Crusade against Oran

Early in the 16th century cardinal Francisco Jimenez de Cisneros set his sights on the North African coast, a region where his religious zeal could find an outlet now that the Reconquista was over in Spain. He personally organized and financed a crusade against the city of Oran. The port of Mers El Kebir was captured in 1505 and in 1509 a strong force accompanied by Cisneros himself and led by the Condottieri Pedro Navarro finally took Oran in an assault.