Spanish Infantry soldier, Morocco, 1910
The Spanish military presence in North Africa started from the early sixteenth century, although it would not be from the early 1860s with the War of Africa when the Spanish involvement is increasingly direct. In 1909 there was an attack of the Rif tribes against the positions of the square of Melilla that would lead to the disaster known as the Barranco del Lobo. This would force sending African troops to Melilla square to reach 35,000 men and form the basis of subsequent Army of Africa.
Spanish Infantry soldier, Morocco, 1910, 54mm, metal figure