Episode 43 Historical Accounts: General Berenguer’s War against Erraisuni
Historical Accounts: General Berenguer’s War against Erraisuni
The Rupture of Diplomacy and the Mobilization for War
The year 1337 H (1919 AD) represented a definitive turning point in the struggle led by the Sharif Moulay Ahmed Erraisuni against colonial advancement in Northern Morocco. The fragile truce previously negotiated by General Jordana collapsed, sparking significant anger within the Spanish military establishment. Upon learning of this failure in Madrid, the Spanish War Council—driven by an aggressive stance—demanded decisive military action. Consequently, General Berenguer was appointed as the new High Commissioner for the Northern Zone. He was granted full authority by the Spanish government to initiate a comprehensive war and was tasked with executing a rigid military plan backed by newly decreed customary laws.
Strategic Military Mapping: The Three-Axis Invasion
Upon his arrival at the Tetouan headquarters, General Berenguer was fully empowered to confront the resistance. He mobilized substantial military reinforcements, including heavy and light artillery and, for the first time, an organized aerial force. He held multiple strategic conferences with senior military staff to finalize the invasion plan, which focused on three primary axes:
- The Tetouan-Chefchaouen Axis: The Tetouan army was tasked with occupying Chefchaouen, coordinating with forces landing by sea in the areas of Oued Lou and Ghomara. These units were ordered to secure the line between Tetouan and Oued Lou and to capture the Zawia of Sheikh Yusuf al-Talidi, a site serving as a command center for Erraisuni.
- The Larache Axis: The Larache army was assigned the task of breaching the "Samata line" through the territory of the Beni Korfet tribe. Their objective was to advance toward the center of Tazarout to occupy its Zawia, another key command post for the resistance.
- The Ceuta-Asilah Axis: The army of Ceuta and Asilah was instructed to secure the "Fندق العين الجديدة" (Ain al-Jadida Inn) line to guarantee the safety of the Tangier-Tetouan-Larache road.
The Great Council: Unity in the Face of Colonialism
In response to these developments, Erraisuni convened a massive military council to prepare his fighters. This assembly was intended to unify the material and moral forces of the mountain tribes. The council included an extensive coalition of leaders:
- The general commander of the mujahideen, Sharif Mohammed Ould Hamidou El Kharraz.
- The commanders of the Al-Akhmas tribal forces, including Abdellah Dakkoun and Mohammed Mli Akdi.
- Leaders representing the Beni Hassan, Anjra, and Al-Hauz tribes, such as Mohammed ben Zrouq (Ould Tnouk), Al-Arabi ben Halima, and Ahmed Al-Tawil.
- The council also included religious scholars and figures such as the faqih al-Sadiq Erraisuni, the faqih Hamouda al-Baqali, and the faqih Muhammad Taj al-Din ibn Aajibah.
The assembly lasted for three days, during which participants discussed the regional situation. They unanimously rejected Spanish hegemony and committed to continuing the jihad until victory or martyrdom. On the 15th of Dhu al-Qi'dah 1337 H (September 30, 1919), Erraisuni remained indifferent to the threats of the new High Commissioner.
Propaganda and the Aerial War
A secondary conflict emerged in the form of media narratives. The Spanish administration published the newspaper Sada Tetouan in Spanish, which functioned as a mouthpiece for colonial interests. It focused on publicizing military operations while attempting to minimize reports of Spanish losses.
However, the field reality was marked by brutality. The Spanish military utilized French-made Farman aircraft, commanded by Captain Boroga, to conduct daily aerial bombardments. These raids targeted civilian markets, villages, and infrastructure. The bombardments frequently destroyed homes and caused casualties among women, children, and livestock.
Despite this, tribal support for the resistance remained strong. Even tribesmen living in occupied coastal areas left their homes to support the resistance, either secretly or openly, despite being under surveillance. Captured weapons were viewed by the mujahideen as vital spoils of war, which they prioritized even over basic necessities.
Historical Analysis: Al-Rihani and Al-Wazzani
Lebanese traveler Amin al-Rihani noted in his historical research that General Berenguer’s strategy differed from that of his predecessor, Colonel Silvestre. Berenguer aimed for a comprehensive military occupation of the entire region. The correspondence between the two parties was severe; when Berenguer demanded submission, Erraisuni replied, "The dividing line between us is the power and death that controls human bodies; you have nothing else to offer us".
Historian Al-Tahami al-Wazzani documented the extreme harshness of these battles, noting the mujahideen's resilience against modern weaponry, including prohibited incendiary bombs. By late 1919, thousands of casualties had been reported, though official Spanish reports often concealed the true scale of the devastation.
