Siege of Melilla (1774–1775)
| Siege of Melilla | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Spanish-Moroccan conflicts and Spanish-Barbary Wars | |||||||
The Plaza of Melilla during the siege. | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Kingdom of Spain | Sultanate of Morocco | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Juan Sherlocke Florencio Moreno |
Mohammed III Tahar Fenis | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 5,000 | 30,000–40,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 600 killed or wounded | Unknown | ||||||
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The siege of Melilla was an attempt by the Sultanate of Morocco, supported by Great Britain and Algerian mercenaries, to capture the Spanish fortress of Melilla on the Moroccan Mediterranean coast. Mohammed ben Abdallah, then Sultan of Morocco, invaded Melilla in December 1774 with a large army of Royal Moroccan soldiers and Algerian mercenaries. The city was defended by a small garrison under Irish-born Governor Don Juan Sherlocke until the siege was lifted by a relief fleet in March 1775.