Battle of Alcácer Quibir (Battle of Three Kings) in 1578

The Battle of Alcácer Quibir, (also known as "Battle of Three Kings" or "Battle of Wadi al-Makhazin"), fought near Ksar-el-Kebir and Larache on August 4, 1578, resulted in a Moroccan victory, marking the end of Portuguese attempts to reclaim lost territories.

It's considered the greatest military disaster in Portuguese overseas expansion. The combatants were the army of deposed Moroccan Sultan Abu Abdallah Mohammed II, allied with King Sebastian I of Portugal, against a large Moroccan army led by the new Sultan Abd Al-Malik I.

Sebastian I had planned a crusade after Abu Abdallah's request to reclaim his throne, taken by Abd Al-Malik with Ottoman support. The defeat led to the end of the Aviz dynasty and Portugal's integration into the Iberian Union with Spain for 60 years under the Philippine Dynasty.

Voice & editing: Nicolae Bondar (myself)

Music used in video: Arabian Nightfall by Doug Maxwell/Media Right Productions, from YouTube Audio Library

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[Danieljhonson]

Long live to the cherifien Moroccan empire

[bernardopratta]

The most interesting parts about this battle are never mentioned conveniently, but same of the most referenced sources mention the geopolitical context of this battle, and also what happened to the King of Portugal.

1. Portugal’s main goal was to destroy the Ottoman army, and then conquer the kingdom of Morrocco and reinstate the dethroned king.

They successfully destroyed most the Ottoman army, whose plan was to invade Morrocco after destroying the Christian Coalition.


2. The Portugueze killed a lot more men than the Muslim forces, who were far greater in number.

Thanks to this carnage, the Ottoman forces could no longer pursue their goal of conquering Morrocco, and accessing the recently discovered New World.

Thanks to the Christians / Europeans who fought in this battle, the Muslims never touched the Americas.

3. King Sebastião survived the battle, there is no single source that indicates that the King’s body was found, and multiple sources indicating that he retreated with severe injuries from a grenade explosion on the backside of his elm.

He was later treated in the Algarves and exiled under the Pope’s “protection”.