the Strait of Gibraltar to prevent Great Britain from supplying weapons and ammunition to the Muslim troops. A small garrison under Florencio Moreno likewise resisted the Sultan's army at Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera. In 1775, a British convoy carrying war material en route to Melilla was intercepted and captured by the Spanish Navy and Spanish sail approached the beleaguered city; at the same time the Turks of the Ottoman Empire began to encroach on Morocco's eastern borders. Spanish troops resisted the attack over a period of 100 days, over which time some 12,000 projectiles were lobbed onto the city. Sherlocke began to break the siege, a situation exacerbated by the desertion of ben Abdallah's Algerians. The siege ended on 19 March. Aftermath There was a meeting between Juan Sherlock and the diplomat Hamed al-Gazel, where he told him that the Sultan wanted to maintain friendly relations and resume trade under more advantageous conditions than in the previous treaty. On 20 December 1777, Morocco recognised the United States as an independent nation. With the Peace of Aranjuez in 1780, Spain ceded territories to Morocco, however in return Morocco recognized Spanish rule of Melilla. References Bibliography Conflicts in 1774 Sieges involving Spain Battles involving Morocco History of Melilla 1774 in Africa 18th century in Morocco 1774 in Spain