Emilio Bonelli y Hernando | |
---|---|
Born | Zaragoza, Kingdom of Spain | November 7, 1854
Died | November 28, 1926 Madrid, Kingdom of Spain | (aged 72)
Allegiance | Kingdom of Spain |
Service/ | Spanish Army |
Years of service | 1875–1882 |
Don Emilio Bonelli y Hernando (7 November 1854 in Zaragoza, Aragon – 28 November 1926 in Madrid [1]) was a Spanish military officer, author, explorer, colonial administrator and Africanist.
Bonelli entered the Spanish Army in 1875 and attended the Toledo Infantry Academy, achieving the rank of ensign in 1878. [2] He left the Army in 1882, and undertook an expedition through the interior of Morocco, crossing the territory between Fez, Meknes and Tangier. [3]
In 1884, Bonelli commanded an expedition to take the territory of Río de Oro (Oued Edhahab), [4] occupying the Atlantic coast between Cape Bojador (Ras Bujadur) and Cape Blanco ( Ras Nouadhibou) [5] and founding Villa Cisneros ( Dakhla). [4] On 26 December 1884, the Kingdom of Spain declared ' a protectorate of the African coast', and on 14 January 1885 officially informed the other great powers in writing, [6] thereby establishing Spanish Sahara. In July 1885, Bonelli was appointed by King Alfonso XII to the newly created position of Royal Commissioner on the West Coast of Africa [7] (which would later be renamed as Political and Military Subgovernor of Río de Oro), [8] managing to establish peace with tribes in the area. [9]
In 1913, Bonelli was a founding member of the Liga Africanista Española , of which he was vice president. [10]
Bonelli was the author of: [2]
Emilio Bonelli y Hernando | |
---|---|
Born | Zaragoza, Kingdom of Spain | November 7, 1854
Died | November 28, 1926 Madrid, Kingdom of Spain | (aged 72)
Allegiance | Kingdom of Spain |
Service/ | Spanish Army |
Years of service | 1875–1882 |
Don Emilio Bonelli y Hernando (7 November 1854 in Zaragoza, Aragon – 28 November 1926 in Madrid [1]) was a Spanish military officer, author, explorer, colonial administrator and Africanist.
Bonelli entered the Spanish Army in 1875 and attended the Toledo Infantry Academy, achieving the rank of ensign in 1878. [2] He left the Army in 1882, and undertook an expedition through the interior of Morocco, crossing the territory between Fez, Meknes and Tangier. [3]
In 1884, Bonelli commanded an expedition to take the territory of Río de Oro (Oued Edhahab), [4] occupying the Atlantic coast between Cape Bojador (Ras Bujadur) and Cape Blanco ( Ras Nouadhibou) [5] and founding Villa Cisneros ( Dakhla). [4] On 26 December 1884, the Kingdom of Spain declared ' a protectorate of the African coast', and on 14 January 1885 officially informed the other great powers in writing, [6] thereby establishing Spanish Sahara. In July 1885, Bonelli was appointed by King Alfonso XII to the newly created position of Royal Commissioner on the West Coast of Africa [7] (which would later be renamed as Political and Military Subgovernor of Río de Oro), [8] managing to establish peace with tribes in the area. [9]
In 1913, Bonelli was a founding member of the Liga Africanista Española , of which he was vice president. [10]
Bonelli was the author of: [2]