| Battle of Getares (1340) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Reconquista | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Sultanate of Morocco |
 Kingdom of Castile | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Abu al-Hasan |
Alfonso de Tenorio † | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 79 ships | 51 ships | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | 35 ships captured | ||||||
The Battle of the Getares of 1340 was a naval encounter between the Marinid fleet, under the command of Mohammed ben Ali al-Azafi, and a Castilian fleet led by Alfonso Jofre de Tenorio. The tough battle ended with the annihilation of the Castilian fleet.
In 1339, the Castilian king, Alfonso XI, launched a series of raids into the Granada territory; in response, Abu Malik Abd al-Wahid launched a military campaign to ravage the suburbs of Medina-Sidonia. He divided his army and attacked several places; however, the Castilian defenses proved effective. The Castilian army chased the Moors and defeated them in Vega de Pagana.[1]
After this defeat, the Moroccan sultan, Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Othman, decided to lead his own armies. Once Alfonso heard of this, he dispatched a navy under Alfonso Jofre de Tenorio to prevent the crossing of the Moroccans and supplies across the Strait of Gibraltar.[2] The Castilian admiral, however, found himself in a weakened position due to the winter, which left some ships unmanned.[3]
Abu Hassan crossed the strait and made their way to Gibraltar, evading Tenorio. The Castilians attempted to blockade Gibraltar; however, a powerful storm drove him off, allowing the Moroccans to cross the bay towards Algeciras. Tenorio attempted to blockade again; however, rumors spread aboard that he was bribed to allow the Moors to cross the strait. To ensure his loyalty, the Castilian king dispatched another 6 ships.[4]
The Moroccans had a navy of 79 ships, consisting of 44 galleys and 35 lenos, while the Castilians had 51.[5] The Castilians were suddenly attacked by the Marinid navy. The Castilians were caught unprepared off the beach of Getares.[6] The Moroccans attacked the galley of Tenorio; however, the Castilians bravely defended the ship and managed to repel the Moors three times.[7] Despite their resistance, they were overwhelmed in the end, and Tenorio was beheaded and his head thrown in the sea while his body was taken as a trophy to the Moroccan sultan. The captives were taken to Ceuta, where they were paraded.[8]
Out of 51 ships, 28 galleys and 7 naos were captured; 11 galleys that had not been engaged fled to Cartagena while the other 5 fled to Tarifa.[9]
Tenorio's failure to hold his navy together and low morale contributed to the Castilian defeat.[10] Abu Hassan's fleet now lay unchallenged in the strait.[11] Pope Benedict XII saw this disaster as divine punishment for the king's harsh treatment of the Master of Order of Alcántara.[12] Alfonso was forced to seek help from Portugal, Aragon, and Genoa.[13]
