A History of the Empire: Vol. 2
Chapter 8: Heresy and Anne’s Decree
Following the Overseer Act and Transport Act, Great Britain saw an outpour of oppressed Irish and Scottish subjects, along with some German and Italian merchants, heading to North Africa in hopes of fortune through the various new trade networks set up. With a growing Christian community coming in, change was quick. Some of this change was welcomed at the time, while other issues would become more heated. In Gabes, a North African city, a priest and prominent philosopher by the name of Edger Essex would present ideas for integrating the Islamic features of the area into Christian society. His most known idea was that of combined Muslim and Christian places of worship. Essex had come to admire Islamic architecture and had pushed several times to have new churches built with some of these Islamic features. His proposals, while productive and well received by some locals, were viewed as heretical in many ways, and British authorities attempted to quash Essex and many with similar ideas within the next few years.
During this time period another turbulent event was taking place. Castilian diplomats were pushing for the annexation of what remained of Algiers. The British, having guaranteed the Algerians through Anne’s Decree, warned that such a move would bring war. While we currently know that the Castilian crown had no real intention to push their claims at the time, many British, especially those who had recently arrived in North Africa, feared an Iberian invasion would come. Wielding the might of the Pope’s support and Anne’s deft policies, plans were made for a preemptive attack on Castilian forces in North Africa.
These preparations would culminate far too late for an immediate attack. The Castilians, possibly through espionage or North African rebels, gained knowledge of the British preparations and launched an attack on Algiers in 1437 in fear, hoping for a bluff on the part of the British or possibly an unorganized defense through which they may strike at the newly developing North African lands before British forces could attack them first.
Great Britain was now under attack by her two leading naval rivals, Castille and Portugal, and with one of the strongest land powers, Burgundy. The British forces were in immediate disarray. The Royal navy, which was transporting merchants, colonists, and newly recruited soldiers to North Africa was attacked by the combined forces of Portugal and Castille off the coast of northern Iberia and forced to flee into the neutral ports of France. It would eventually retreat to England to hold off any Burgundian landings on the Isles themselves.
Castille was able to land somewhere between 30,000 and 40,000 men in Algiers during this time. The British military in the whole of North Africa numbered only 24,000 when the war started. British forces were continually turned back, along with their uneasy allies in Algiers. A soldier, by the name of Anthony Buckingham, would be part of the answer. Buckingham, a veteran of the wars with Morocco and Algiers earlier, would help to lead British forces in a series of counter attacks.
The early attacks were mostly disastrous, as the 16,000 men at Buckingham’s disposal attempted to dislodge the massive Castilian force that had made much progress throughout Algiers. Attrition had helped to wither the enemy, but roughly 25,000 remained. In 1439, the Royal Navy engaged and defeated the main Portuguese navy near Galicia. Shortly after, new troops were landed in Morocco. Buckingham’s 16,000 soldiers, plus the 8,000 new arrivals, gave Great Britain the power it needed. In late 1439, after a series of battles, the Castilian forces in North Africa surrendered, leaving British and Algerian forces in a position to reverse Castilian gains.
Following this break though, Castille would help to raise 14,000 Moroccan rebels to cut off British forces. The largely worn out British army had dwindled considerably while fighting the Castilians, and only 16,000 soldiers remained to fight the rebels. With the main British forces cut off and their numbers shrinking, Castille landed another 9,000 soldiers in Algiers. It wasn’t until 1441 that Great Britain was able to destroy the rebel forces and then move into a series of battles with Castille. Within 3 months, Buckingham had destroyed all remaining enemy soldiers and Great Britain began to attack the small Castilian holdings in Africa. Following news of these setbacks, Portugal and Burgundy exited the war. After a period of intense naval maneuvering and a few small land battles, Algiers and Great Britain would eventually come out the victors, and Castille would offer their African possessions in return for peace, with Melilla going to the British and Ceuta going to Algiers in August of 1442.
With the last major British rival pushed out of Africa at the time, British control in the area was complete. It would not be last time the Iberians would interfere with British expansion though. Following this war, intense development began in not only the more recently added regions, but also to places like Tripoli and Tunisia. A strong urge to Christianize as much of Africa as possible, combined with the beginnings of British colonialism, would help to turn North Africa into a key area of British expansion.