The establishment of the Alaouite dynasty in Morocco was the result of a complex combination of political, economic, and social factors. Before the rise of the Alaouites, Morocco experienced a period of instability and fragmentation following the death of the Saadian ruler Ahmad al-Mansur al-Dhahabi (the Golden).
After his death, the Moroccan state gradually weakened and began to fragment into several competing political entities. Different regional powers emerged, each attempting to establish control over strategic territories and dominate the profitable trans-Saharan trade routes.
Among the most important political forces during this period were the Dila'ite Emirate, the Samlali Emirate, and the Alaouite Emirate. These competing powers struggled against one another for influence and territorial control. Ultimately, the Alaouites emerged victorious from this struggle, succeeding in defeating their rivals, reunifying Morocco, and liberating several coastal regions that had fallen under foreign occupation.
The Weakness and Collapse of the Saadian State
During the late sixteenth century and the beginning of the seventeenth century, Morocco experienced a series of crises that contributed to the gradual collapse of the Saadian dynasty. These developments created the conditions that later allowed the Alaouite dynasty to rise to power.
The Conflict Between the Sons of Ahmad al-Mansur
Following the death of Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur, his sons entered into a prolonged struggle over the throne. This internal conflict divided Morocco into rival political centers.
One faction ruled from Fez under Sultan al-Ma'mun, while another controlled Marrakesh under Sultan Zidan. At the same time, other regions fell under the authority of powerful religious and political groups.
Among these groups was the Dila'ite Zawiya, which attempted to unify Morocco under its leadership. The Dila'ites fought and defeated the famous resistance leader al-Ayyashi, who had led Moroccan fighters against Spanish occupation along the Atlantic coast.
Another rising force was the Samlali Zawiya, which gained both political and economic influence in the Sous region during the weakening of Saadian authority. In addition, the rebellion of Ibn Abi Mahalli inflicted serious losses on the Saadian state.
These conflicts significantly weakened the central government and contributed to widespread political instability.
Economic and Social Crisis
The political fragmentation of Morocco was accompanied by a severe economic decline. Several important sectors of the Moroccan economy were negatively affected during this period.
The sugar industry, which had once been a major source of income for the Saadian state, suffered a significant decline. At the same time, revenues from trans-Saharan trade decreased.
Morocco also faced a series of natural disasters, including periods of drought, which were followed by famines and outbreaks of disease. These crises further weakened the Saadian state and intensified the general instability within the country.
Conditions That Favored the Rise of the Alaouites
The difficult conditions that Morocco experienced during the first half of the seventeenth century created the environment in which the Alaouite movement was able to emerge.
Repeated famines, epidemics, and the collapse of central authority encouraged the rise of new regional powers that sought to restore order and establish political control.
The Origins of the Alaouite Family
The Alaouites trace their lineage to Ali ibn Abi Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad. Their ancestor al-Hasan ibn al-Qasim, known as al-Hasan al-Dakhil, migrated from Yanbu in the Hijaz to Morocco during the seventh century of the Islamic calendar (the thirteenth century CE).
He settled in Sijilmasa in the Tafilalt region, where his descendants established themselves as respected religious figures. Their claimed noble lineage earned them significant respect among the local population.
The Alaouites also benefited from the strategic commercial importance of Sijilmasa, which had become one of the most important centers of trans-Saharan trade, especially after the decline of the trade route connecting Timbuktu and Marrakesh in the seventeenth century.
The Alaouites and the Struggle for Power
As competition intensified among local leaders over control of trade routes—particularly in the region of Tafilalt, which served as a key passage between Tuwat and Fez—many local authorities transformed into political forces seeking broader power.
The political ambitions of the Samlali leaders became evident under Abu Hassun in 1628, while the Dila'ite movement expanded under Muhammad al-Hajj in 1637.
Despite facing strong opposition from both the Samlalis and the Dila'ites, the Alaouites eventually succeeded in defeating their rivals. Under the leadership of Moulay al-Rashid, the Alaouites managed to reunify Morocco by eliminating the competing regional powers and restoring centralized authority.
This achievement marked the beginning of the Alaouite dynasty, which continues to rule Morocco to this day.
Sources
Qabli, Mohamed. History of Morocco: Reconsideration and Synthesis. Publications of the Royal Institute for Research on the History of Morocco, Okaz Printing Press, Rabat, First Edition, 2011.
Harki, Ibrahim. Morocco Through History, Volume III. Dar Al-Rashad Al-Haditha Publishing and Distribution, Second Edition, 1994.
Al-Ifrani, Muhammad al-Saghir. Nuzhat al-Hadi bi Akhbar Muluk al-Qarn al-Hadi. First Edition, 1419 AH / 1998.
Julien, Charles-André. History of North Africa: Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco. Routledge.
Abun-Nasr, Jamil M. A History of the Maghrib in the Islamic Period. Cambridge University Press.
0 Comments