Emilio Bonelli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Don
Emilio Bonelli y Hernando
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Bonelli depicted in La Ilustración Española y Americana, 8 April 1885.
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| Born | November 7, 1854 Zaragoza, Kingdom of Spain |
| Died | November 28, 1926 (aged 72) Madrid, Kingdom of Spain |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Spain |
| Service/ |
Spanish Army |
| Years of service | 1875–1882 |
Emilio Bonelli y Hernando (born November 7, 1854, in Zaragoza, Spain – died November 28, 1926, in Madrid, Spain) was an important Spanish person. He was a soldier, a writer, and an explorer. He also helped manage Spanish territories in Africa and studied African cultures.
Contents
Life and Explorations
Early Military Career
Emilio Bonelli joined the Spanish Army in 1875. He studied at the Toledo Infantry Academy. In 1878, he became an ensign, which is a junior officer rank. He left the army in 1882.
Exploring Morocco
After leaving the army, Bonelli went on an expedition. He traveled through the inner parts of Morocco. He explored the area between the cities of Fez, Meknes, and Tangier.
Claiming New Territories
In 1884, Bonelli led an important expedition. His goal was to claim the territory of Río de Oro for Spain. This area is now known as Oued Edhahab. He took control of the Atlantic coast. This coast stretched from Cape Bojador to Cape Blanco. He also founded a new town called Villa Cisneros, which is now known as Dakhla.
Establishing Spanish Sahara
On December 26, 1884, the Kingdom of Spain officially declared a "protectorate" over this part of the African coast. A protectorate means that Spain would protect and control the area. On January 14, 1885, Spain told other powerful countries about this decision. This act helped create what became known as Spanish Sahara.
Royal Commissioner
In July 1885, King Alfonso XII gave Bonelli a new job. He was named the "Royal Commissioner on the West Coast of Africa." This job was later renamed "Political and Military Subgovernor of Río de Oro." In this role, Bonelli worked to make peace with the local tribes in the area.
Founding the Africanist League
In 1913, Bonelli helped start a group called the Liga Africanista Española. This group focused on African studies and Spanish interests in Africa. He served as the vice president of this league.
Writings
Emilio Bonelli was also a writer. He wrote several books about his travels and observations. His works include:
- El imperio de Marruecos y su constitución (1882) – This book was about the Moroccan Empire and its government.
- El Sahara (1887) – This book was about the Sahara region.
- Nuevos territorios españoles en África (1887) – This book discussed new Spanish territories in Africa.
- El problema de Marruecos (1910) – This book looked at the issues surrounding Morocco.
See also
In Spanish: Emilio Bonelli para niños
