- Conquest of Asilah
-
Conquest of Asilah Part of Moroccan-Portuguese conflicts 
Portuguese possessions in Morocco (1415–1769)Date 24 August, 1471 Location Asilah, Morocco Result Portuguese victory Belligerents 
Kingdom of Portugal
Wattasid MoroccoCommanders and leaders Afonso V of Portugal
Prince JohnMohamed Cheikh Strength 30,000 men
400 shipsUnknown Casualties and losses Unknown 2,000 killed[1]
5,000 captured[2]Battles in Iberia
Ourique – 1st Santarém – Lisbon – 2nd Santarém Las Navas de Tolosa – Salado
Battles in Morocco
Ceuta –1st Tangier – Asilah – Azemmour – Agadir – Ksar El KebirThe Conquest of Asilah (Arabic: أصيلة، أرزيلة;Portuguese: Arzila), took place in Morocco on 24 August, 1471, and opposed the Kingdom of Portugal and the Wattasid Morocco.
Continuing with his policy of expansion of the Portuguese territories in Morocco, and with the spirit of Crusade against the muslims always present, King Afonso V of Portugal initially sets plans to conquer Tangier, but he later changes his plans and decides to conquer Arzila.
Departing from the Portuguese town of Lagos with an army of about 30,000 men and 400 ships,[3] Afonso V arrives at the Moroccan coast on the afternoon of 22 August. The Portuguese King then summons his Council for a reunion, and decides to attack Asilah on the morning of the following day. After a troubled disembarkation that resulted in the death of more than 200 men caused by strong winds and waves, Afonso's army reaches the shore and lays siege to the city of Asilah, conquering it after an hard battle on 24 of August, 1471.[4]
The Count of Valença, Henrique de Menezes, was appointed as the first Portuguese governor of Asilah by King Afonso V.[5]
See also
- History of Portugal
- History of Morocco
- Portuguese Empire
- Wattasid dynasty
- House of Avis
- Battle of Ceuta
- Edward of Portugal
- Henry the Navigator
- Fernando, the Saint Prince
Notes
- ^ Diffie, Shafer, Winius "On August 24 the Portuguese captured the city killing some 2000 "infidels" and taking 5000 captives." p.145
- ^ Diffie, Shafer, Winius, p.145
- ^ Black, "Asilah had been captured in 1471 by a Portuguese force of 400 ships and 30,000 men." p.18
- ^ Diffie, Shafer, Winius p.145
- ^ Quintella, p.181, p.182
References
- Jeremy Black, Cambridge illustrated atlas, warfare: Renaissance to revolution, 1492-1792 (1996) ISBN 0-521-47033-1
- Bailey Wallys Diffie,Boyd C. Shafer,George Davison Winius, Foundations of the Portuguese empire, 1415-1580 (1977) ISBN 0-8166-0782-6
- Ignacio da Costa Quintella, Academia das Ciências de Lisboa, Annaes da marinha portugueza, Volume 1 (1839)
Categories:- Portuguese Empire
- Battles involving Portugal
- Battles involving Morocco
- 15th century in Portugal
- 15th century in Africa
- 1471 in Portugal
- Conflicts in 1471
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