Alaouite Dynasty
Encyclopedia
The Alaouite Dynasty is the name of the current Moroccan royal family
Royal Family of Morocco
The royal family of Morocco is from the Alaouite dynasty. They have been ruling the kingdom of Morocco since the 17th century. Family members include:*HM King Muhammad VI*HRH Princess Lalla Salma*HRH Crown Prince Moulay Hassan*HRH Princess Lalla Khadija...

. The name Alaouite comes from the ‘Alī of its founder 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 became Prince of 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...

 in 1631. His son Mulay r-Rshid
Al-Rashid of Morocco
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...

 (1664–1672) was able to unite and pacify the country. The Alaouite family claim descent from Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...

 through the line of Fāṭimah az-Zahrah
Fatimah
Fatimah was a daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad from his first wife Khadijah bint Khuwaylid. She is regarded by Muslims as an exemplar for men and women. She remained at her father's side through the difficulties suffered by him at the hands of the Quraysh of Mecca...

, Muhammad's daughter, and her husband, the Fourth Caliph
Rashidun
The Rightly Guided Caliphs or The Righteous Caliphs is a term used in Sunni Islam to refer to the first four Caliphs who established the Rashidun Caliphate. The concept of "Rightly Guided Caliphs" originated with the Abbasid Dynasty...

 ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib
Ali
' |Ramaḍān]], 40 AH; approximately October 23, 598 or 600 or March 17, 599 – January 27, 661).His father's name was Abu Talib. Ali was also the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and ruled over the Islamic Caliphate from 656 to 661, and was the first male convert to Islam...

.

Conquest

According to some legends the Alaouites entered Morocco at the end of the 13th century when Al Hassan Addakhil
Al Hassan Addakhil
l-Hesn d-Dakhl was a direct ancestor to Mulay ʻLi Shrif, founder of the Alaouite Dynasty, which is the current Moroccan royal family. He was taken to Morocco from the town of Yanbu in the Hejaz at the end of the 13th century by the inhabitants of Tafilalt to be their Imām...

, who lived then in the town of Yanbu in the Hejaz
Hejaz
al-Hejaz, also Hijaz is a region in the west of present-day Saudi Arabia. Defined primarily by its western border on the Red Sea, it extends from Haql on the Gulf of Aqaba to Jizan. Its main city is Jeddah, but it is probably better known for the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina...

, was brought to Morocco by the inhabitants of Tafilalet to be their imām
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...

. They were hoping that, as he was a descendant of Muhammad
Sharif
Sharīf or Chérif is a traditional Arab tribal title given to those who serve as the protector of the tribe and all tribal assets, such as property, wells, and land. In origin, the word is an adjective meaning "noble", "highborn". The feminine singular is sharifa...

, his presence would help to improve their date palm
Date Palm
The date palm is a palm in the genus Phoenix, cultivated for its edible sweet fruit. Although its place of origin is unknown because of long cultivation, it probably originated from lands around the Persian Gulf. It is a medium-sized plant, 15–25 m tall, growing singly or forming a clump with...

 crops thanks to his barakah
Barakah
In Islam, Barakah is the beneficent force from God that flows through the physical and spiritual spheres as prosperity, protection, and happiness. Baraka is the continuity of spiritual presence and revelation that begins with God and flows through that and those closest to God. Baraka can be found...

"blessing", an Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...

 term meaning a sense of divine presence or charisma. His descendants began to increase their power in southern Morocco after the death of the Saʻdī
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....

 ruler Ahmad al-Mansur (1578–1603). In 1669, the last Saʻdī sultan was overthrown in the conquest of Marrakesh by Mulay r-Rshid
Al-Rashid of Morocco
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...

 (1664–1672). After the victory over the zāwiya
Zaouia
A zaouia or zawiya is an Islamic religious school or monastery. The term is Maghrebi and West African, roughly corresponding to the Eastern term madrassa...

 of Dila, who controlled northern Morocco, he was able to unite and pacify the country.

The organization of the sultanate developed under 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...

 (1672–1727), who, against the opposition of local tribes began to create a unified state. , Isma'īl controlled Morocco through an army of black slaves, the Black Guard
Black Guard
The Black Guard , also known as "Masters of the Blackness," were the corps of black-African slave-soldiers assembled by the Alaouite sultan of Morocco, Moulay Ismail...

. With these soldiers he drove the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

 from Tangiers (1684) and the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

 from Larache
Larache
Larache is an important harbour town in the region Tanger-Tétouan in northern Morocco. It was founded in the 7th century when a group of Muslim soldiers from Arabia extended their camp at Lixus onto the south bank of the Loukkos River.In 1471, the Portuguese settlers from Asilah and Tangier drove...

