[1] King Philip II of Spain had gathered a fleet in Málaga to relieve Spanish-held Oran, which was under siege by the Ottoman Empire.
However, on the morning of October 19 the wind direction unexpectedly changed to blow from the south and the storm turned into a cyclone.
Despite efforts to beach the ships, high winds and waves threw them onto each other and the rocks of the Punta de la Mona headland.
Many of them were naked galley slaves who were unburdened by the boots, clothing and armour of the sailors and soldiers but who then survived harsh months of winter weather and starvation before being recaptured.
In 1604, author Miguel de Cervantes – who himself fought aboard galleys in the Battle of Lepanto – referred to the event in his book Don Quixote: [...] who was the daughter of Don Alonso de Marañón, knight of the habit of Santiago who was drowned in La Herradura [...]A plaque with this quote can be found near the town's Saint Joseph’s church.