Expedition to Mostaganem (1558) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Expedition of Mostaganem
Part of the Ottoman-Habsburg wars
Date August–September 1558 Location Mostaganem, Algeria 35°56′00″N 0°05′00″E / 35.9333°N 0.08333°E / 35.9333; 0.08333 Result Algerian Victory
Belligerents
Spain	Regency of Algiers Kingdom of Beni Abbas
Commanders and leaders
Count Alcaudete  †	Hasan Pasha Abdelaziz El Abbes
Strength
12,000+ soldiers	Unknown
Casualties and losses
6.000 killed, 6.000 prisoners	Unknown

The Expedition of Mostaganem was a big event in 1558. Spanish soldiers tried to take over the city of Mostaganem in Algeria. They hoped this would help them conquer Algiers, which was an important Ottoman base. But the expedition didn't go as planned. It ended in a major defeat for Spain, often called a "disaster".

What Happened Before?

The Spanish had captured the harbor of Mostaganem from Muslim forces in 1506. This harbor became one of many Spanish strongholds along the coast of North Africa. Other places they had taken since 1496 included Melilla, Mers-el-Kebir, Oran, Bougie, and Tripoli.

In 1516, a famous pirate and admiral named Hayreddin Barbarossa took Mostaganem. He was based in Algiers. Barbarossa made the city's defenses stronger. Mostaganem then became a rival to Oran, which was held by the Spanish. By 1519, Barbarossa had joined forces with the Ottomans. This made Mostaganem an Ottoman territory.

Spain had tried to take Mostaganem before, in 1543 and 1547. Both times, their forces were pushed back. Turkish and local tribal forces chased them away. The 1558 expedition happened after the Ottomans had won several victories in the Mediterranean Sea. One big win was the Siege of Tripoli in 1551. Also, pirates from North Africa were causing trouble from their base in Algiers.

Getting Ready for Battle

The Count of Alcaudete was in charge of the Spanish forces. He started gathering soldiers in Spain for the expedition. Many noble families sent their young men to join his army. He ended up with about 10,000 to 11,000 soldiers. Most of these were new recruits. He also had 1,200 experienced soldiers from Oran and some powerful cannons. About 6,000 men sailed from Cartagena, and another 5,000 from Malaga.

At the same time, Hasan Pasha, the Ottoman leader in Algiers, heard about Spain's plans. He had just returned from a fight in Fez. To stop the Spanish, Hasan Pasha gathered his own army. He had about 15,000 men. This included 5,000 Turkish soldiers, 1,000 cavalry (horse soldiers) called spahis, and many Arab fighters.

The Battle Begins!

On August 24, the Spanish army reached the walls of Mostaganem. Some Moorish and Turkish guards came out to fight them. But the Spanish soldiers pushed them back easily. The guards ran away, leaving the city gates open. A Spanish sergeant tried to rush into the city. But the Count of Alcaudete stopped him. The Count wanted to start a proper siege, which meant surrounding the city and attacking it slowly. This seemed like a risky plan, as they could have taken the city quickly. The Count even had the brave sergeant arrested!

The Spanish set up their camp on a hill, safe from the city's defenses. They dug trenches and placed their cannons. Meanwhile, armies from Tlemcen and Algiers were marching quickly to Mostaganem to help.

On August 25, Hasan Pasha's army arrived near Mostaganem. The Count sent his son, Don Martin, to check on the situation. That evening, the Spanish tried a surprise attack on Hasan Pasha's camp. They managed to get some supplies, but nothing major was decided. The Count wanted to wait for the main Ottoman forces and fight them there.

However, the Spanish were waiting for more supplies and ammunition to arrive by sea. A ship and four smaller boats were supposed to bring them. But the main ship turned back. The four smaller boats were then attacked and captured by five Turkish galleys (warships). Without food or ammunition, the Count realized he couldn't fight Hasan Pasha's army or continue the siege. He decided to retreat during the night. The situation was very dangerous. They were facing Hasan Pasha's army and surrounded by angry local people. His soldiers were very tired.

What Happened After?

Algerian horsemen chasing the Spanish army

On August 26, Don Martin, the Count's son, tried to protect the Spanish army as they retreated. But he was wounded by a shot from an arquebus (an early type of gun). Spanish captains started running away, making the retreat even more chaotic. The first group of soldiers reached a village called Mazagran and took shelter. The Count of Alcaudete used his cannons and his older, more experienced soldiers from Oran to cover the retreat.

The Count fought bravely with small groups of men. In the afternoon, a terrible accident happened. Barrels of gunpowder exploded, killing hundreds of Spanish soldiers. This included a high-ranking officer named Navarrete. Soldiers outside the trenches rushed towards the explosion, causing a huge crowd. It was during this chaos that Count Alcaudete was killed.

The Spanish soldiers were losing hope. They had been fighting hard since morning and were hungry and thirsty. Hasan Pasha finally captured Don Martin and most of the remaining Spanish soldiers. By sunset, the Spanish army decided to surrender.

This battle was a huge defeat for Spain. About 12,000 Spanish soldiers were captured. Count Alcaudete, the governor of Oran, died in the fight. His son, Don Martín de Córdoba, was also captured. He was held as a prisoner in Algiers until a very large ransom of 23,000 escudos (a type of Spanish money) was paid for his freedom.

This battle ended the Count of Alcaudete's time as governor of Oran. It also marked the end of Spain's attempts to control western Algeria. Spain lost some of its best generals in Africa during this "disaster." After this, Spain gave up on trying to take more land in western Algeria. Instead, they focused on keeping their existing bases in Oran and Mers el-Kébir. All the other ports along the coast, like Annaba, Béjaïa, Cherchell, Ténès, and Mostaganem, became bases for the Ottoman Algerian navy.

The failure of the Mostaganem expedition also stopped any plans for Spain and Morocco to team up against their common enemy, the Ottomans.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de Mostaganem (1558) para niños

• Expedition to Mostaganem (1543)
• Expedition to Mostaganem (1547)

Sources