Battle of Ceuta (1182)

Battle of Ceuta (1182)
Part of the Reconquista and Almohad wars in the Iberian Peninsula
Date 17 September 1182 Location Ceuta, Spain Result Almohad victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Portugal	Almohad Caliphate
Commanders and leaders
Fuas Roupinho  †	Unknown
Strength
21 ships	54 ships
Casualties and losses
11 ships lost	Unknown

The Battle of Ceuta took place in 1182, pitting the Portuguese and Almohad fleets off the coast of Ceuta. The Portuguese suffered a bitter defeat, losing a significant portion of their fleet, including their renowned admiral Fuas Ropinho.

Background

In 1180, Portugal commissioned its inaugural fleet in history ^[1] And achieved significant successes against Almohad ships at Cape Espichel ^{[2] [3]} then Ceuta ^{[4] [5]} In June 1182, the Portuguese fleet faced a severe setback against the Almohad fleets of Ceuta and Seville in the Battle of Silves. The Portuguese lost 20 to 30 ships and 1,800 prisoners in this defeat. ^{[1] [6]}

Battle

In 1182, following the setback near Silves, Fuas Ropinho, the admiral of the Portuguese fleet, decided to launch a new raid on Ceuta with a naval force of 21 galleys. However, the Portuguese navy was struck by a storm on the Algarve coast, forcing him to enter the Mediterranean. On 17 September, Fuas found himself in Ceuta, surrounded by a large Almohad fleet of 54 galleys who had already learned of the upcoming raid. The Portuguese chose to fight despite the inequality of the forces. The Portuguese were defeated with a loss of 11 galleys, and Fuas was killed. The remaining ships returned to the kingdom, reporting the news of the defeat. ^{[7] [8] [3] [4] [9]}

References

1. Cressier, Patrice (2006). La maîtrise de l'eau en al-Andalus: paysages, pratiques et techniques (in French). Casa de Velázquez. ISBN   978-84-95555-69-4.
2. Moing, Guy Le (2016-03-24). L'Histoire de la marine pour les Nuls (in French). edi8. p. 506. ISBN   978-2-7540-8805-3.
3. Picard, Christophe (1997-01-01). La Mer et les musulmans d'Occident au Moyen Âge: VIIIe-XIIIe siècle (in French). Presses universitaires de France (réédition numérique FeniXX). p. 224. ISBN   978-2-13-068087-1.
4. Schäfer, Heinrich (1840). Histoire de Portugal: depuis sa séperation de la Castille jusqu'à nos jours (in French). Parent-Desbarres. p. 588.
5. Cherif, Mohamed (1996). Ceuta aux époques almohade et mérinide (in French). Harmattan. ISBN   978-2-7384-4029-7.
6. Picard, Christophe (1997). L'océan Atlantique musulman: de la conquête arabe à l'époque almohade : navigation et mise en valeur des côtes d'al-Andalus et du Maghreb occidental (Portugal-Espagne-Maroc) (in French). Maisonneuve & Larose. ISBN   978-2-7068-1254-5.
7. Antonio Feliciano de Castilho (2010), Obras completas de A. F. de Castilho: Quadros historicos de Portugal p. 64
8. O Panorama: Semanario de Litteratura E Instruccao, Vol. IV, p. 62
9. Hespéris : Archives berbères et Bulletin de l'Institut des hautes études marocaines : Tome 42, Paris, Larose, 1955.