At 4 PM on September 28, 1870, two and a half hours after Spain's declaration of war on the Moroccan government, and fourteen and a half hou
At 4 PM on September 28, 1870, two and a half hours after Spain's declaration of war on the Moroccan government, and fourteen and a half hours since the Spanish army's official action, the conflict was in full swing. Spain had already received a diplomatic heads-up from Italy prior to declaring war, stating that while Italy would offer diplomatic support, it would not intervene if other Great Powers became involved. Prim, the Spanish leader, understood this implicitly; Italy would not risk its relationship with Britain over Spain's Moroccan ambitions.
Facing the sudden Spanish assault, the Moroccan native tribes were caught entirely off guard, suffering heavy losses. They "discarded their armor," though, ironically, they possessed none to begin with, highlighting their unpreparedness.
Morocco occupies a unique position among African countries. Its population primarily consists of Arabs and Berbers, both belonging to the Caucasian group, typically associated with European and Mediterranean races. However, unlike European white nations, Morocco is an Arab country and adheres to Islam. This makes Morocco quite distinct from many sub-Saharan African nations; its indigenous tribes bear a closer resemblance to those found in the Middle East.
Despite this racial classification, Morocco was undeniably far behind Spain in terms of development and military might. Furthermore, Morocco was not a unified entity. Numerous tribes existed within its borders, and not all extended their support to the Alawi dynasty, the reigning Moroccan Sultanate. Carlo, a Spanish figure, likely considered Morocco's predominantly white population an advantage for potential integration into Spain's sphere of influence. While Carlo might not have considered himself a racist, his reluctance to welcome any dark-skinned citizens into Spain reflected a widespread sentiment in Europe during this era. Although abolitionist movements were gaining momentum across various countries, the genuine acknowledgment of human rights for Black people was far from universal among white populations. In the prevailing mindset of many white Europeans, Black people were seen primarily as plantation slaves, not as individuals deserving of fundamental human rights.
The colonial policies enacted by European powers in Africa consistently disregarded the humanity of the local natives. The cumulative number of Black individuals massacred by European countries during this period reached at least eight digits. This grim toll was, of course, largely due to the relatively shallow initial exploration and conquest of Africa. As European nations progressed in carving up the continent, the casualties among African natives were destined to rise even further. From Spain's perspective, incorporating Morocco, a predominantly white country, into its domain was considered a more palatable colonial endeavor.
The current Sultan of Morocco, Muhammad IV, was no stranger to conflict with Spain. He ascended to the throne in 1859 and immediately faced the Spanish-Moroccan War, suffering a decisive defeat. In the aftermath, Muhammad IV resolved to reform Morocco, hoping to introduce Europe's burgeoning industrial technology and enhance Morocco's military strength to withstand future colonial incursions.
However, Muhammad IV severely overestimated his people's readiness for industrialization. When he went to great lengths to have the British transport a steam engine to his palace in Marrakesh, his ministers were reportedly terrified by the "unprecedented behemoth," daring not to approach it. Even his efforts to print numerous scriptures promoting the steam engine failed to ignite curiosity among the populace. Ultimately, the reform initiatives crumbled, and Morocco never embarked on the path to industrialization.
Undeterred by this setback, Muhammad IV conceived another plan: to bolster Morocco's military. He formed a new army, the Askar Nizami, and invested heavily in equipping them with firearms and providing Western-style training. Upon receiving news of a large-scale Spanish invasion from northern Morocco, Muhammad was furious. He immediately ordered his newly formed Askar Nizami to march north and repel the Spanish advance. The Sultan, born in 1802, possessed immense confidence in his new army. During a Moroccan Sultanate government meeting, Muhammad IV confidently declared, "My army will easily defeat the Spanish army. The days of Morocco being invaded by European countries are gone forever."
But reality soon delivered a crushing blow to the aging Sultan. Shortly after dispatching his northern forces, intelligence arrived from the south: the Spanish army was also advancing in large numbers from Sidi Ifni, heading towards Agadir, a major town in southern Morocco. This left Muhammad IV stunned. His new army was limited in size and clearly could not confront the Spanish on two fronts simultaneously. Allowing the Spanish to seize Agadir would, he realized, put Marrakesh itself in peril. The confidence he had just gained from his new army evaporated instantly, replaced by a profound sense of frustration. His already aged face seemed to wrinkle further with despair.
"Damn it, is Morocco's fate to be colonized unavoidable?" Muhammad IV looked up at the sky, utterly despondent about Morocco's predicament.
In this moment of crisis, the Moroccan ministers offered their counsel. A consensus quickly emerged: they must swiftly appeal to Western Europe, specifically the British Government. The last Spanish-Moroccan War had only ended due to British intervention, which allowed Morocco to retain most of its territory. Otherwise, given Morocco's turbulent domestic situation and abysmal military strength at the time, it would have been entirely at Spain's mercy.
The current Moroccan government truly had no better solution. Apart from seeking British intervention, there appeared to be no other effective means to resolve the escalating situation. The option of directly engaging the Spanish in war was not even considered by the Moroccan ministers. Ten years prior, such a thought might have crossed their minds, but they had been decisively beaten by the Spanish. Even though Spain's domestic situation at that time was far from ideal, the gap in weaponry and overall strength was undeniable.
Although Morocco had formed the Askar Nizami, this new army comprised only around 20,000 soldiers. The Moroccan ministers themselves were acutely aware of the new army's limitations: while their combat effectiveness was strong compared to other Moroccan forces, they were utterly outmatched by any European military. Moroccans' acceptance of advanced weapons and technology was low. Furthermore, Morocco's weaponry and equipment were all purchased from European countries, meaning it was impossible to afford extensive target practice for the new army's soldiers. It was no exaggeration to state that in the few years since the new army's formation, the total number of organized target practice sessions was fewer than ten, with each soldier allotted a mere three bullets per session—an amount that provided virtually no practical training.
Relying on such an army to resist the Spanish invasion was less reliable than simply hoping for British benevolence to save them.