Spanish–Algerian War (1775–1785)
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The Spanish–Algerian War was a conflict between the Spanish Empire and the Deylik of Algiers.
Spanish–Algerian War | |||||||
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Part of the Spanish–Barbary wars | |||||||
Bombardment of Algiers (1784) | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Kingdom of Spain Kingdom of Naples Kingdom of Sicily Hospitaller Malta Kingdom of Portugal Duchy of Tuscany | Regency of Algiers | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
John Acton |
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Strength | |||||||
1775: 20,000 men 7 ships of the line 12 frigates 27 gunboats 5 hulks 9 feluccas 4 mortar boats 7 galleys 3 smaller warships 230 transports[1] 1783: 76 ships 1784: 9 ships of the line 11 frigates 14 xebecs 90 smaller warships[2] |
Total: 4,000 Janissaries 15,000 camelry 14,000 infantry 2 demi-galleys 2 xebecs 6 gunboats 1 felucca[3] 70 galliots, gunboats, and other minor ships | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
5,000 dead 2,000 wounded [4] |
300 dead (1775) unknown total deaths 65 galiots and gunboats destroyed[5] |
An attempted peace treaty in 1766 resulted only in an exchange of captives. Spain officially declared war in 1775, launching an ill-fated invasion led by Alejandro O'Reilly that was repelled with significant losses, despite support from Tuscan forces. Algerian privateering increased post-invasion, and Spain's attempts at peace through diplomacy and bribery were unsuccessful. Two separate bombardments of Algiers by Rear admiral Antonio Barceló in 1783 and 1784 inflicted limited damage and failed to compel Algerian surrender. The war concluded in 1785 with a treaty that required Spain to pay 1,000,000 Pesos in war reparations but failed to end hostilities or piracy.