Revenge
The waiting was the worst part, thought Alfonso V. He and his thousand man stood around the walls of Tangiers and just waited. The city was more or less quiet, as a city under siege is. Just piercing cries of muezzins as they called the religious folk to prayer pierced the silence. The city was cut off, more or less. As much as you could do with a thousand man. And in the sea, you can see the Portuguese ships, staying well out of range of the city, patrolling. Garrison not daring to march out though, willing to risk everything on a single battle.
Portuguese had done just that. The war had just begun. Whole Portuguese army had marched to Tangiers. Then, the news arrived that Moroccan troops are marching towards Ceuta. The Portuguese had left Alfonso and a token force to guard the city and marched to meet them in battle.
Siege of Tangiers
If the Moroccans would win, Alfonso and his soldiers still had a slight chance to board the ships and get out alive, but the chances were not so good. It was a gamble, but it was a gamble worth taking. Just, now Alfonso had to wait for the result, feeling powerless.
It was dusk. Alfonso was just about to retire to his tent and get some sleep, as he heard the cheering. Lots of it. And galloping. Around 10 horseman, riding in at full gallop, chanting “Vitória! Vitória!”, and all of the small detachment Alfonso commanded, following them, all of them starting to chant “Vitória!” as well.
The riders stopped in front of the royal tent, jumped off the horse, kneeled before their king and their leader said: “My king! A complete victory! Moroccan army is no more!”
It was a decade ago when Portugal tried the very same. Take Tangiers. Portugal was ruled by Alfonso’s father, Duarte, at the time. And it was a complete and utter disaster. Portuguese did not manage to take the city. Instead, the Moroccans managed to surround them, starve them into submission and finally let them go, only after the Portuguese promised to give back the city of Ceuta. That they did and left brother of Duarte, uncle of Alfonso, Prince Fernando, as hostage. In the end, Ceuta was not returned and Fernando died in captivity 5 years ago. Truly a devastating defeat.
Rare portrait of Prince Ferdinand
That victory made Moroccans to underestimate Portuguese. Seriously underestimate. They marched to Ceuta, laid siege of the city, did not even bother with scouts and were completely caught off guard when Portuguese army arrived. The heathens did not anticipate that the Portuguese would move so quickly and were caught with their pants down. The Portuguese assaulted the confused Moroccans. Cut straight into their lines even before the Moroccans really understood what was going on. Then, the city gates opened and the small garrison of Ceuta hit them in their back. This was enough for Moroccans. The ones not being killed turned tail and run. The Moroccan army was no more.
It was 10th March 1447. The war had lasted for less then 2 month when the Portuguese made an entire Moroccan military force disappear in one decisive battle. Things were looking up.
This is what i'd call an excellent start of the war
Outside World
The Portuguese fought alone. Aragon refused to help, and Tlemcen just got into war with Tunis. As Alfonso himself put it though: “Better that way. They are too busy fighting amongst themselves to even think of interfering.”
There was still Granada, trusted ally of Morocco. Diego Gomes and every ship in Portugal stood on guard to keep them interfering and sending their troops across the shore. Until in May 1448, Castile finally declared war on Granada. It had some unexpected consequences though. The Granadans marched away from superior Castilian army and to everyone’s surprise, set siege to Lisboa. Just, there were not enough troops for them to siege the city. After much debate, it was decided to leave them be and rely on Castilians to take care of this little problem.
Granada's army thinking the best idea is to siege Lisbon when Castile is busy occupying your home provinces
The most important event was October 1447 though. Portugal signed an royal marriage with France. And not just any royal marriage. Alfonso V married Jeanne de Valois, daughter of King Charles VII de Valois himself. This brought the two countries much closer together. Of course, since Alfonso V was currently busy with war in Morocco, the marriage was signed in absentia. And since Charles VII was busy with war with England, he also have his daughter away in absentia. The celebration in Lisboa was grand though and then, the young bride started to wait for his husband to come home, to finally have a proper wedding night. No, that was not done in absentia.
Welcome, Queen Jeanne
Jeanne was young, pretty, pretty cultured for a French person and overall, quite a catch. A few years older then Alfonso, but still in her prime, sure to produce plenty of heirs to de Avis dynasty. This was the also beginning of a beautiful friendship of the two countries. Beautiful unless you happened to be in the path of combined wrath of Portugal and France. Then, it was the most vile and treacherous friendship, of course.
