The Battle of Hammamet was an attack by the Spanish-Sicilian-Maltese fleet on the Tunisian town Hammamet, the campaign ended in a fiasco and massacre for the allied troops.
Battle In 1605, a fleet of 10 ships consisting of 6Arne Zuidhoek, The Pirate Encyclopedia, The Pirate's Way, p. 16 or 7Anderson, R.C, Naval wars in the Levant, 1559-1853, p. 71Amos Perry, Carthage and Tunis Past and Present: in Two Parts, p. 185 Sicilian ships, 3Anderson, R.C, p. 71Amos Perry, p. 185 or 4 Maltese shipsArne Zuidhoek, p. 16 and 1,200Arne Zuidhoek, p. 16 or 1,400Anderson, R.C, p. 71Amos Perry, p. 185 men, the aim was to attack the city of Hammamet, The allied forces was led by the Spanish commander Juan de Padilla Manrique y Acuña, Adelantado of Castile,Anderson, R.C, p. 71 they landed on 14 AugustAnderson, R.C, p. 71 and the Allied troops quickly captured the city, slaying its entire garrison and capturing a few women, according to Alonso de Contreras. A trumpet sound was heard, which prompted a retreat. Since no one knew who ordered the retreat, the allied troops withdrew back to their ships, with the whole army on the beach ahead. Seeing this, the Tunisians attacked them. On top of this, a storm wrecked the ships, making the escape impossible, and the allied troops were surrounded and massacred. The Adelantado tried to swim but was killed.Arne Zuidhoek, p. 16 in the ensuing massacre, 500Anderson, R.C, p. 71 or 1,000Alan G. Jamieson, Lords of the Sea, A History of the Barbary Corsairs, p. 125 were killed in the expedition.
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