August 4th, 1578 - The Battle of Al Kasr al Kebir

Conflict: Moroccan-Portuguese War

Combatants: Moroccans vs. Portuguese

Location: Morocco

Outcome: Moroccan victory

In 1578, King Sebastian I of Portugal personally led an army in conquest of Morocco. The venture, however, ended in disaster when his army was destroyed at Al Kasr al Kebir. Sebastian himself and the King of Fez were killed in the melee.

Cena da Batalha de Alcácer Quibir by unknown artist

Points of Interest:

• The pretender to the throne of Fez, allied with Sebastian, was also killed in this the Battle of Al Kasr al Kebir.

• Sebastian I's death led to a brief war of succession from which Phillip II rose to the throne of Portugal.

Sebastian I of Portugal by Pieter Pourbus

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Sources:

Dupuy, Trevor N., Johnson, Curt, & Bongard, David L. (1992). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military Biography. New York: Castle Books (HarperCollins).

Dupuy, R. Ernest & Dupuy, Trevor N. (1993). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military History. New York: HarperCollins.

Eggenberger, David (1985). An Encyclopedia of Battles: Accounts of Over 1,560 Battles from 1479 B.C. to the Present. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.