In 1525, a Spanish military expedition was launched to reconquer the exclave of Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera, which was taken by the Wattasids in 1522. The campaign ended in a fiasco for the Spanish troops. History In 1508, the Spanish general, Pedro Navarro, captured the islet of Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera while combating barbary corsairs. Gomera possessed a strategic location and its capture posed a threat to the Badis Berbers. It was fortified place and a shipyard for Barbary and Ottoman corsairs. In December 22, 1522, the Wattasid recovered the islet and put the entire garrison to sword, including their governor, Juan de Villalobos. The Spanish saw a fleet and thought it was their own, opening their gate to the fleet and discovering it was a Wattassid fleet.LA CONQUISTA DEL PEÑÓN DE VÉLEZ DE LA GOMERAMagdalena de Pazzis
In 1525, the Marquis of Mondejar, Luis Hurtado de Mendoza, obtained permission from Charles V to recover the islet, to which he agreed. Luis came with 70 ships and 1,500 men. The plan was to capture the islet at night; however, the Spanish arrived before night fell. The Wattasids were warned of the upcoming expedition and prepared themselves. As the Spanish troops were landing, the Wattasids attacked them with vigor, putting them on route. The Wattasids also used their artillery to damage their ships. Luis, who was on his ship near the coast, saw the massacre and could do nothing to help the landing forces.Enrique García Hernan, p. 118Juan Antonio Vilar Sánchez, p. 29Magdalena de Pazzis
Many Spanish knights were killed, including Juan Hurtado de Mendoza, Garica de Guzman, Gonzalo de Medrano, and other knights.Enrique García Hernan, p. 118 References
Sources Magdalena de Pazzis Pi Corrales (2019), Tercios del mar, History of the first Spanish Marine Infantry (In Spanish). Enrique García Hernan (2006), War and society in the Hispanic monarchy, politics, strategy and culture in Modern Europe, 1500-1700 (In Spanish), Vol I . Juan Antonio Vilar Sánchez (2000), 1526, boda y luna de miel del emperador Carlos V: la visita imperial a Andalucía y al reino de Granada.