Abstract
The Spanish-Moroccan War of 1859–60 climaxed with a brief battle and a protracted process of negotiation and occupation before troops withdrew in 1862. The phrase “a great war and a measly peace [paz chica]” circulated widely, and many Spanish nationalists clamored for a larger campaign of territorial acquisition.¹ The press made the key protagonists into larger-than-life heroes who epitomized the mores of European Christian civilization by pushing for the spread of the faith and even the construction of a major church. For instance, in a formal ceremony the queen feted one of General Rafael Echagüe’s regiments prior to departure.