| Conquest of Asilah | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part ofMoroccan–Portuguese conflicts | |||||||||
 The Portuguese assault on Asilah depicted on a 15th century tapestry. | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Kingdom of Portugal | Wattasid Morocco | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Afonso V of Portugal Prince John | Mohamed Cheikh | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 30,000 men 400 ships | Unknown | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Unknown | 2,000 killed[1] 5,000 captured[1] | ||||||||
ThePortuguese conquest of Asilah (Arabic:أصيلة، أرزيلة;Portuguese:Arzila) was a campaign led by KingAfonso V in modernMorocco from theWattasids on 24 August 1471.
Continuing with his policy of expansion of the Portuguese territories in Morocco, and with the spirit of Crusade against the Muslims always present, KingAfonso V of Portugal initially set plans to conquerTangier, but subsequently decided to conquerArzila.
Departing from the Portuguese town ofLagos with an army of about 30,000 men and 400 ships,[2] Afonso V arrived at the Moroccan coast on the afternoon of 22 August 1471. The Portuguese King summoned his Council and decided to attack Asilah on the morning of the following day. There was a terrible storm and a number of Portuguese ships were lost. It poured rain the entire three days of the siege.[3]
The storm was so severe it prevented the ships from laying down a cannon bombardment, and only two pieces of heavy artillery were brought to shore. After a troubled disembarkation that resulted in the death of more than 200 men caused by strong winds and waves, Afonso's army reached the shore and laid siege to the city ofAsilah, conquering it after a hard battle on 24 of August, 1471.[1]
TheCount of Valença,Henrique de Menezes, was appointed as the first Portuguese governor of Asilah by King Afonso V.[4]
The victory at Asilah paved the way for the unopposed conquest ofTangier four days later on 28 August 1471.[3]
Asilah was conquered and looted by the portuguese. Among the prisoners taken were two wives and a son of the Wattasid leaderMohammed ash-Shaykh, much of whose treasure also fell into portuguese hands[5]
In the late 15th century, a set of four large tapestries was commissioned to commemorate the battle. They were woven by Flemish weavers in Tournai, Belgium. The tapestries are notable highly for their portrayal of a contemporary event. The works are regarded as among the finest Gothic tapestries in existence.[3]
Wattasid dynasty topics | |
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