Battle of Larache (1631)

Battle of Larache (1631)
Larache fortress in 17th century
Date 7 February 1631 Location Larache, Morocco Result Moroccan victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Spain	Republic of Salé
Commanders and leaders
Diego Ruiz de Colmenares  (DOW)	Sidi M'Hamed al-Ayachi
Strength
600 men	Unknown
Casualties and losses
436 or 600 killed	Unknown

The Battle of Larache occurred on February 7, 1631, when the forces of Sidi M'hamed el-Ayachi ambushed a detachment of the Spanish garrison of Larache.

Background

On January 27, 1605, during a civil war in Morocco, the Moroccan sultan, Mohammed esh Sheikh el Mamun, was defeated by his brother, Zidan Abu Maali. Mohammed took refuge in Spain afterward. There he signed a treaty with Philip III of Spain, whereby he obtained military support in return for ceding the northern Moroccan port of Larache. ^[1] At the time of the expulsion of Morsicos from Spain, Sidi al-Ayachi rose in fame, devouring himself to launch a holy war against the Christians. ^[2] In April 1627, Sidi al-Ayachi revolted against the sultan and attacked the harbor of Salé, which he captured and transformed into his principality, the Republic of Salé, becoming its independent governor. ^[3] al-Ayachi began attacking the Spanish areas in Morocco. In Larache, he managed to capture a spy named Ibn Aboud. Al-Ayachi ordered his execution, but Ibn Aboud begged for support in exchange for his life. ^[4]

Battle

al-Ayachi then dispatched Ibn Aboud to Larache to lure the Spanish out of town. Ibn Aboud reported that a group of Arab tribes were camping on a hill close to the town, and a potential attack would result in a large amount of loot. The Spanish immediately left the town. ^[5] Diego Ruiz de Colmenares ^[6] led the Spanish troops of around 600 men. ^[7] The troops of al-Ayachi surrounded the Spanish troops and massacred them. ^[8] Diego was wounded in the battle and died later on. The Spanish troops suffered 436 casualties, ^[9] or the entire force was killed. ^[10] The ambush took place on February 7, 1631. ^[11]

References

1. Jehanne-Marie Gandin (1970), La remise de Larache aux Espagnols en 1610, p. 72
2. Henry de Castries, p. 189
3. Kenneth R. Andrews, Ships, Money and Politics: Seafaring and Naval Enterprise in the Reign of Charles I, p. 167
4. Mohammed al-Ifrani, p. 442-443
5. Mohammed al-Ifrani, p. 442-443
6. Tomás García Figueras & Carlos Rodríguez Joulia Saint, p. 177
7. Henry de Castries, p. 195
8. Mohammed al-Ifrani, p. 443
9. Tomás García Figueras & Carlos Rodríguez Joulia Saint, p. 177
10. Henry de Castries, p. 195
11. Henry de Castries, p. 195

Sources

• Henry de Castries (1911), Unpublished sources of Moroccan history. Archives and libraries of France. Volume III.
• Mohammed al-Ifrani, History of the Saadian dynasty in Morocco: 1511–1670.
• Tomás García Figueras & Carlos Rodríguez Joulia Saint-Cyr (1973), Larache: datos para su historia en el siglo XVII.