Portuguese conquest of Ceuta

Portuguese Conquest of Ceuta

Panel of azulejos by Jorge Colaço (1864–1942) at the São Bento railway station, depicting Prince Henry the Navigator during the conquest of Ceuta
Date21 August 1415[1]
Location
Ceuta, Marinid dynasty (part of modern-day Spain)
35°53′45″N 5°18′01″W / 35.89583°N 5.30028°W / 35.89583; -5.30028
Result
  • Decisive Portuguese victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Portugal Marinid dynasty
Commanders and leaders
Salah Ben Salah[2]
Strength
  • 45,000[3] or 50,000[4] men, including:
  • 5,385 royal host[5]
  • 9,000 infantry[5]
  • 3,000 foot crossbowmen[5]
  • 1,900 mounted crossbowmen[5]
  • 1,700 sailors[5]

About 200 ships:

Unknown
Casualties and losses
8 men  [2][7] Several thousands killed or taken prisoners
1 cannon captured[8]

The Portuguese conquest of Ceuta took place on 21 August 1415, between Portuguese forces under the command of King John I of Portugal and the Marinid sultanate of Morocco at the city of Ceuta. The city's defenses fell under Portuguese control after a carefully prepared attack, and the successful capture of the city marked the beginning of the Portuguese Empire. Ceuta was held under Portuguese control until being transferred to Spain in 1668.

  1. ^ Newitt 2004, p. 20.
  2. ^ a b Gallagher 2003, p. 38.
  3. ^ Kinard 2007, p. 44.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference quintella was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c d e Monumenta Henricina. Vol. I. Coimbra. 1960. pp. 135–136.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference duarte was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Koch 2003, p. 36.
  8. ^ Chase 2003, p. 109.