Field Operations and Regional Dynamics
By autumn 1919, the conflict had escalated across the three fronts. General Berenguer held several conferences with his staff to coordinate infantry, cavalry, and artillery assaults. The resistance leaders—including Moulay Ali Erraisuni, Moulay Mustafa Erraisuni, and Moulay Hussein Erraisuni—remained personally present on the battlefields, directing operations.
Spanish commanders, including Colonel Silvestre and Colonel Artet, were heavily involved in directing offensives around Asilah, Larache, and Ksar el-Kbir. The historical records of the faqih Ahmed Azarou document the movement of Spanish troops into various areas, including Targuist, Beni Hamid, and regions near Dar ben Quraish.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Resilience
The 1919 campaign resulted in the Spanish army breaching some defensive lines and occupying specific strategic points, such as the Ain al-Jadida Inn. However, the overall objective of crushing the rebellion remained unfulfilled. Erraisuni continued to manage operations from his mountain strongholds, turning the geography of Northern Morocco into a significant obstacle for the Spanish military machine. The struggle of 1919 stands as a testament to the tribes' ability to defy colonial power, leaving a legacy of resistance that remained largely hidden from colonial records of the time.
The Tactical Evolution of the Resistance: Beyond Conventional Warfare
The resistance of the mountain tribes led by Moulay Ahmed Erraisuni was not merely a military endeavor but a sophisticated display of tactical agility. As the occupation forces intensified their efforts in late 1919, the mujahideen evolved their methods to counter the technological disparity. The resistance leaders utilized the rugged topography of the Jbala region to neutralize the effectiveness of the Spanish heavy artillery, turning natural mountain passes into traps for the encroaching infantry. Furthermore, the intelligence network established by the resistance allowed Erraisuni to anticipate the movements of Colonel Silvestre and other colonial commanders, ensuring that the tribal forces could strike at vulnerable supply lines before retreating into the interior.
The Human Toll and the Resilience of the Tribal Fabric
The conflict resulted in a profound humanitarian crisis that colonial reports sought to minimize.
- The continuous aerial bombardment by Farman aircraft not only destroyed the infrastructure of the madashir (villages) but also targeted vital resources such as livestock, which were the backbone of the local economy.
- Historical documentation from the period, including notes by the faqih Ahmed Azarou, confirms that the military occupation of areas like Targuist and Dar ben Quraish caused significant displacement among the rural population.
- Despite the terror inflicted by incendiary bombs and the systemic destruction of civilian gatherings, the tribal commitment remained unshaken, as many individuals—even those in areas temporarily held by Spanish forces—continued to provide clandestine support to the resistance.
Philosophical and Political Stance: Erraisuni's Final Defiance
The dialogue between the colonial administration and Erraisuni transcended military strategy, touching upon the fundamental rights of the people of the Northern Zone. Erraisuni’s refusal to yield to the ultimatums issued by General Berenguer reflected a deep-seated belief in the legitimacy of the struggle. His assertion that the "dividing line" between the occupiers and the resistance was defined by power and the sacrifice of human lives remains a defining historical quote that encapsulates the existential nature of the conflict. This defiance was reinforced by the constant presence of the Sharifian family on the battlefields, ensuring that the leadership was not isolated from the suffering and the bravery of the tribes they commanded.
Closing Historical Assessment
The war of 1919 serves as a case study in the limitations of 20th-century colonial military strategy when faced with a highly unified, terrain-expert tribal coalition.
- While Spanish forces secured logistical corridors such as the route between Tangier, Tetouan, and Larache, they never achieved the comprehensive control they initially promised their government.
- The persistence of the resistance, overseen by Erraisuni from his headquarters at the Ain al-Jadida Inn and later the Zawia of Tazarout, forced the Spanish military to sustain a long, costly occupation that drained their administrative and military resources.
- Ultimately, the archives highlight that the true victory of the resistance lay in its survival against a superior military force, maintaining the autonomy of the Jbala and Ghomara regions during a period where imperial powers expected rapid, total submission.
Historical Evaluation of the 1919 Campaign
The 1919 campaign stands as a pivotal chapter in the history of the Northern Moroccan resistance against colonial occupation. While the Spanish military, under the command of General Berenguer, utilized advanced logistical planning and unprecedented aerial warfare to fragment the tribal coalition, the resistance demonstrated a profound capacity for adaptation.
The historical significance of this period lies in three key areas:
- Strategic Resilience: The ability of Moulay Ahmed Erraisuni to maintain command centers—such as the Zawia of Tazarout and the Ain al-Jadida Inn—despite the overwhelming pressure from infantry, cavalry, and air support, proved that geography and local unity remained the most potent weapons against colonial occupation.
