Spanish assault on Djerba (1520) facts for kids
The Spanish attack on Djerba in 1520 was a military trip by Spain to the island of Djerba in Tunisia. It was led by Hugo of Moncada. This trip ended with the island's leader, called a sheikh, giving up. He then agreed to pay money to Emperor Charles V of Spain every year.
Why Spain Attacked Djerba
Before this attack, Spain had tried to take Djerba before. In 1510, Ferdinand II of Aragon was king. His general, García Álvarez de Toledo y Zúñiga, tried to capture the island. But that trip failed badly and was called the "Djerba disaster".
Later, Emperor Charles V also sent a failed trip to Algiers in 1518. In 1519, Hugo of Moncada, who would lead the Djerba attack, was beaten at sea by pirates.
Djerba was technically part of a kingdom called Ifriqiya, ruled by Abu Abdallah Muhammad IV al-Mutawakkil. However, it was really controlled by famous pirate leaders like Oruç Reis and Hayreddin Barbarossa. These pirates were a big problem for Spanish ships.
In 1519, Charles V decided to try again to take Djerba. He wanted to get rid of the pirate threat. He chose Don Hugo de Moncada to lead the fleet as its main commander.
Spain started getting ready in the summer of 1519. Ships and soldiers were prepared in cities like Barcelona and Valencia. The ships gathered near Ibiza and Formentera, then spent the winter in Sicily. In April 1520, the Spanish navy sailed to Tunisia. Moncada arrived at Djerba with 13 large galleys, 70 other ships, and about 10,000 to 13,000 foot soldiers.
The Fight for Djerba
The Spanish army landed about 18 miles from Djerba. On May 28, they began marching towards the island's main castle. The army of Sheikh Said attacked them. The sheikh's forces had about 10,000 to 12,000 foot soldiers and 200 horsemen.
At first, the Spanish faced some difficulties. But Hugo of Moncada and the knights from Flanders fighting with him managed to push back their enemies. The sheikh's forces ran away. About 500 of the local soldiers were lost in this fight. The Spanish lost 200 foot soldiers and 60 horsemen.
After a short rest, Moncada's army kept moving forward. They set up a strong camp in a small village halfway to the castle. The sheikh did not wait for help from the ruler in Tunis. He started talking to the Spanish and soon gave up.
What Happened Next
Right away, a new Spanish fort was built on Djerba. Spanish soldiers were placed there to guard it. The sheikh was allowed to keep his position as leader of the island. However, he had to become a "tributary" of Spain. This meant he agreed to pay Spain 12,000 francs each year. He also promised to keep the island free of pirates.
See also
In Spanish: Jornada de los Gelves (1520) para niños
