Battle of Melilla

Overview

The battle of Melilla took place in February 1860, during the Spanish-Moroccan War, when the Spanish garrison of Melilla suffered a fiasco caused by Riffian fighters outside the city.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Melilla in February 1860 represented a significant setback for Spanish forces during the Hispano-Moroccan War. A garrison of approximately 1,200 Spanish troops suffered around 200 casualties against a Riffian force estimated at 15,000, with the engagement described as a fiasco for the Spanish side. The defeat underscored the difficulty Spain faced in defending its enclave at Melilla against determined Riffian fighters operating on familiar ground outside the city walls.

Forces & casualties