- The Propaganda Conflict: The use of colonial media, such as Sada Tetouan, highlights the Spanish administration's early recognition that the battle for Northern Morocco was not merely territorial but also ideological, as they sought to manage domestic perception of their heavy losses.
- The Human Dimension: The documentation provided by contemporary scholars, including the faqih Ahmed Azarou, underscores that the cost of this conflict was primarily borne by the civilian population, whose displacement and suffering were largely silenced in official Spanish records.
Ultimately, the struggle of the Jbala and Ghomara tribes serves as a testament to a foundational resistance movement. By refusing to capitulate to the threats of a global power, the tribal coalition secured a place in history that transcends the military outcomes of the day, leaving behind a legacy of autonomy that would continue to challenge colonial ambitions for years to come.
I. Executive Summary
The 1919 campaign serves as a defining period in the resistance of Northern Morocco against Spanish colonial encroachment. Driven by the collapse of diplomatic efforts, the conflict featured a strategic three-axis invasion plan and a unified tribal response.
II. The Breakdown of Diplomacy
- The conflict emerged following the failure of General Jordana’s truce negotiations with Moulay Ahmed Erraisuni.
- Upon the failure of these talks, the Spanish government appointed General Berenguer as the new High Commissioner for the Northern Zone.
- The Spanish War Council reacted with hostility, deciding to declare a general war against the tribes of Jbala and Ghomara.
III. The Spanish Strategic Plan
General Berenguer executed a rigorous military strategy based on three key axes:
- Tetouan-Chefchaouen Axis: Tasked with occupying Chefchaouen and securing the line between Tetouan and Oued Lou, with a focus on seizing the Zawia of Sheikh Yusuf al-Talidi, a key leadership center.
- Larache Axis: Assigned to breach the "Samata line" through the Beni Korfet tribe to advance toward the Zawia of Tazarout, another critical command center.
- Ceuta-Asilah Axis: Instructed to hold the line at the "Ain al-Jadida Inn" to ensure the security of the Tangier-Tetouan-Larache road.
IV. The Resistance Mobilization
- Moulay Ahmed Erraisuni convened a grand military council involving leaders such as Mohammed Ould Hamidou El Kharraz and Abdellah Dakkoun.
- Prominent figures from the Beni Arus, Al-Akhmas, Beni Hassan, Anjra, and Al-Hauz tribes participated in this assembly.
- Religious scholars and faqihs, including al-Sadiq Erraisuni, Hamouda al-Baqali, and Muhammad Taj al-Din ibn Aajibah, provided intellectual and spiritual support for the resistance.
V. Media and Aerial Warfare
- The Spanish administration launched Sada Tetouan to promote colonial interests and mask the intensity of the resistance.
- The Spanish military utilized French-made Farman aircraft, commanded by Captain Boroga, to conduct daily bombardments.
- These aerial raids often targeted markets, villages, and civilian infrastructure, resulting in casualties among women, children, and livestock.
VI. Perspectives from Historical Scholars
- Amin al-Rihani noted that Berenguer’s strategy aimed for total military occupation, differing significantly from the approach of Colonel Silvestre.
- Erraisuni’s response to Berenguer’s threats—that the "dividing line" between them was defined by the power and death that controls human bodies—became a legendary declaration of defiance.
- Al-Tahami al-Wazzani recorded the extreme harshness of the battles, emphasizing the use of prohibited incendiary bombs against the tribes.
VII. Field Operations and Tribal Resilience
- Resistance leaders—including Moulay Ali, Moulay Mustafa, and Moulay Hussein Erraisuni—personally directed operations on the front lines.
- The historical records of faqih Ahmed Azarou document the movement of Spanish troops into Targuist, Dar ben Quraish, and Beni Hamid.
VIII. Conclusion and Historical Evaluation
The 1919 campaign stands as a pivotal chapter where tribal unity and geographical advantage challenged the limits of colonial military power. While Spanish forces secured specific logistical corridors, they failed to achieve the total subjugation they promised their government. The resistance left behind a legacy of autonomy that solidified the reputation of the mountain tribes in the struggle for Northern Moroccan sovereignty.
Topics Covered in This Episode
General Berenguer,Historical Accounts,Jbala History,Morocco 1919,Moulay Ahmed Erraisuni,Northern Morocco,Spanish Protectorate,
See also our previous episodes under linking
Note: The images featured in this post are artistic representations created with the assistance of AI to help visualize the historical context; they are not intended to be interpreted as historical documents or archival photographs."
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