Spanish conquest of Oran (1509)

The conquest of Oran by the Spanish Empire took place on May 1509, when an army led by Pedro Navarro on behalf of the Cardinal Cisneros seized the North-African city, which was controlled by the Moors of Tlemcen.

Conquest of Oran
Cisneros entering Oran, by Juan de Borgoña.
Date May 1509 Location Oran Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
Spanish Empire	Kingdom of Tlemcen
Commanders and leaders
Cardinal Cisneros Pedro Navarro	Unknown
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

A fleet left port from Cartagena on 16 May and sailed towards Mers el-Kebir, a city located near Oran and already (since 1505) under Spanish control.[1] The fleet had 80 naos and 10 galleys, plus additional small boats. They carried around 8000-12,000 infantry-men and 3000-4000 cavalry-men.[1] The army spent the night of 17 May in Mers el Kebir.[1] The Christians stormed the city of Oran, then part of the Kingdom of Tlemcen, combining the use of the fleet with a ground assault on 18 May. After breaking through the walls of the city the casualties numbered less than 30 on the assaulting side, while the 12,000 defenders suffered 4,000 casualties.[2]

On 20 May, Cisneros entered the city, already conquered.[3]

The city remained a part of the Spanish Empire until 1708, when it was seized by the Ottoman Dey of Algiers taking advantage of the War of the Spanish Succession. The city was conquered again by the Spanish in 1732. After the 1790 earthquake, they abandoned Oran and Mers el-Kebir in 1792.

References

1. Fernández Duro 1895, p. 73.
2. Fernández Duro 1895, pp. 73-74.
3. Sánchez Doncel 1991, p. 536.

Bibliography

• Fernández Duro, Cesáreo. 1895. Armada Española (desde la unión de los reinos de Castilla y Aragón. Tomo I, 1476-1559). Imprenta Real. Accessed 2016.
• Sánchez Doncel, Gregorio. 1991. Presencia de España en Orán, 1509-1792. Estudio Teológico de San Ildefonso.