| Capture of Fez | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Kingdom of Morocco (Saadian dynasty, acting Sultan Mulay Muhammed) | Kingdom of Morocco (Saadian dynasty, pretendent to the throne Abd al-Malek) Ottoman Empire |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Mulay Muhammed | Abd al-Malek | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| About 30,000 soldiers | 6,000 Ottoman Janissary gunners 1,000 Zouaouas infantrymen 800 spahis 12 cannons 3,000 Moroccan cavalrymen |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
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Capture of Fez
Location of capture of Fez in Morocco.
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The Capture of Fez occurred in 1576 at the Moroccan city of Fez, when an Ottoman Empire force from Algiers supported Abd al-Malek in gaining the throne of Morocco against his nephew and rival claimant Mulay Muhammed.[1][2] About 10,000 Ottoman soldiers participated to the campaign. This campaign followed a short-lived Ottoman capture of Fez in 1554.[3]
Abd al-Malek won over his rival at the battle of ar-Rukn, also er-Roken.[1] Mulay Muhammed fled to Marrakesh and would continue resisting Abd al-Malek for a long time.[2]
Abd al-Malek entered Fez victoriously in March 1576.[2]
Abd al-Malek recognized the Ottoman sultan Murad III as his Caliph, and reorganized his army on Ottoman lines and adopted Ottoman customs, but negotiated for the Ottoman troops to leave his country, in exchange for a large payment in gold.[2]
Meanwhile, Mulay Muhammed fled to Spain and then Portugal, when Sebastian of Portugal promised to help him regain his throne. This led to an expedition and the Battle of Ksar El Kebir in 1578, which was a considerable defeat for the Portuguese and reinforced the power of Abd al-Malek.[2]
These events left the Ottomans in a very strong position in the Maghreb, becoming a direct threat the Spanish heartland.[4]