The Battle of Wadi al-Laban, also Battle of Oued el Leben,معركة وادي اللبن occurred in March–April 1558 between
Saadians and
Turkish-Algerian forces under
Hasan Pasha, the son of
Hayreddin Barbarossa
Hayreddin Barbarossa ( ar, خير الدين بربروس, Khayr al-Din Barbarus, original name: Khiḍr; tr, Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa), also known as Hızır Hayrettin Pasha, and simply Hızır Reis (c. 1466/1478 – 4 July 1546), was an O ...
and occurred north of
Fes, at Wadi al-Laban ("The riverbed of milk" or "The riverbed of yoghurt"
), an affluent of the
Sebou River
Sebou (Berber: Asif en Sbu, ar, سبو) is a river in northern Morocco. At its source in the Middle Atlas mountains it is known as the Guigou River (Berber: Asif n Gigu). The river is 496 kilometers long and has an average water flow of 137 m3 ...
, one day north of Fes.
Background
This conflict took place in a context of tensions between Algeria and Morocco.
until the return of the Saadian Mohammed ash-Sheikh to power. Following the return of the Saadians, numerous conflicts broke out between Algeria and Morocco, which tried to annex the Algerian city of Tlemcen.
The conflict was initiated when the Moroccan ruler
Mohammed ash-Sheikh
''Mawlay'' Mohammed al-Shaykh al-Sharif al-Hassani ( ar, محمد الشيخ الشريف الحسني) known as Mohammed al-Shaykh ( ar, محمد الشيخ) (b. 1490 – d. 23 October 1557) was the first sultan of the Saadian dynasty of Morocc ...
refused to give allegiance to the Ottomans and the alliance he concluded with the Spaniards.
, the son of
Barbarossa, was named by the
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...
''
beylerbey'' of the Regency of Algiers in June 1557, in order to continue the fight against the Moroccan ruler. He had Mohammed ash-Sheikh assassinated in October 1557 by one of his bodyguards.
Battle
The Ottoman turks who were backing the Wattasid sent an invasion force into Morocco led by the ruler of Algiers Hasan Pasha, the son of
khizr barbarossa,
then he conquered Fes in September 1554. An indecisive battle between the two sides took place in Wadi al-Laban to the north of
Fez,
[''A history of the Maghrib in the Islamic period'' by Jamil M. Abun-Nasr p.157''ff''](_blank)
/ref> after which, Hasan Pasha decided to retreat upon hearing of Spanish preparations for an offensive from Oran in Western Algeria.
Aftermath
Abdallah al-Ghalib later sent an expedition against Tlemcen in 1560 but it was defeated.[The Last Crusaders: East, West and the Battle for the Centre of the World]
Barnaby Rogerson. Hachette UK.[History of Islam: Classical period, 1206-1900 C.E.]
Masudul Hasan. Adam Publishers & Distributers. Despite his initial opposition against the Ottomans, later during his reign Abdallah al-Ghalib
Abdallah al-Ghalib Billah (; b. 1517 – d. 22 January 1574, 1557–1574) was the second Saadian sultan of Morocco. He succeeded his father Mohammed al-Shaykh as Sultan of Morocco.
Biography
Early life
With his first wife Sayyida Rabia, M ...
was forced to pay an annual tribute of vassalage to the Ottomans therefore establishing Ottoman influence on the entire Maghreb.[ مجلة التاريخية المغربية Issues 37-40 Imprimerie de l'UGTT.]
See also
* Conflicts between Ottoman Algeria and Morocco
* Morocco-Ottoman relations
Notes
{{coord, 34, 18, 0, N, 4, 54, 0, W, type:event_region:MA, display=title
Wadi al-Laban
Wadi al-Laban
Wadi al-Laban
Suleiman the Magnificent
1558 in the Ottoman Empire
16th century in Morocco
16th century in Algeria
1558 in Africa