Blockade of the Tetuan River

Blockade of the Tetuan River
Part of Spanish-Moroccan conflicts

Map of the western Mediterranean c. 1560
Date8 March 1565
Location
Tetuan River, Morocco
35°37′N 5°16′W / 35.617°N 5.267°W / 35.617; -5.267
Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
Spanish Empire Spanish Empire
Portuguese Empire Portugal		 Saadi Sultanate
Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Spanish Empire Álvaro de Bazán
Spanish Empire Alonso de Bazán
Spanish Empire Esteban de Guillisastegui  (WIA)		 Governor of Tetouan
Strength
5 galleys
6 brigantines (4 Spanish and 2 Portuguese)
4 caravels
1 galiot
3 chalupas
At least 150 Spanish arquebusiers
300 Portuguese soldiers		 At least 2 Ottoman galleons
At least 3 chalupas
12 flotillas
At least 9 brigantines
1,000 horsemen
4,000 soldiers
Casualties and losses
4 killed
30 wounded		 100 killed or wounded
9 brigantines sunk

The Blockade of the Tetuan River (Spanish: Jornada del Rio de Tetuán) on 8 March 1565 was a successful Spanish blockade of the Tetuan River (present-day Martil river)[1] against the Saadi Sultanate. The Spanish forces were led by Álvaro de Bazán, Alonso de Bazán and Esteban de Guillisastegui, who was wounded during the operation.

Background

In the summer of 1564, Spain and its allies gathered a large fleet and launched an expedition against Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera, then held by the Ottoman Empire. They laid siege to the fortress and fell after one week.[2][3] Following this, it was proposed to Philip II of Spain to blockade the mouth of the Tetuan River to prevent the passage of Barbary corsairs to Tetouan, which was one of their main bases, to secure the Strait of Gibraltar. He accepted and chose Álvaro de Bazán as the main commander of the operation.[4]

Blockade

Preparations

The fleet sailed from Sanlúcar de Barrameda on 12 February and headed to Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera.[5] However, two English carracks, who were going from the Loukkos River to Larache,[6] saw the Spanish fleet and somehow found out about the operation so they informed the Saadians about it.[5] He arrived at Ceuta shortly after, where he contacted the Portuguese governor to distract the Saadians by simulating an attack on their territory so he could carry out the attack on the Tetuan River.[7][8] The governor also sent 300 Portugese soldiers and 2 more brigantines to help Álvaro de Bazán with the campaign.[9] Reinforcements from Gibraltar arrived in Ceuta on 6 March. Two days later, on 8 March, Álvaro de Bazán left the city and arrived at the mouth of the river.[5] The fleet was composed of 5 galleys, 6 brigantines, 4 caravels, 1 galiot and 3 chalupas.[6]

Operations

Upon arrival, Álvaro de Bazán towed six galleys with six large barges to begin with the reconnaissance operations. However, they were attacked by soldiers from Tetouan commanded by the governor of the city to hinder the operations, firing on the brigs and skiffs conducting them.[4][10] Alonso de Bazán was forced to disembark with 400 arquebusiers to contain them by skirmishing.[10] Esteban de Guillisastegui filled the barges with large stones and hydraulic mortar, making it difficult to overcome the current and bring them to the spot where they were sank in a line.[4][10] The galleys and brigs unloaded the loose stones they had been carrying onto them which formed a seawall on which "one could cross from one side of the river to the other without getting one's knees wet."[4] 4,000 Saadian and Ottoman arquebusiers, 1,000 horsemen and 2 Ottoman galleons[10][11] arrived and attacked the sailors in the skiffs and the soldiers on land while they were re-embarking and, after half an hour of battle, the Spaniards and Portuguese managed to repel the Saadians and Ottomans, consolidating the blockade of the river.[7][12] This battle caused more than 100 dead and wounded among the Saadians and Ottomans and 4 dead and 30 wounded between the Spanish and Portuguese troops.[4]

Aftermath

Following the campaign, Spain secured control of the river during the winter.[13] Two days later, on 10 March 1565, Álvaro de Bazán arrived in Ceuta, where he sent a letter to Philip II of Spain informing him of the events of the campaign.[7][12][14] He ordered the wounded to be treated, ship parts repaired, and a search for Ottoman galleys leaving Algiers to be prepared. Afterwards they went to Tangier to disembark the Portuguese troops that helped in the operation and, finally, the fleet arrived in Cadiz.[7]

References

  1. ^ Braudel 2023, p. 1015.
  2. ^ Prescott 1883, p. 347.
  3. ^ Batis 1984, p. 10.
  4. ^ a b c d e Fernández Duro 1972, p. 74.
  5. ^ a b c Nicieza 2025, p. 279.
  6. ^ a b de Altolaguirre y Duvale 1888, p. 186.
  7. ^ a b c d de Ferreras 1751, p. 493.
  8. ^ Fernández Duro 1972, p. 74–75.
  9. ^ Rodríguez González 2017, p. 70.
  10. ^ a b c d Nicieza 2025, p. 280.
  11. ^ de Altolaguirre y Duvale 1888, p. 188.
  12. ^ a b Prescott 1883, p. 348.
  13. ^ de Altolaguirre y Duvale 1888, p. 187.
  14. ^ de Altolaguirre y Duvale 1888, p. 189–193.

Bibliography

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