Spanish assault on Djerba (1510)

The Spanish assault on Djerba (1510) was a military expedition undertaken by the Spanish Empire against the island of Djerba (also known as Jerba), located off the coast of modern-day Tunisia. Djerba at the time was a strategic location in the Mediterranean Sea, serving as a haven for Barbary pirates who preyed on Christian shipping and coastal settlements.

In 1510, as part of a broader effort to control North African coastal cities and suppress piracy, a Spanish fleet under the command of Pedro Navarro, Count of Oliveto, launched an attack on the island. The assault was relatively swift and successful. The local population, primarily Berber, offered limited resistance, and the Spanish forces quickly captured the main settlement on the island.

Following the capture of Djerba, the Spanish established a garrison and erected fortifications to secure their control. This was part of a larger Spanish policy of establishing presidios (fortified outposts) along the North African coast to project power and curb piracy.

However, Spanish control of Djerba proved to be short-lived and unsustainable. The island was geographically isolated and difficult to defend against counterattacks and prolonged sieges. The harsh conditions and constant harassment from local forces and Barbary corsairs made it a costly and challenging possession.

Ultimately, the Spanish abandoned Djerba in 1514 or 1515, withdrawing their garrison and ceding control back to local rulers. While brief, the Spanish occupation of Djerba highlights the complexities of the early 16th-century struggle for control of the Mediterranean and the ongoing conflict between Christian and Muslim powers in the region. The raid was part of a larger pattern of Spanish incursions into North Africa, aiming to secure trade routes and diminish the power of the Barbary corsairs.