In 1525, a Spanish military expedition was launched to reconquer the exclave of Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera, which was taken by the Moroccan Wattasids in 1522. The campaign ended in a fiasco for the Spanish troops.
History.
In 1508, the Spanish general, Pedro Navarro, captured the islet of Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera while combating barbary corsairs. Gomera possessed a strategic location and its capture posed a threat to the Badis Berbers. It was fortified place and a shipyard for Barbary and Ottoman corsairs. In December 22, 1522, the Wattasid Moroccans recovered the islet and put the entire garrison to sword, including their governor, Juan de Villalobos. The Spanish saw a fleet and thought it was their own, opening their gate to the fleet and discovering it was a Moroccan fleet.
In 1525, the Marquis of Mondejar, Luis Hurtado de Mendoza, obtained permission from Charles V to recover the islet, to which he agreed. Luis came with 70 ships and 1,500 men. The plan was to capture the islet at night; however, the Spanish arrived before night fell. The Moroccans were warned of the upcoming expedition and prepared themselves. As the Spanish troops were landing, the Moroccans attacked them with vigor, putting them on route. The Moroccans also used their artillery to damage their ships. Luis, who was on his ship near the coast, saw the massacre and could do nothing to help the landing forces.
Many Spanish knights were killed, including Juan Hurtado de Mendoza, Garica de Guzman, Gonzalo de Medrano, and other knights.
References.
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