Battle of Isly | |||||||
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Part of the First Franco-Moroccan War | |||||||
Battle of Isly, oil painting by Horace Vernet |
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Belligerents | |||||||
France | Morocco | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Thomas Robert Bugeaud | Mohammed (IV) | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
11.000 soldiers | 20.000-25.000 cavalry | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
27 killed 99 wounded |
800 killed 11 cannons |
The Battle of Isly was fought on August 14, 1844 between France and Morocco, near the Isly River. French forces under Marshal Thomas Robert Bugeaud routed a much larger, but poorly organized, Moroccan force under Mohammed, son of Sultan Abderrahmane of Morocco. Bugeaud, attempting to complete the French conquest of Algeria, instigated the battle without a declaration of war in order to force negotiations concerning Moroccan support for the Algerian resistance leader Abd el Kader to conclude on terms favorable to the French.
Bugeaud, who recovered the Moroccan commander's tent and umbrella (equivalent to capturing a military standard in European warfare), was made Duke of Isly for his victory.
The day following the battle, the Bombardment of Mogador started.
Coordinates: 34°41′24″N 1°55′48″W / 34.6900°N 1.9300°W