The Capture of Mers-el-Kébir on 13 September 1505 was the first campaign carried out by the Spanish Empire in its war against the Zayyanid Kingdom of Tlemcen (in modern Algeria).

[3][4] In Spain, after the conquest of Granada and the suppression of the Rebellion of the Alpujarras (1499–1501), a body of opinion including the highly influential Cardinal Cisneros favoured conquering the North African coast in order to prevent pirate attacks on the Spanish coast.

[8] The Tlemcenians, warned by spies of the fleet's departure and objectives, had concentrated their forces in the vicinity of Mers-el-Kébir.

The truce was accepted, and as no Tlemcenian troops appeared on September 13, the besieged with their families and possessions left, and the Spanish occupied the castle.

[10] On that day, Mers-el-Kébir fell, and nearly 300 years of Spanish control followed, interrupted only being occasionally, such as in the Recapture of Oran (1708).