Queen Jeanne
Devastation Continues
If would be a long wait, for Tangiers fell in December 1447, after 322 days of siege, but the war was far from over. The Portuguese showed leniency, leaving the future subjects of the kingdom alive and not robbing them dirt poor. And as a test for our still 15-year old King, he really knew his siege engines. He did considerable damage to city walls, he did cut off all the routes for the extra supplies and he kept the enemy demoralized and hungry, until the city fold had demanded surrender from the garrison.
This also meant that the Moroccan fleet, hidden in there, was forced out to the sea. Where Diego Gomes was waiting for them. In the beginning of the war, Diego had managed to kill off the Moroccan light ships, but this was so much better. Moroccan 3 carracks and 8 cogs versus Portuguese 3 carracks, 6 caravels and 10 cogs. The Portuguese won, though the Moroccans actually managed to sink “São Fransisco de Assis”, his flagship. Losing a carrack is... expensive.
The Moroccan fleet run into Gharb. Followed by Portuguese amy, who took control of the province, and forced them to sea again. The Moroccans lost another carrack and 2 cogs, including one captured by the Portuguese. From there, they fled to Melilla, Portuguese hot in their tails and captured yet another cog. Now, the Moroccan fleet fled to where the Portuguese could not follow, but with considerably less ships.
Fall of Tangiers and Portuguese hitting the Moroccan fleet
Now, the Portuguese turned their attention to Fez, the capital of Morocco. On a lucky strike, Alfonso found a weak spot in the impressive fortress, using mountainous terrain as advantage, and managed to get a breach right away. One that could not be repaired by the enemies. The Portuguese dared not to risk an assault though and continued the siege.
It was over a year in siege, in July 1448, when the Portuguese spotted Moroccan troops. 9000 soldiers, marching towards Gharb. Again, the Portuguese left Alfonso and 1000 man to cover the siege and marched to meet them as soon as possible. They caught up with them on Tangiers and in September 1448, annihilated the infantry-only army. Followed by another army of 9000, consisting of 8000 infantry and 1000 cavalry. The Portuguese annihilated that army as well.
The devastation continues. First army spotted and both armies being annihilated by the Portuguese
Most likely, it was still the question of Moroccans underestimating the Portuguese. Instead of joining the forces before marching to Tangiers, the Moroccans split up their armies in order to meet outside Tangiers. Not expecting the Portuguese to react so quickly. As a result, the Moroccans suffered not one, but three devastating defeats at the hands of Portugal.
The castle in Fez was much better build, much more sturdy and filled with defenders with more steady hearts. It was only in October 1449, after 532 days of siege, the city fell. Meanwhile, there were some serious changes rest of the Morocco.
The three devastating defeats at the hands of Portugal meant that Morocco was low on both soldiers and manpower. And as usual, there were people who would not hesitate to take advantage of this. In case of Morocco, this was Muhammad ibn Yahya Wattasid. Your country is in trouble? The Portuguese are knocking at the gates? It looks like the defeat is inevitable. What do you do? What else? You start a rebellion to overthrow the Marinid dynasty and dethrone and dispose of Abdalhaqq II.
Muhammad ibn Yahya was correct though. There is no better time to start a rebellion then during the time of great distress. Else, it would likely to be your head on a pike, not the one of current beloved ruler, Abdalhaqq II Marinid. The rebellion started in South Morocco. By the time Fez fell, they had taken over the last remaining castle in Marrakesh, had around 17 000 soldiers under they command and controlled most of the southern territories. And reached up to Gharb, took it from Portuguese, and then turned back South, avoiding contact with Portuguese forces.
The Moroccan Rebels, enjoying free run of the country.
This really suited the Portuguese as well. What is better then to let the enemy fight amongst themselves? This saves the Portuguese from the need to take Marrakesh, stops Abdalhaqq II from getting any reinforcements and is basically a really grand event.
Meaning, while Muhammad ibn Yahya keeps Abdalhaqq II busy, there Portuguese will embark on a grand adventure.