Alawite dynasty (1664-present)


Alawite dynasty (1664-present)


Sharifian Empire Alawite 1700


Greater Morocco and the trans-Saharan trade
One of the most famous is the Alaouite Sultan Moulay Ismail, the second ruler of the dynasty, who columnists and eyewitnesses agree to give 26 years at its inception (1672). He is the half-brother Moulay M'hammed and Moulay Rachid, born a black slave that he will keep a matte pronounced. His reign between 1672 and 1727. Moulay Ismail succeeded his half-brother Rachid, died accidentally in Marrakech. Sultan impose its authority over the entire Sherifian Empire, with its army of militia soldiers black slaves from Senegal, Mali and Guinea (the Abid al-Bukhari, real Janissaries dedicated to the African person exclusive of the Sultan and comparable to the Janissaries of the Ottoman Empire and Safavid Persia gholams of) and Arab tribes guich (Oudayas Cherrardas, Cheragas). Guich in the system, tribes benefit from tax exemptions and sales of agricultural land in exchange for their service, but this leads to the formation of an all-powerful military caste in which the Makhzen also recruits a large part of its staff. The Ismaili State is a formidable administrative control of the country from Meknes, new imperial capital in lieu of Fez and Marrakech. Under the reign of Ismail Meknes gets a Forbidden City to the Moroccan way (including the organization and function have similarities with the Forbidden City in Beijing), together with its palaces, ponds, mosques, gardens and fortresses. This gigantic structure is designed to house the king, his court, his harem, his personal guard and all the officials of his administration.


Bab el Mansour Aleuj in the imperial city of Meknes, completed in 1732.


Moulay Ismail, Sultan of Morocco from 1672 to 1727.
Ismail is often compared to its European alter ego Louis XIV, the Moroccan Sultan also maintained a correspondence with the king of France, in which he asks his daughter, Marie Anne de Bourbon (1666-1739), Princess of Conti said as Mademoiselle de Blois. Demand will not result from the Sun King. The Moroccan ambassador to France in 1699, the Admiral "seas Moroccan" Abdallah Ben Aicha, is the author of the first test in Arabic describing the splendors of Versailles and the French royal court. He followed a few years (1693) Pidou François Baron de Saint-Olon, Ambassador of France in Meknes, author of a "relationship" of the "kingdom of Fez and Morocco." Relations between the two countries have a declining phase due to the failure of the redemption of Christian captives by religious missions, and also because the plight of Muslims convicts detained in France. The Franco-Moroccan was motivated by the opposition of the two countries to the Spain of Charles II, but the throne of Spain Philip V (Philip of France, Count of Anjou), grand-son of Louis XIV , terminate this agreement. Therefore formal diplomatic ties are severed between Meknes one hand and Paris and Madrid on the other hand in 1718. They will be restored in 1767. Ismail indeed considers Spanish-French monarchy of the Bourbons as now entirely hostile to the interests of Morocco. France is therefore superseded in England by Empire Sharifian, as illustrated by the brilliant British Embassy Commodore Stewart and John Windus 172,156 in Meknes.


Abdelkader Perez, Admiral of the Imperial Fleet Sharifian under Moulay Ismail (early eighteenth century)
Ismail leads a continuous war against the rebellious tribes of the Atlas (he eventually submitted) but also against external enemies: Spanish, English (at least prior to removal from Tangier in 1684) and the Ottoman Regency neighboring Algiers shortly covet the region of Oujda. Sultan extends the authority of Sharifian Mauritania to Senegal River with the help of Moorish emirs of Adrar, Trarza and Brakna, reaffirming the sovereignty of the country Makhzen Chinguetti. To the east, the oasis of Tuat are submitted. In 1700, Ismail also delivers military campaigns against some of his own son eager to carve out principalities in the Souss, Marrakech and the Oriental.


Temim Mohammad, Ambassador of Morocco, the Italian Comedy (1682), Antoine Coypel (1661-1722), Versailles.
From 1727 to 1757 Morocco has a serious dynastic crisis in which Abid al-Bukhari made and unmade sultans, while the tribes guich rise and razzient imperial cities. Other tribes benefit from anarchy to enter dissent (Siba). This troubled period emerges the figure of Moulay Abdallah II of Morocco, overthrown and restored several times between 1729 and 1745. He must suffer the secession of his half-brothers who founded kingdoms true in every province, with the support of such a faction or guich Abids. Similarly, the inhabitants of Rabat Salé and reconnect with autonomism privateer, and northern Moroccan pashas family Rifi establish a dynasty that controls Tangier and Tetouan. Powerful confederations, such as Aït Idrassen and Guerrouanes, come into dissent and seize the caravan trade connecting the commercial centers of the Empire to chérifien Saharan oases and Bilad as-Sudan which detaches from the Moroccan authorities.


George Washington letter addressed to Mohammed III at the Treaty of Peace and Friendship Moroccan-American signed in Marrakesh in 1787.
Order is restored by Mohammed III of Morocco (1757-1790) which restores the unity and authority of the sultanate Makhzen official. Policy Mohammed III is characterized by the opening diplomatic and commercial Morocco who want to recover customs duties to alleviate the tax burden on fellahs57. Treaties were concluded with the major European powers, who maintain consulates and trading houses in the new Moroccan Atlantic ports founded by Mohammed III. The best known example of these new commercial centers is the city of Mogador (Essaouira), designed by the French engineer Theodore Cornut working on behalf of the Sultan. Ports Anfa (Casablanca) and Fedala (Mohammedia) are also developed and symbolize the economic development of Atlantic coastline, free from foreign occupation after the reconquest of the Portuguese Mazagan and the definitive end of Portuguese Morocco in 1769. Mohammed III is also the first head of state to recognize the independence of the young American republic of the United States in 1777. The Cherifian sovereign establishes a correspondence friendship with George Washington58, which is the United States, under the "open door policy" to conclude a treaty with Morocco of peace, friendship and commerce July 16 1786 (for a period of fifty years, renewed by the Treaty of Meknes 1836) 59. On the domestic front, the reign was marked by riots provoked by the body Abids (in Meknes in 1778), and a severe drought in six years (1776-1782) that generates economic and demographic consequences disastrous. This negative situation will become more pronounced during the reign of Al-Yazid of Morocco (1790-1792) famous for his cruelty and his unfinished war against Spain. His death leads back disorders dynastic war and tribal anarchy. The Empire was divided into two rival makhzens, one in Fez (with Moulay Sulayman Morocco), the other in Marrakech (Morocco Moulay Hisham's). Sulayman is who wins and reunites the Sultanate in 1797.
Moulay Sulayman (1792-1822) pursued a policy of isolationism. Sultan closes the country to foreign trade, especially in Europe, and removes customs posts created by his father. Internally its inspiration dahirs openly Salafi cause tribal revolts and urban related to its decision to ban moussems and maraboutism. The Berbers of the Middle Atlas, including Ait Oumalou, gather under the leadership of warlord and Boubker Amhaouch form a large tribal coalition which even join Rif. During the 1810s, the army Makhzen towels and heavy defeats toppling of Fez and the decline of the sultan on coastal cities remained under his authority. Insurgent tribes and Fez go to try to impose own son Sulayman, Moulay Said, at the head of the state, but ultimately fail.
On the outside, the Sultan succeeded in attempts to remove diplomatic and military influences exerted by the Emperor Napoleon, a near neighbor of Morocco since the occupation of Spain by French troops in 1808 (War of Independence ). Moulay Sulayman turns however to Saud bin Abdulaziz, Emir of Nejd and the first Saudi state, showing a strong interest in the Wahhabi Salafism full progression60. This strategic alliance is due to the anti-Ottoman affinities that characterize the Alawite ruler Emir as Saudi Arabia, as well as the religious sensitivities of Sulayman. Taking advantage of its military campaign against the Regency of Algiers, the sultan finally able to expel the Turkish troops of the Bey of Mascara occupying the eastern provinces of Oujda and Berkane since 1792, and to restore the authority of the Tuat and Sharifian other oases of the central Sahara.


the Sultan of Morocco Moulay Abd ar-Rahman to his palace in Meknes by Eugène Delacroix (1845)


Bombing and attacks against French Mogador (Essaouira) under the orders of François d'Orleans Prince de Joinville and the son of Louis-Philippe I, during the Franco-Moroccan War of 1844
However, the Sultan finally abdicated in 1822 in favor of his nephew Abd ar-Rahman ibn Hisham, after the heavy defeat inflicted by the army Makhzen zaouia Cherradia near Marrakech. Moulay Abd ar-Rahman (1822-1859) tries to escape the Empire Shereefian isolation outside, but his intentions are thwarted by the first assault of modern European colonialism. The reign of this Sultan is indeed the conquest of Algeria by France, in which Morocco is involved in providing support to the Emir Abd el-Kader, but finds himself defeated at the Battle of Isly (campaign French military of Morocco 1844), and the Spanish-Moroccan War (which the Spaniards call African War) which ended with the Spanish occupation of Tetuan in 1860. Following this catastrophic conflict for the Makhzen, who should pay Spain a war indemnity of two hundred million douros61 (borrowed from British banks), Mohammed IV of Morocco (1859-1873) successor Moulay Abd al Rahman began a policy of modernization Shereefian Empire. The army is the first field of the structural reforms. The tribal system guich is abolished and replaced by a recruitment to all tribes "nouaïbs" (subject to the regular tax), which should provide Tabors (units) regular askars (soldiers). The command of these troops was entrusted to European military advisers, like the Scots Harry Aubrey de Maclean (who gets the title of boss for the organization of an elite regiment formed on the British model) and weapons are purchased from foreign companies such as the German firm Krupp62.


Hassan I of Morocco, Sultan 1873-1894
Along with the modernization of the army, industries are created (munitions factories, sugar, paper), technological advances are recorded as the installation of the first modern printing press Arabic in Fez Morocco in 1865. But this policy entails considerable expenses that require substantial funding. The Makhzen is therefore forced to raise additional taxes not comply with Islamic law, unpopular and frowned quickly by the ulema. Tensions related to the decision to break out after the death of Mohammed IV and the accession of his successor Hassan I in 1873. They are in the form of urban riots social violently repressed, whose revolt Tanners of Fes is an example illustratif63. The reign of Hassan I corresponds to the will of the sultan to reconcile the demands of the modernization of the state social and political complexities of Morocco. This rule also fits in the context of European imperialist rivalries become even more pressing in the wake of the Madrid Conference of 1880, which foreshadows the future sharing Sharifian Empire on the international scene. Like Turkey, Iran or China at that time, Morocco became a "sick man" as the expression goes in circles colonialists. Through economic concessions and the system of bank loans, each of interested European powers, including France, Spain, the United Kingdom and Germany, hoping to pave the way to a complete conquest of the country. The skill is knowing Makhzen hold off the combined greed of European imperialism and play rivalry between the powers. But the death of Hassan I, occurred during an expedition in the Tadla in 1894, leaving power in the very young Abd al-Aziz Morocco (then aged only 14 years), son of a circus favorite of the imperial harem , some Lalla Reqiya64.


The death of Hassan I of Morocco in 1894, of the Journal illustrated.


Abd al-Aziz Morocco (Moulay Abd al-Aziz), Sultan 1894-1908
A real regency is then held until 1900 by the Grand Vizier Ahmed ben Moussa, from the old guild Abid al-Bukhari Palace. The Grand Vizier continue knows intelligently pragmatic policy of Hassan I, but its disappearance aggravates anarchy and foreign pressure, as well as rivalry between Moulay Abd al-Aziz and his brother Moulay Abd al-Hafid, which finally burst in race war power. After the victory of Abd al-Hafid, young intellectuals and progressive reformers influenced by the revolution of the Young Turks in Istanbul and whose ideas are expressed by the newspaper Tangier "Lisan Al-Maghrib" try to submit a draft constitution Sharifian 11 October 190865. However, the deep institutional crisis of the Sultanate and European pressure increased prevent the completion of such a project. The weakness of the Makhzen also allows an adventurer named Ben Driss Jilali best known as the Rogui Bou Hmara to impersonate a son of Hassan I, and to be recognized as Sultan Taza and throughout the north-east of Morocco for a few years before finally being captured in 1909. Another rebel leader al-Raisuni establishes its stronghold in the country and Jebala Asilah where he rejects the official authority and causes its abductions of U.S. citizens personal intervention of the President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt, the point of sending the U.S. Navy in Tangier in retaliation.



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The arrival of the Andalusians and Moriscos


The arrival of the Andalusians and Moriscos
Al-Andalus, Boabdil, Moriscos, Arab-Andalusian music and Reconquista.

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expulsion of the Moors from Spain in 1609 following the Edict of Philip III
The early success of the Reconquista Andalusian Muslims started to retreat to Morocco, and from the twelfth century, decided to leave some Andalusian Moorish Spain but the majority of them were forced to leave Spain mainly in two stages: in the fall of Granada in 1492, and in 1609 with the expulsion of the Moors followed the decline to the Maghreb.
It is necessary to remember that before 1492, the geographical proximity of Morocco with Spain Andalusian naturally induces constant exchanges between these two and other countries.
The proximity of Morocco and the desire to return to Spain will lead to the presence of a high concentration of Andalusians on the northern shores of Morocco. The Spanish Catholic monarchs saw a danger in this concentration, located just 14 km from their bank, attacked the northern shores of Morocco and the Maghreb and took the cities of Melilla and Penon de Velez to prevent any attempt to return.
The influx of these Andalusians, that Morocco will integrate into the social and economic fabric, will mark a turning point in the culture, philosophy, the arts and politics. Note that many intellectuals and artists Andalusian join the royal courts, the movement will be initiated by the famous Averroes Cordoba (died in Marrakech) and the last poet of classical Arabic Muslim Spain, Ibn al-Khatib of Granada, which ended his life in Fez.


Representation of Sale at the time of Jan Janszoon, better known as the pirate admiral Murad Rais.
The Moriscos settled in Rabat (called New Salé) and Salt (Salt Ancient) form a State privateer in 1627, the Republic of Bouregreg also called Republic of the Two Rivers. This political entity, comparable in some ways to the Barbary regencies of central and eastern Maghreb under Ottoman rule, still racing successful business leaders who bring their bosses to negotiate with the major European powers. Recklessness captains Saletins is indeed known, and some of them conduct daring raids to Iceland or to North America (especially to Newfoundland). After a period of independence in the early seventeenth century, the Alaouite sultan Moulay Rachid ends the existence of the republic salétine and the annex to the Sharifian Empire.
Similarly, the city of Tetouan, populated mainly "Andalusians" since its reconstruction in the late fifteenth century, form a de facto independent principality, ruled by the family Naqsis. The principality welcomes more than 40,000 Moors following their explulsion54. Social structure comparable to Rabat, the race there is a major activity through its port Martil, downriver to the eponymous connects.
In Morocco, the race war declines in the late eighteenth century, with final judgment in 1829, following the attacks of retaliation against the Austrian fleet Asilah (which followed the capture of a vessel this nation by pirates marocains55). The majority of captains Saletins is Moorish origin but are also present in many European renegades (the most famous being the Dutchman Jan Janszoon became admiral Mourad Rais), Moroccan natives and Turkish sailors or turquisés from Algiers and the Regency of Tripoli.


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saadien -Dynastie saadienne (1554-1659


Map of the Empire saadien
The Saadian Zaydanides45 sometimes called, is a native Arab dynasty Sharifian the Draa Valley. She came to power in 1511 with Sultan Muhammad al-Mahdi al-Qa'im bi-Amr Allah chose Marrakech for final capital after Taroudant. From 1554 she has full control over Morocco, while the central and eastern Maghreb is under the dominion of the Ottomans. Muhammad al-Sheikh is a staunch opponent of the Ottoman sultan-caliph Suleiman the Magnificent. To ward off the threat posed by the Turkish governors of Algiers, the Saadian sultan did not hesitate to seek the alliance of Spaniards who occupied Oran and allow him to seize Tlemcen. Despite a devastating raid against Fez Ottoman troops really do not penetrate inside the Moroccan territory, and Saadian can extend their occupation of north-western Algeria. Diplomacy Muhammad al-Shaikh earned him the enmity of the Sublime Porte tenacious. Indeed, in 1557 the assassins in the pay of Hasan pasha of Algiers Corso behead the Moroccan Sultan and sent his head as a trophy in Istanbul, where can contemplate Soliman and his implacable enemy Ouest46. The murder, however, did not affect the military front and even strengthens the foundation of the Saadian dynasty.
Designated by the mystical brotherhoods including the Chadilya and Jazoulya, Saadiens have the difficult task of reuniting Morocco and fight the young King Sebastian I of Portugal willing to carry his personal crusade in Africa. In 1578 Ksar el Kebir (Battle of the Three Kings), a large Portuguese army composed largely of mercenaries from almost all Christendom Western Catholic (Portuguese knights, militia Spanish provinces lansquenets German and Flemish and Italian troops halberdiers Papal) is completely destroyed by the military forces of the Empire of Morocco Saadian which offer a victory considérable47 impact. After this battle, the dynasty focuses on the north-east of Morocco to protect the country from Ottoman ambitions.
Despite their political opposition to the Sublime Porte, the Saadian Makhzen organize their army and the Ottoman model. The Board shall adopt the titles of pashas and beys, and sultans to equip an elite guard composed of peiks and solaks, taking the discipline and costume characteristic of Turkish janissaries. A representative of the Sultan with the title "khalifa" 48exerce power viceroy from Fez on the northern and eastern. Many pashas and bosses are renegades and Andalusians responsible for collecting taxes, raising troops and monitor the tribes to prevent revolt against the Makhzen saadien.


