Battle of Wad Ras

The battle of Wad-Ras was a battle that took place on March 23, 1860 within the Hispano-Moroccan War (1859-1860) that, together with the Battle of Castillejos and Tétouan, completed Spain's action in North Africa to reduce the hostilities of the Riffian bands against Ceuta.

Battle of Wad-Ras
Part of Hispano–Moroccan War (1859–1860)
Painting by Mariano Fortuny (circa 1862-1863)
Date March 23, 1860 Location Valley of Wad-Ras, Morocco Result Spanish victory Treaty of Wad Ras
Belligerents
Spain	Morocco
Commanders and leaders
Leopoldo O'Donnell	Mawlay Abbas
Strength
37,000	Around 40,000
Casualties and losses
300 killed and 400 wounded	More than 1,000 killed and wounded

The battle

Group of Spanish veterans of Wad-Ras at a tribute held in 1909, commemorating the 49th anniversary of the battle, at the Los Docks barrack in Madrid.

After conquering the city of Tetouan in February 1860, the Spanish expeditionary force, led by General Leopoldo O'Donnell (President of the Government and Minister of War), decided to advance towards Tangier. On March 23, the troops led by Generals Echagüe, Ros de Olano and Prim (whose intervention was decisive for the victory of the Spanish army) defeated the Moroccan forces in the valley of Wad-Ras. The military defeat dispersed the irregular Moroccan forces and led to the immediate request for talks to arrange peace.

The peace was signed in Tetouan on April 26, 1860 by the Treaty of Wad-Ras between Spain and Morocco, represented by O'Donnell and Muley el-Abbás (brother of the Sultan). Through this treaty, Spain enlarged the limits of Ceuta and annexed Sidi Ifni.

The Museo del Prado has an oil painting on cardboard measuring 54 by 182 cm, depicting the battle of Wad-Ras, made by Mariano Fortuny, who was commissioned by the Provincial Council of Barcelona to immortalize for posterity the feat of the Spanish army, made up in part of the sons of Barcelona. The National Art Museum of Catalonia houses the enormous painting La batalla de Tetuán measuring 300 by 972 cm.

The lions of the Congress of Deputies, made of bronze by the Spanish sculptor Ponciano Ponzano, were molded with the cannons captured from the Moroccans in that battle..

Aftermath

Following the successive defeats suffered by Morocco in its confrontations against Spanish troops and in particular after the Battle of Wad-Ras, Sultan Muhammad IV of Morocco was forced to ask for peace from Queen Isabella II of Spain through the Treaty of Wad-Ras, signed in Tetouan on 26 April 1860.

Bibliography

• Alcalá Giménez-da Costa, César (2005). La Campaña de Marruecos (1859-1860). Alcañiz y Fresnos, S.A. ISBN 84-96016-55-2.
• de Alarcón, Pedro Antonio (1917). Diario de un testigo de la Guerra de África. Vol. Tomo I. Madrid: Est. Tip. Sucesores de Rivadeneyra.