 (1689.) However, the unity of Morocco did not survive his death—in the ensuing power struggles the tribes became a political and military force once again.

Only with Muhammad III
Mohammed III of Morocco
Mohammed Ben Abdellah al-Khatib was Sultan of Morocco from 1757 to 1790 under the Alaouite dynasty. He was the governor of Marrakech around 1750 and was the son of Sultan Abdallah IV who reigned 1745-1757...

 (1757–1790) could the kingdom be pacified again and the administration reorganized. A renewed attempt at centralization was abandoned and the tribes allowed to preserve their autonomy. Under Abderrahmane
Abderrahmane of Morocco
Moulay Sharif Abderrahmane was sultan of Morocco from 1822 to 1859. He was a member of the Alaouite dynasty.-Biography:He was born in 1778. His reign began at the start of the French occupation of Algeria...

 (1822–1859) Morocco fell under the influence of the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

an powers. When Morocco supported the Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...

n independence movement of the Emir
Emir
Emir , meaning "commander", "general", or "prince"; also transliterated as Amir, Aamir or Ameer) is a title of high office, used throughout the Muslim world...

 Abd al-Qadir, it was heavily defeated by the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 in 1844 at the Battle of Isly
Battle of Isly
The Battle of Isly was fought on August 14, 1844 between France and Morocco, near the Isly River. French forces under Marshal Thomas Robert Bugeaud routed a much larger, but poorly organized, Moroccan force under Mohammed, son of sultan Abderrahmane of Morocco...

 and made to abandon its support.

From Muhammad IV
Mohammed IV of Morocco
Mohammed IV was Sultan of Morocco from 1859 to 1873, and was a member of the Alaouite dynasty. The Spanish-Moroccan War occurred during his reign, and the Moroccan city of Tétouan fell to Spanish forces in 1861.-References:* *...

 (1859–1873) and Hassan I
Hassan I of Morocco
Hassan I of Morocco was Sultan of Morocco from 1873 to 1894.-Biography:He was a member of the Alaouite dynasty. Mulay Hassan was among the most successful sultans...

 (1873–1894) the Alaouites tried to foster trading links, above all with Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

an countries and the United States. The army and administration were also modernised, to improve control over the Berber and Bedouin tribes. With the war against Spain (1859–1860) came direct involvement in European affairs—although the independence of Morocco was guaranteed in the Conference of Madrid (1880), the French gained ever greater influence. German attempts to counter this growing influence led to the First Moroccan Crisis
First Moroccan Crisis
The First Moroccan Crisis was the international crisis over the international status of Morocco between March 1905 and May 1906. Germany resented France's increasing dominance of Morocco, and insisted on an open door policy that would allow German business access to its market...

 of 1905-1906 and the Second Moroccan Crisis (1911). Eventually the Moroccans were forced to recognise the French Protectorate
Protectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...

 through the Treaty of Fez
Treaty of Fez
By the Treaty of Fez , signed March 30, 1912, Sultan Abdelhafid gave up the sovereignty of Morocco to the French, making the country a protectorate, resolving the Agadir Crisis of July 1, 1911....

, signed on December 3, 1912. At the same time the Rif
Rif
The Rif or Riff is a mainly mountainous region of northern Morocco, with some fertile plains, stretching from Cape Spartel and Tangier in the west to Ras Kebdana and the Melwiyya River in the east, and from the Mediterranean Sea in the north to the river of Wergha in the south.It is part of the...

 area of northern 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...

 submitted to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

.

Under the protectorate (1912–1956) the infrastructure was invested in heavily in order to link the cities of the Atlantic coast to the hinterland, thus creating a single economic area for Morocco. However the regime faced the opposition of the tribes—when the Berber were required to come under the jurisdiction of French courts in 1930 it marked the beginning of the independence movement. In 1944, the independence party Istiqlāl
Istiqlal Party
The Istiqlal or Independence Party is a political party in Morocco...

 was founded, supported by the Sultan Muhammad V
Mohammed V of Morocco
Mohammed V was Sultan of Morocco from 1927–53, exiled from 1953–55, where he was again recognized as Sultan upon his return, and King from 1957 to 1961. His full name was Sidi Mohammed ben Yusef, or Son of Yusef, upon whose death he succeeded to the throne...

 (1927–1961). France was obliged to grant Morocco independence on March 2, 1956, leaving behind both a legacy of urbanisation and industrial economy in some cities, and destruction and isolation in the areas that hosted the Berber resistance against France and Spain between 1912 and 1933.

