The Battle of Wadi al-Laban () occurred in March–April 1558 between Saadians and Ottoman Algerian forces under Hasan Pasha, the son of

Hayreddin Barbarossa Hayreddin Barbarossa (, original name: Khiḍr; ), also known as Hayreddin Pasha, Hızır Hayrettin Pasha, and simply Hızır Reis (c. 1466/1483 – 4 July 1546), was an Ottoman corsair and later admiral of the Ottoman Navy. Barbarossa's ...

. It took place north of Fes, at Wadi al-Laban, an affluent of the Sebou River, one day north of Fes.

Background

This conflict took place in a context of tensions between Algeria and Morocco. Hasan Pasha son of

, the ruler of the

Regency of Algiers The Regency of Algiers was an Early modern period, early modern semi-independent Administrative divisions of the Ottoman Empire, Ottoman province and nominal Tributary states of the Ottoman Empire, vassal state on the Barbary Coast of North Afr ...

on behalf of the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...

, captured Fes from the Saadians in early 1554 and installed a Wattasid client. The Saadian ruler Mohammed al-Shaykh recaptured the city later that year. Following the return of the Saadians, numerous conflicts broke out between Algeria and Morocco, which tried to annex the Algerian city of

Tlemcen Tlemcen (; ) is the second-largest city in northwestern Algeria after Oran and is the capital of Tlemcen Province. The city has developed leather, carpet, and textile industries, which it exports through the port of Rachgoun. It had a population of ...

. Mohammed al-Shaykh subsequently sought an alliance with the

Spaniards Spaniards, or Spanish people, are a Romance-speaking ethnic group native to the Iberian Peninsula, primarily associated with the modern nation-state of Spain. Genetically and ethnolinguistically, Spaniards belong to the broader Southern a ...

who were occupying

Oran Oran () is a major coastal city located in the northwest of Algeria. It is considered the second most important city of Algeria, after the capital, Algiers, because of its population and commercial, industrial and cultural importance. It is w ...

at the time and were fighting the Ottomans as well, but the agreement failed to materialize. Hasan Pasha, the son of Barbarossa, was reappointed ''

beylerbey ''Beylerbey'' (, meaning the 'commander of commanders' or 'lord of lords’, sometimes rendered governor-general) was a high rank in the western Islamic world in the late Middle Ages and early modern period, from the Anatolian Seljuks and the I ...

'' of Algiers by the Ottoman sultan Suleiman I in June 1557. The Ottomans sent the Saadian sultan an embassy demanding he recognize the overlordship of the Ottoman sultan, which Mohammed al-Shaykh refused. Mohammed al-Shaykh was then assassinated in October 1557 by Turkish officers sent by Istanbul and entered into Saadian service under the pretense of being deserters. He was succeeded by Abdallah al-Ghalib. Meanwhile, the Saadians had occupied Tlemcen in 1556 but failed to capture the Machouar palace while the Ottoman Algerians were busy besieging the Spaniards in Oran. After Mohammed al-Shaykh's death, Hasan Pasha marched west, forcing the Saadians to abandon Tlemcen.

Battle

Led by Hasan Pasha, the Ottoman force pursued the retreating Saadian army into Morocco. An indecisive battle between the two sides took place in Wadi al-Laban to the north of Fez in early 1558.

Aftermath

After the battle, Hasan Pasha decided to retreat upon hearing of Spanish preparations for an offensive from

in Western Algeria. He embarked with his troops at the port of Qassasa in northern Morocco, just west of

Melilla Melilla (, ; ) is an autonomous city of Spain on the North African coast. It lies on the eastern side of the Cape Three Forks, bordering Morocco and facing the Mediterranean Sea. It has an area of . It was part of the Province of Málaga un ...

, and from there sailed to

Algiers Algiers is the capital city of Algeria as well as the capital of the Algiers Province; it extends over many Communes of Algeria, communes without having its own separate governing body. With 2,988,145 residents in 2008Census 14 April 2008: Offi ...

to prepare a defense against the Spaniards, who soon attacked in the Mostaganem expedition. Some sources attribute a victory to either Hassan or Abdallah. 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 & Distributors.

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 the Regency of Algiers 1558 in Africa Algeria–Morocco military relations

Background

Battle

Aftermath

See also

Notes