| Conquest of Oran | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cisneros entering Oran, byJuan de Borgoña. | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Spanish Empire |  Kingdom of Tlemcen | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Cardinal CisnerosPedro 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 | ||||||
Theconquest of Oran by theSpanish Empire took place on May 1509, when an army led byPedro Navarro on behalf of theCardinal Cisneros seized the North African city, which was controlled by theKingdom of Tlemcen (Zayyanid dynasty).
In 1505, the Spanish captured the city ofMers-El-Kébir after asuccessful expedition against theZayyanids. In 1507, the Zayyanidsambushed the city of Mers-el-Kébir, with about 11,000 cavalry, gaining a decisive victory against the Spanish forces.[1]
Preparations for the expedition began in September 1508. The Crown invested 39.6 millionmaravedis in the expedition. In comparison, the armada toCastilla del Oro in 1514 would cost 14 million and the armada of Maluco led byHernando de Magallanes cost 8.35 million.[2]
A fleet left port fromCartagena on 16 May and sailed towardsMers el-Kebir, a city located nearOran and already (since 1505) under Spanish control.[3] The fleet had 80naos and 10 galleys, plus additional small boats. They carried around 8,000–12,000 infantry-men and 3,000-4,000 cavalry-men.[3] The army spent the night of 17 May in Mers el Kebir.[3]The Christians stormed the city of Oran, then part of theKingdom 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.[4]
On 20 May, Cisneros entered the city, already conquered.[5]
The city remained a part of the Spanish Empire until 1708, when it was seized by the Ottoman Dey of Algiers taking advantage of theWar of the Spanish Succession. The city was conquered again by the Spanish in 1732. After the1790 Oran earthquake, they abandoned Oran and Mers el-Kebir in 1792.