Physical Description

An ovular medal, the obverse bears the image of a soldier with a Pickelhaube, encompassed by a laurel wreath, with the inscription CAMPANA DEL RIF, the reverse bears the image of an angel with foliage and the inscription 1909 / REINANDO ALFONSO XIII, topped with a crown and a horizontally elongated suspension, on a yellow ribbon.

History

The Medal for Melilla was established on March 20, 1910 for members of the military to commemorate the military action in the Rif Campaign during 1909, 1911, and 1912.

Prior to the Rif Campaign, in 1894 the Spanish and Riffians fought against each other in the 1893 Margallo War. The war ended with the Treaty of Fez in 1894 which increased economic prosperity in the city of Melilla. In 1908, foreign mining companies began to enter the area. The ongoing instability in the Rif region threatened stability in Melilla. On August 8, 1908, the Riffians attacked the Spanish mines, but there were no casualties. The military commander of Melilla ,General José Marina Vega, asked the Government of Spain for reinforcements to protect the mines, but none were sent. On July 9, 1909, the Riffians attacked again and a number of Spanish railway workers were killed. After that the Spanish Prime Minister Antonio Maura increased the Spanish garrison at Melilla from 5,000 men to 22,000 in preparation for an offensive. The Rif Campaign began on July 9 and ended on December 4, 1909 in a Spanish victory.

The medal also was awarded with clasps, reading:
"AT LATEN (ATALTEM)"
"BENI BU GAFAR"
"BENI SIDEL"
"GARET DE BENI-BU-YAHI"
"KERT"
"NADOR ZELUAN ZOCO EL JEMIS"
"PENON-ALCUHEMAS"
"QUEBDANA"
"SIDI HAMET EL HACH GURUGU"
"TAXDIRT-HIDUM ZOCO EL HAD"

There is limited information regarding this item.