Battle of Larache (1631)
| Battle of Larache (1631) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Larache fortress in 17th century | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Kingdom of Spain |
 Republic of Salé | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Diego Ruiz de Colmenares † |
Sidi M'Hamed al-Ayachi | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 600 men | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 436 or 600 killed | Unknown | ||||||
The battle of Larache occurred on February 7, 1631, when the forces of Sidi M'hamed el-Ayachi ambushed a detachment of the Spanish garrison of Larache.
Background
[edit]On January 27, 1605, during a civil war in Morocco, the Moroccan sultan, Mohammed esh Sheikh el Mamun, was defeated by his brother, Zidan Abu Maali. Mohammed took refuge in Spain afterward. There he signed a treaty with Philip III of Spain, whereby he obtained military support in return for ceding the northern Moroccan port of Larache.[1] At the time of the expulsion of Morsicos from Spain, Sidi al-Ayachi rose in fame, devouring himself to launch a holy war against the Christians.[2] In April 1627, Sidi al-Ayachi revolted against the sultan and attacked the harbor of Salé, which he captured and transformed into his principality, the Republic of Salé, becoming its independent governor.[3] al-Ayachi began attacking the Spanish areas in Morocco. In Larache, he managed to capture a spy named Ibn Aboud. Al-Ayachi ordered his execution, but Ibn Aboud begged for support in exchange for his life.[4]
Battle
[edit]al-Ayachi then dispatched Ibn Aboud to Larache to lure the Spanish out of town. Ibn Aboud reported that a group of Arab tribes were camping on a hill close to the town, and a potential attack would result in a large amount of loot. The Spanish immediately left the town.[5] Diego Ruiz de Colmenares[6] led the Spanish troops of around 600 men.[7] The troops of al-Ayachi surrounded the Spanish troops and massacred them.[8] Diego was wounded in the battle and died later on. The Spanish troops suffered 436 casualties,[9] or the entire force was killed.[10] The ambush took place on February 7, 1631.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ Jehanne-Marie Gandin (1970), La remise de Larache aux Espagnols en 1610, p. 72 [1]
- ^ Henry de Castries, p. 189
- ^ Kenneth R. Andrews, Ships, Money and Politics: Seafaring and Naval Enterprise in the Reign of Charles I, p. 167 [2]
- ^ Mohammed al-Ifrani, p. 442-443
- ^ Mohammed al-Ifrani, p. 442-443
- ^ Tomás García Figueras & Carlos Rodríguez Joulia Saint, p. 177
- ^ Henry de Castries, p. 195
- ^ Mohammed al-Ifrani, p. 443
- ^ Tomás García Figueras & Carlos Rodríguez Joulia Saint, p. 177
- ^ Henry de Castries, p. 195
- ^ Henry de Castries, p. 195
Sources
[edit]- Henry de Castries (1911), Unpublished sources of Moroccan history. Archives and libraries of France. Volume III. [3]
- Mohammed al-Ifrani, History of the Saadian dynasty in Morocco: 1511–1670.[4]
- Tomás García Figueras & Carlos Rodríguez Joulia Saint-Cyr (1973), Larache: datos para su historia en el siglo XVII.[5]