Siege Sieges of Oran and Mers El Kébir

map of bay of oran in 1725, johannes van keulen.

the siege began on april 3, 1563, when ottoman troops massively attacked tower of todos los santos, defended 200 spanish soldiers. fierce resistance of fort s garrison, along artillery support mers el kébir, inflicted heavy casualties on attackers. however, once ottoman cannons tore down walls, fort taken. meantime jafar s galleys blocked mers el kébir prevent city relieved oran. ottoman s main objective capture mers el kébir, hassan warned several renegades spanish planned abandon oran concentrate on defense of other town. therefore, destined of troops take fort of san miguel, key point of spanish defense, while few troops remained blocking oran.

san miguel s fort attacked during 22 days 24,000 infantry , 400 cavalry soldiers. few defenders rejected hassan s offer of surrender , repelled 6 assaults left moat full of dead janissaries. among ottoman casualties governor of constantine, body recovered men permission of martín de córdoba. however, despite stubbornness of defense, reinforcements sent mers el kébir not enough continue fighting, , on may 8, under cover of darkness, spanish survivors retreated town.

siege of mers el kébir

Álvaro de bazán, 1st marquis of santa cruz.

once inside fort, ottoman troops surrounded city, digging trenches around , placing artillery break down walls. on nearby hill installed several culverins bombard inner town. martín de córdoba, had less 500 men available defend city, prepared assault. 1 took place on 20 may. hassan sent ahead 12,000 alarabs break resistance of spanish harquebusiers , facilitate assault 2 columns of regular troops attack secondly. despite heavy losses suffered, alarabs managed scale walls , raise ottoman flag on battlements. however, spanish expelled them soon. in attack 2,500 men died, falling moat around town.

in following days took place more assaults failed great loss of life, although spanish situation had become desperate. on june 6 hassan order final assault, when relief fleet took army surprise. king philip ii had ordered fleet organized in cartagena in order attack hassan s army , force lift siege. under command of francisco de mendoza, seconded Álvaro de bazán , andrea doria, 34 galleys coming barcelona, naples, genoa, savoy, , malta, had embarked 4,000 soldiers , many volunteer knights, , had sailed mers el kébir. hassan, fearing trapped between spanish reinforcements , mers el kébir, ordered troops retreat hastily. tents saved, guns, clothing , tools left in field. ottoman fleet not lucky, , several of ships, including 4 of french carracks, captured.