Spanish conquest of Oran (1509) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Conquest of Oran
Cisneros entering Oran, by Juan de Borgoña.
Date May 1509 Location Oran Result Spanish victory, founding of the Spanish Oran
Belligerents
Spanish Empire	Kingdom of Tlemcen
Commanders and leaders
Cardinal Cisneros Pedro Navarro
Strength
8,000-12,000 infantrymen 3,000-4,000 cavalrymen 80 ships 10 galleys	12,000
Casualties and losses
Less than 30	4,000

The conquest of Oran was an important event that happened in May 1509. During this time, an army from the Spanish Empire took control of the city of Oran in North Africa. The city was then ruled by the Kingdom of Tlemcen. The Spanish army was led by Pedro Navarro, working for Cardinal Cisneros.

Why Oran Was Important

Before the conquest of Oran, the Spanish had already captured a nearby city called Mers-El-Kébir in 1505. This was a successful mission against the local rulers, the Zayyanids.

In 1507, the Zayyanids tried to take Mers-El-Kébir back. They attacked with a large army of about 11,000 horsemen. They won a big victory against the Spanish forces there. This event showed the Spanish that they needed to be stronger in the region.

Getting Ready for Battle

Plans for the attack on Oran started in September 1508. The Spanish Crown spent a huge amount of money on this mission. It cost about 39.6 million maravedis, which was a lot for that time! To give you an idea, a big trip to America in 1514 cost much less, around 14 million maravedis.

On May 16, a large fleet of ships left the port of Cartagena. They sailed towards Mers-El-Kébir, which was already under Spanish control. The fleet included 80 large ships called naos and 10 galleys, plus many smaller boats.

The Attack on Oran

The ships carried a strong army. There were between 8,000 and 12,000 foot soldiers and 3,000 to 4,000 cavalrymen (soldiers on horseback). The army spent the night of May 17 in Mers-El-Kébir, getting ready for the big day.

On May 18, the Christian forces launched their attack on Oran. They used both their powerful fleet and a ground assault. They managed to break through the city walls. The battle was very quick and successful for the Spanish.

The Spanish army had very few losses, with less than 30 soldiers hurt or killed. However, the defenders of Oran, who numbered about 12,000, suffered many more casualties, with around 4,000 killed.

Just two days later, on May 20, Cardinal Cisneros himself entered the city. Oran was now fully under Spanish control.

What Happened After

Oran became a part of the Spanish Empire and remained so for a long time. In 1708, the city was taken by the Ottoman Dey of Algiers. This happened during a time when Spain was busy with the War of the Spanish Succession.

However, the Spanish took Oran back in 1732. They kept control of it until 1792. After a big earthquake hit Oran in 1790, the Spanish decided to leave both Oran and Mers-El-Kébir for good.

See also

In Spanish: Conquista de Orán (1509) para niños