List of Alaouite rulers

Until 1666 only ruling 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...

 and some southern parts of Morocco.
  • Muhammad I (1631–1635)
  • Muhammad II
    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...

     (1635–1664)


Sultan Mulay Muhammad al-Rashid bin Sharif, 1st Sultan of Morocco, etc., b. at Sijilmasa (Rissani), Tafilalt, 1631, second son of Sultan Abul Amlak Sidi Muhammad I as-Sharif bin 'Ali, Sultan of Tafilalt, educ. privately. Proclaimed at Toza, on the death of his elder half-brother as Sultan of 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...

, 2 August 1664. Proclaimed as Sultan of Morocco, etc. at Fez, 22 October 1664.
  • Al-Rashid
    Al-Rashid of Morocco
    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...

     (1666–1672)
  • Mawlay 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...

     (1672–1727)
  • Abu'l Abbas Ahmad II
    Abu'l Abbas Ahmad II of Morocco
    Sultan 'Abul Abbas Mulay Ahmad ud-Dhahabi bin Ismail as-Samin was the Sultan of Morocco 1727-1728 and 1728-1729 .He was born at Meknes in 1677, as a son of Ismail Ibn Sharif .Between 1699-1700 he was the Khalifa of Tadla...

     (1727–1728) (first time)
  • Abdalmalik
    Abdalmalik of Morocco
    Abdalmalik was Sultan of Morocco in 1728, and member of the Alaouite Dynasty.-Reign:Son of the notorious Moulay Ismail, Abdalmalik was earmarked as his father's successor until he fell from favour and was replaced as heir by his half-brother Ahmed ed Dehebi in 1727...

     (1728)
  • Abu'l Abbas Ahmad II
    Abu'l Abbas Ahmad II of Morocco
    Sultan 'Abul Abbas Mulay Ahmad ud-Dhahabi bin Ismail as-Samin was the Sultan of Morocco 1727-1728 and 1728-1729 .He was born at Meknes in 1677, as a son of Ismail Ibn Sharif .Between 1699-1700 he was the Khalifa of Tadla...

     (1728–1729) (second time)
  • Abdallah
    Abdallah of Morocco
    Sultan 'Abu Abbas Mulay 'Abdu'llah bin Ismail as-Samin was the Sultan of Morocco 1729-1734, 1736, 1740–1741, 1741–1742, 1743-1747* and 1748-1757.He was born after 1678 as a son of Ismail Ibn SharifHe ascended the throne numerous times,fighting his brothers...

     (1729–1734) (first time)
  • Ali (1734–1736)
  • Abdallah
    Abdallah of Morocco
    Sultan 'Abu Abbas Mulay 'Abdu'llah bin Ismail as-Samin was the Sultan of Morocco 1729-1734, 1736, 1740–1741, 1741–1742, 1743-1747* and 1748-1757.He was born after 1678 as a son of Ismail Ibn SharifHe ascended the throne numerous times,fighting his brothers...

     (1736) (second time)
  • Mohammed II (1736–1738)
  • Al-Mostadi (1738–1740) (first time)
  • Abdallah
    Abdallah of Morocco
    Sultan 'Abu Abbas Mulay 'Abdu'llah bin Ismail as-Samin was the Sultan of Morocco 1729-1734, 1736, 1740–1741, 1741–1742, 1743-1747* and 1748-1757.He was born after 1678 as a son of Ismail Ibn SharifHe ascended the throne numerous times,fighting his brothers...

     (1740–1741) (third time)
  • Zin al-Abidin (1741)
  • Abdallah
    Abdallah of Morocco
    Sultan 'Abu Abbas Mulay 'Abdu'llah bin Ismail as-Samin was the Sultan of Morocco 1729-1734, 1736, 1740–1741, 1741–1742, 1743-1747* and 1748-1757.He was born after 1678 as a son of Ismail Ibn SharifHe ascended the throne numerous times,fighting his brothers...

     (1741–1742) (fourth time)
  • Al-Mostadi (1742–1743) (second time)
  • Abdallah
    Abdallah of Morocco
    Sultan 'Abu Abbas Mulay 'Abdu'llah bin Ismail as-Samin was the Sultan of Morocco 1729-1734, 1736, 1740–1741, 1741–1742, 1743-1747* and 1748-1757.He was born after 1678 as a son of Ismail Ibn SharifHe ascended the throne numerous times,fighting his brothers...

     (1743–1747) (fifth time)
  • Al-Mostadi (1747–1748) (third time)
  • Abdallah
    Abdallah of Morocco
    Sultan 'Abu Abbas Mulay 'Abdu'llah bin Ismail as-Samin was the Sultan of Morocco 1729-1734, 1736, 1740–1741, 1741–1742, 1743-1747* and 1748-1757.He was born after 1678 as a son of Ismail Ibn SharifHe ascended the throne numerous times,fighting his brothers...

