-Ghalib Billah was the second Saadian sultan of Morocco.He came to power to the throne as the legal heir of Mohammed ash-Sheikh. From his first wife this first Saadian sultan, Mohammed ash-Sheikh had had three sons, but the two oldest had died...
. They departed from Oran on 22 or 26 August 1558.
The Spanish expedition first successfully managed to capture . They then attacked Mostaganem but were repulsed. With supplies running low, they learnt that Hasan Pasha
Hasan Pasha (son of Barbarossa)
Hasan Pasha was the son of Hayreddin Barbarossa and three-times Beylerbey of Algiers, Algeria. His mother was a Morisco. He succeeded his father as ruler of Algiers, and replaced Barbarossa's deputy Hasan Agha who had been effectively holding the position of ruler of Algiers since 1533.-Ruler of...
was arriving from Algiers with a relief force of about 6,000 troops. This led to a panic retreat by the Spanish troops. In the end, around 12,000 Spanish soldiers were taken prisoner. Count Alcaudete, Governor of Oran
Oran
Oran is a major city on the northwestern Mediterranean coast of Algeria, and the second largest city of the country.It is the capital of the Oran Province . The city has a population of 759,645 , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second largest...
, died in the expedition. His son Don Martín de Córdoba, himself future Governor of Oran, was also captured in the disaster and would be imprisoned as a Christian slave in Algiers under the beylerbey
Beylerbey
Beylerbey is the Ottoman and Safavid title used for the highest rank in the hierarchy of provincial administrators It is in western terms a Governor-general, with authority...
Hasan Pasha
Hasan Pasha (son of Barbarossa)
Hasan Pasha was the son of Hayreddin Barbarossa and three-times Beylerbey of Algiers, Algeria. His mother was a Morisco. He succeeded his father as ruler of Algiers, and replaced Barbarossa's deputy Hasan Agha who had been effectively holding the position of ruler of Algiers since 1533.-Ruler of...
, until he was exchanged for the huge ransom of 23,000 escudos.
The failure of the expedition of Mostaganem ended attempts at a grand alliance between Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
against the common Ottoman enemy.