The inner courtyard of the Ben Youssef Medersa period saadienne
The influence turque49 be explained by the exiled princes Abu Marwan Abd al-Malik and Ahmed (Ahmed future Saadi al-Mansur) in Algiers and Istanbul during the reign of their half-brother Moulay Abdallah al-Ghalib, who had wanted to eliminate in order to be the sole representative of the dynasty. Support of the Ottoman Sultan Murad III to the claims of both Saadian princes may seem paradoxical because of the adversarial nature of Turkish-Moroccan relations, but Abd al-Malik and his brother know how to use this support to intelligently reclaim the throne and eliminate their nephew Mohammed el-Mottouakil (son of al-Ghalib) which in turn was allied with Portugal. Murad III's death in 1595 put an end also to hegemonic appetites of the Sublime Porte and strengthens the independence marocaine50.


Abd el-Wahed ben Messaoud, ambassador of Sultan al-Mansur in England, circa 1600


Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur Saadi, whose reign marked the apogee of the Saadian dynasty.
If the Turks are mostly found in the General Staff and artillery, most of the Saadian army is composed of European renegades and tribes Cheragas Arab military contingents as well as the Souss (Souss the Ehl-el, constitutes the backbone of the military dynasty). This considerable force, estimated at 40,000 men by the historian Henri Terrasse, is the sultan Ahmad al-Mansur's most powerful political and military leader of this part of Africa. He proves it by launching one of its most brilliant officers, General Yuder Pasha to conquer Songhai Empire of Mali becomes Tondibi after the battle of the Moroccan pashalik of Timbuktu and Bilad as-Sudan (Sudan western Niger as opposed to Eastern Nilotic Sudan), including the prestigious cities of Gao and Djenné. On the religious level, the rule of the Caliphate is recognized until saadien Chad Idriss Alaoma III, ruler of the kingdom of Kanem-Bornou51. This spiritual allegiance marks an undeniable victory for the Sultan al-Mansur on the African scene to the detriment of the Ottoman Empire who also intends to use its status as a caliphate.
The Songhai Empire and destroyed his sovereign Askia Ishaq II overthrown, the gold of the Niger River valley on its way to Marrakech Moroccan oasis then the circuit caravans under heavy armed escort. With this Malian gold, Sultan al-Mansur embarked on a policy of prestige, completes his huge and luxurious El Badi Palace seat of a very luxurious court life, and we see even the Queen of France Catherine de Medici attempt to use a loan of 20,000 ducats to the wealthy saadien52 caliph.
In turn Queen Elizabeth I of England wants to establish a strategic alliance with the Spanish anti-powerful caliphate saadien to counter the ambitions of Philip II. This policy is embodied by the Anglo-Moroccan joint attack against Cadiz (1596) and the exchange of ambassadors between the courts of London and Marrakech in 1600. But this brilliant page ends with the death of Ahmed in Fez in 1603. In 1612, the pashas of Timbuktu behave in independent princes of Mali and gold continues to reach Marrakech. The dynasty died in 1659 in the death of Sultan Ahmed el-Abbas, who ended a long war between the various dynastic heirs of the family saadienne53.

On the eve of the disappearance of the Saadian dynasty, Morocco breaks up into several local authorities, some of whom aspire to transcend their regional context and to impose nationwide. Among these powers, the most notable are the zaouia Dila, based in the Middle Atlas, whose strength lies in the Berber tribes of the mountains, including Sanhadjas and the zaouia of Illigh who founded the kingdom of Tazeroualt in Souss and control of important caravan routes from the Sahara. In addition to these theocratic states Sufis, the warlord El Ayyachi champion of jihad in the Atlantic provinces, is size an important fief in the Gharb. Coastal cities predominantly Andalusian erect also independent political entities, such as the Republic of Salé and the Principality of Naqsides in Tetouan. Finally, in Marrakech and the Haouz emerges lordship former bosses Saadian palace. But all these players involved, it is the Alawites, emirs who Tafilalet necessary through a gradual and methodical conquest of Morocco, leveraging internal weaknesses and divisions of their opponents. The Alawite dynasty comes to power and on throughout the middle of the seventeenth century.



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