     (1748–1757) (sixth time)
  • Mohammed III (1757–1790)
  • Yazid
    Yazid of Morocco
    Yazid was Sultan of Morocco from 1790 to 1792, and was a member of the Alaouite dynasty.-References:* *...

     (1790–1792)
  • Slimane of Morocco
    Slimane of Morocco
    Mulay Slimane or Suleiman was the Sultan of Morocco from 1792 to 1822. Slimane was one of five sons of Mohammed III who fought a civil war for control of the kingdom. Slimane emerged victorious in 1795, and the country remained largely passive for the subsequent decades of his rule...

     (1792–1822)
  • Abderrahmane
    Abderrahmane of Morocco
    Moulay Sharif Abderrahmane was sultan of Morocco from 1822 to 1859. He was a member of the Alaouite dynasty.-Biography:He was born in 1778. His reign began at the start of the French occupation of Algeria...

     (1822–1859)
  • Mohammed IV
    Mohammed IV of Morocco
    Mohammed IV was Sultan of Morocco from 1859 to 1873, and was a member of the Alaouite dynasty. The Spanish-Moroccan War occurred during his reign, and the Moroccan city of Tétouan fell to Spanish forces in 1861.-References:* *...

     (1859–1873)
  • Hassan I
    Hassan I of Morocco
    Hassan I of Morocco was Sultan of Morocco from 1873 to 1894.-Biography:He was a member of the Alaouite dynasty. Mulay Hassan was among the most successful sultans...

     (1873–1894)
  • Abdelaziz
    Abdelaziz of Morocco
    Abdelaziz of Morocco , also known as Mulai Abd al-Aziz IV, served as the Sultan of Morocco from 1894 at the age of sixteen until he was deposed in 1908. He succeeded his father Hassan I of Morocco...

     (1894–1908)
  • Abdelhafid
    Abdelhafid of Morocco
    Abdelhafid of Morocco was the Sultan of Morocco from 1908 to 1912 and a member of the Alaouite Dynasty. His younger brother, Abdelaziz of Morocco, preceded him...

     (1908–1912)


Under French Protectorate (1912–1956):
  • Yusef
    Yusef of Morocco
    Sultan Yusef ben Hassan ruled Morocco from 1912 until his death in 1927. Born in the city of Meknes to Sultan Hassan I, he inherited the throne from his brother, Sultan Abdelhafid, who abdicated after the Treaty of Fez , which made Morocco a French protectorate. He was a member of the Alaouite...

     (1912–1927)
  • King Mohammed V
    Mohammed V of Morocco
    Mohammed V was Sultan of Morocco from 1927–53, exiled from 1953–55, where he was again recognized as Sultan upon his return, and King from 1957 to 1961. His full name was Sidi Mohammed ben Yusef, or Son of Yusef, upon whose death he succeeded to the throne...

     (1927–1961), changed title of ruler from Sultan
    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...

     to King
    King
    - Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...

     in 1957. Deposed and exiled to Corsica
    Corsica
    Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....

     and Madagascar
    Madagascar
    The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...

     (1953–1955)
  • Mohammed Ben Aarafa
    Mohammed Ben Aarafa
    Mohammed Ben Aarafa, or Ben Arafa was a distant relative of Sultan Mohammed V of Morocco ; he was put in Mohammed V's place by the French after they exiled Mohammed V to Madagascar....

    , French Puppet (1953–1955)


Restored Independence (1956 onwards):
  • King Mohammed V
    Mohammed V of Morocco
    Mohammed V was Sultan of Morocco from 1927–53, exiled from 1953–55, where he was again recognized as Sultan upon his return, and King from 1957 to 1961. His full name was Sidi Mohammed ben Yusef, or Son of Yusef, upon whose death he succeeded to the throne...

     (1955–1961)
  • King Hassan II
    Hassan II of Morocco
    King Hassan II l-ḥasan aṯ-ṯānī, dial. el-ḥasan ettâni); July 9, 1929 – July 23, 1999) was King of Morocco from 1961 until his death in 1999...

     (1961–1999)
  • King Mohammed VI
    Mohammed VI of Morocco
    Mohammed VI is the present King of Morocco and Amir al-Mu'minin . He ascended to the throne on 23 July 1999 upon the death of his father.-Education:...

     (1999–Present)

See also

  • List of rulers of Morocco
  • History of Morocco
    History of Morocco
    The 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...

  • Order of Ouissam Alaouite
  • List of Sunni Muslim dynasties

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK