Action of 22 May 1811 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Action of 22 May 1811 |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Algeria |
 Tunisia |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Hamidou ben Ali |
Mohammed Mourali |
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| Units involved | |||||||
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Tunisian navy | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 4 frigates 2 brigs or xebecs 4 gunboats |
12 warships | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 41 dead | 230 dead Large warship captured |
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The Action of 22 May 1811 was a naval battle. It took place between the Algerian fleet and the Tunisian fleet. The Algerian side was led by Raïs Hamidou. The Tunisian side was led by Mohammed Mourali.
Contents
Why They Fought
The relationship between Tunisia and Algeria was tense. This was especially true after Haji Ali became the ruler of Algiers. A war was about to begin.
In 1810 and 1811, the Algerian naval commander, Raïs Hamidou, attacked several Tunisian merchant ships. He also captured an English ship carrying Tunisian goods. These attacks caused a lot of financial loss for the Tunisians. The total losses were more than 144,000 francs.
Fleets Prepare for Battle
Raïs Mohammed Mourali left Tunis with 12 warships. At the same time, Hamidou also set out, hoping to capture more ships. Mourali's fleet was much larger than the Algerian one. Because of this, Mourali felt sure he would win when he saw the Algerian ships in the distance.
The Battle Begins
The Algerian and Tunisian fleets met on May 22, 1811. It was around 9 AM, near Bizerte.
Flagship Showdown
Hamidou's ship and Mourali's ship directly faced each other. The other ships mostly stayed back. They only had small fights now and then. The battle involved many clever moves and tactics. Both main ships tried to outsmart each other.
A Long Fight
The fighting went on for several hours. The first few hours were mostly about the ships testing each other. After about six hours, the Tunisian warship was badly damaged. Its captain was also seriously wounded. He surrendered and lowered his flag.
Tunisian Retreat
The other Tunisian ships saw their leader give up. They tried to free him. But after a few more attacks from the Algerians, they retreated. They sailed all the way back to Monastir. The battle ended around the time of the Asr prayer (afternoon prayer).
