| Conflict: | Battle of Getares (1340) |
| Partof: | Reconquista |
| Date: | 9 April 1340 |
| Place: | Playa de Getares, Algeciras |
| Result: | Marinid victory |
| Combatant1: | Marinid Sultanate |
| Combatant2: | Kingdom of Castile |
| Commander1: | Abu al-Hasan |
| Strength1: | 79 ships |
| Strength2: | 51 ships |
| Casualties1: | Unknown |
| Casualties2: | 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 Hafsids of Tunis provided the Moroccans with some 20 ships.[6] The Castilians were suddenly attacked by the Marinid navy. The Castilians were caught unprepared off the beach of Getares.[7] The Moroccans attacked the galley of Tenorio; however, the Castilians bravely defended the ship and managed to repel the Moors three times.[8] 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.[9]
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.[10]
Tenorio's failure to hold his navy together and low morale contributed to the Castilian defeat.[11] Abu Hassan's fleet now lay unchallenged in the strait.[12] Pope Benedict XII saw this disaster as divine punishment for the king's harsh treatment of the Master of Order of Alcántara.[13] Alfonso was forced to seek help from Portugal, Aragon, and Genoa.[14]