Day of Melilla in 2024

When is the Day of Melilla?

The Day of Melilla is celebrated in the Spanish autonomous city of Melilla on September 17th every year.

The holiday commemorates the taking of the city by Duke of Medina Sidonia on this day in 1497.

History of the Day of Melilla

Melilla is located on the north coast of Africa and shares a border with Morocco. Like Ceuta, its Spanish sibling down the coast, this enclave has had a very colourful past as befits its historic importance on North African trading routes.

Over many centuries, the ancient port has passed through the hands of many cultures that light up our history books, from the Phoenicians to the Romans to the Byzantine Empire and even the Vandals and Visigoths. In the late 15th century, Melilla was part of the Kingdom of Fez when Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon decided it was probably best for all concerned if it was part of their empire.

They requested Juan Alfonso Pérez de Guzmán, 3rd Duke of Medina-Sidonia, to take the city in their name. The Duke dispatched Pedro Estopiñán and some troops, who conquered the city, meeting minimal resistance, on September 17th 1497. 

To this day, the official Coat of Arms of the City is that of the Duke of Medina-Sidonia. The chap at the top of the flag with the dagger is Guzmán El Bueno, who founded the Medina-Sidonia dynasty at the end of the 13th century.