Oran expedition (1707)

The Oran Expedition in 1707 was a military operation led by Moulay Ismail ibn Sharif in which he attempted to extend Moroccan rule into western Algeria.[2] The battle ended in a Moroccan defeat, and the site of the battle was named after the defeated Moroccan king, Moulay Ismail.

Oran Expedition (1707)
Part of Conflicts between the Regency of Algiers and Morocco
Date1707
Location
Moulay Ismail forest, 35 kilometres east of Oran
Result

Algerian decisive victory

  • Moroccan army almost entirely destroyed
Belligerents

Regency of Algiers

 Sultanate of Morocco
Commanders and leaders
Bouchelaghem Bey Ismail ibn Sharif
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown Heavy losses: The army is almost entirely destroyed[1]

Background

Oran which was then under Spanish rule was plagued by the attempts of Morocco and Algiers. Despite his previous unsuccessful siege in 1693, Moulay Ismail made another attempt to extend Moroccan domination to Oran in 1707. The Moroccan king raided the areas near Oran, with the objective of eventually taking control of the city.

Battle

The attack took place in a forest not far from a small village called La Mare d'Eau.[3] 35 km east of Oran.[4]

Moulay Ismail and his army encountered the Bey of Mascara Mustapha Bouchelaghem who then severely defeated Moulay Ismail.[5][6] Moulay Ismail's army was almost entirely destroyed.[7]

Consequences

It is said that the night of his defeat, while fleeing the battle, followed only by a few of his officers Ismail turned to them and said :«Oran is comparable to a viper sheltered under rock, misery to the unwise who touch it !».[8]

Right after the unsuccessful Moroccan invasion Mustapha Bouchelaghem captured Oran from the Spaniards.

References
  1. Handbook for Travellers in Algeria and Tunis - Sir Robert Lambert Playfair J. Murray,
  2. Ministere De La Guerre. Tableau De La Situation Des Éstablissements Français Dan L’Algérie En 1841. Paris. Imprimerie Royale. 1842.
  3. Cook, Thomas (1913). The Traveller's Handbook for Algeria and Tunisia. T. Cook. p. 142.
  4. L, Péchot (1914). Histoire de l'Afrique du Nord avant 1830 précédée de la géographie physique et politique de la Tunisie, de l'Algérie et du Maroc · Volume 3 (in French). Gojosso. p. 251.
  5. Algerie, Tunisie - Prosper Ricard, Magdelaine Parisot Hachette,
  6. Les correspondances du Capitaine Daumas, consul de france à Mascara: 1837-1839 - Eugène Daumas, Georges Yver Editions el Maarifa,
  7. Handbook for Travellers in Algeria and Tunis - Sir Robert Lambert Playfair J. Murray,
  8. Fey, Henri-Léon (1858). Histoire d'Oran avant, pendant et après la domination espagnole (in French). Typ. A. Perrier. p. 115.
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