Mediterranean The action of 26 September 1575 was a naval battle on 26 September 1575 near the coasts of Catalonia, when 3 Algerian vessels fought with a Spanish galley and captured it, taking the famous Spanish writer, Miguel de Cervantes, as a prisoner.

During the first week of September 1575, Miguel de Cervantes embarked on a Spanish galley named El Sol with his younger brother, Rodrigo, who both fought at the Battle of Lepanto.

[1][2][3] The El Sol continued its journey, and on September 26, the galley approached the Catalan coast near Cadaqués.

The Algerians charged at the Spanish galley for four hours, resulting in an engagement where both sides sustained heavy losses.

[4][5][6] Miguel de Cervantes summarized the battle:[7][8] After we had fought for sixteen hours, and after the captain and nearly all the crew of the ship had perished, at the end of nine assaults, the Turks furiously boarded the ship.The majority of the Spaniards were killed, including the commander.