Al-Rashid of Morocco
Encyclopedia
Moulay al-Rashid was Sultan
of Morocco
from 1666 to 1672. He has been called the founder of the Alaouite Dynasty
.
It was his father Moulay Ali Cherif
who took power in Tafilalt
around 1630. In 1635 al-Rashid's brother Moulay Mohammed ould Moulay Cherif
succeeded their still living father. After the death of their father, Moulay Mohammed brought Tafilalt
, the Draa River
valley and the Sahara region under Alouite power. However due to internal feuding war broke out between the brothers and Mohammed was killed by troops of al-Rashid in 1664.
With a small army al-Rashid ruled the east of Morocco. He was able to expand his power and seize Taza
. In 1666 he marched into Fes
and ended the rule of the Saadi dynasty
. After subjugating the northern coastal areas of Morocco he also succeeded in capturing Marrakech
in 1669. He occupied the Sus and the Little Atlas, which settled the Alaouite power over entire Morocco.
He died in Marrakech
in 1672 after a fall from his horse, and was succeeded by his half-brother Ismail Ibn Sharif
.
Al-Rashid was sometimes known as "Tafiletta" by the English.
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
of Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
from 1666 to 1672. He has been called the founder of the Alaouite Dynasty
Alaouite Dynasty
The Alaouite Dynasty is the name of the current Moroccan royal family. The name Alaouite comes from the ‘Alī of its founder Moulay Ali Cherif who became Prince of Tafilalt in 1631. His son Mulay r-Rshid was able to unite and pacify the country...
.
It was his father Moulay Ali Cherif
Moulay Ali Cherif
Moulay Ali Cherif was allegedly a descendant of l-Hesn d-Dakhl and is considered to have been the founder of the Alaouite Dynasty of Morocco...
who took power in Tafilalt
Tafilalt
Tafilalt or Tafilet is a region and the most important oasis of the Moroccan Sahara; it is also considered one of the largest oases in the world, the oasis is entirely located along the Ziz River. The oasis is ten days' journey south of Fez, across the Atlas Mountains...
around 1630. In 1635 al-Rashid's brother Moulay Mohammed ould Moulay Cherif
Muhammad II of Morocco
Sultan Sidi Muhammad II. bin Sharif was the ruler of Tafilalt between 1636-64. He was the eldest son of Muhammad I of Morocco and came to power when his father stepped down. He was exiled from his realms in 1646 and was killed on 2 August 1664 in a battle on the plain of Angad by troops of his...
succeeded their still living father. After the death of their father, Moulay Mohammed brought Tafilalt
Tafilalt
Tafilalt or Tafilet is a region and the most important oasis of the Moroccan Sahara; it is also considered one of the largest oases in the world, the oasis is entirely located along the Ziz River. The oasis is ten days' journey south of Fez, across the Atlas Mountains...
, the Draa River
Draa River
The Draa is Morocco's longest river . It is formed by the confluence of the Dadès River and Imini River. It flows from the High Atlas mountains south-ward to Tagounit and from Tagounit mostly westwards to the Atlantic Ocean somewhat north of Tan-Tan...
valley and the Sahara region under Alouite power. However due to internal feuding war broke out between the brothers and Mohammed was killed by troops of al-Rashid in 1664.
With a small army al-Rashid ruled the east of Morocco. He was able to expand his power and seize Taza
Taza
Taza is a city in northern Morocco, which occupies the corridor between the Rif mountians and Middle Atlas mountains, about 120 km east of Fez. It is located at 150 km from Nador, and 210 km from Oujda...
. In 1666 he marched into Fes
Fes, Morocco
Fes or Fez is the second largest city of Morocco, after Casablanca, with a population of approximately 1 million . It is the capital of the Fès-Boulemane region....
and ended the rule of the Saadi dynasty
Saadi Dynasty
The Saadi dynasty of Morocco , began with the reign of Sultan Mohammed ash-Sheikh in 1554, when he vanquished the last Wattasids at the Battle of Tadla....
. After subjugating the northern coastal areas of Morocco he also succeeded in capturing Marrakech
Marrakech
Marrakech or Marrakesh , known as the "Ochre city", is the most important former imperial city in Morocco's history...
in 1669. He occupied the Sus and the Little Atlas, which settled the Alaouite power over entire Morocco.
He died in Marrakech
Marrakech
Marrakech or Marrakesh , known as the "Ochre city", is the most important former imperial city in Morocco's history...
in 1672 after a fall from his horse, and was succeeded by his half-brother Ismail Ibn Sharif
Ismail Ibn Sharif
Moulay Ismaïl Ibn Sharif was the second ruler of the Moroccan Alaouite dynasty. Like others of the dynasty, Ismaïl claimed to be a descendant of Muhammad through his roots to Hassan ibn Ali...
.
Al-Rashid was sometimes known as "Tafiletta" by the English.
See also
- List of Kings of Morocco
- History of MoroccoHistory of MoroccoThe History of Morocco spans over 12 centuries, without considering the Classical antiquity. The country was first unified by the Idrisid dynasty in 780, representing the first Islamic state in Africa autonomous from the Arab Empire. Under the Almoravid dynasty and the Almohad dynasty, Morocco...