À partir de XVIᵉ siècle
Morocco and the western Maghrib
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The Sharifian Sa'did dynasty was the Moroccan ruling house that emerged from a jihad against Portuguese strongholds and progressively challenged the Wattasids of Fez. Based initially in Marrakesh, it expanded through military victories, artillery, alliances with religious brotherhoods, and control of southern Moroccan resources. Its rulers later confronted Ottoman influence in Algeria and pursued interests in the trans-Saharan trade.
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Le récit
The Sharifs built their power in southern Morocco through the language and mobilization of jihad against the Portuguese. Ahmad al-A'raj acted as an independent ruler while still sending presents to the sultan of Fez, but he eventually rejected tributary status on the grounds that his Sharifian standing entitled him to sovereignty. His conquest of Marrakesh established the southern city as the rival of Fez and created a durable political division within Morocco.
After Ahmad al-A'raj was deposed by his brother Muhammad al-Mahdi in 1539/40, the dynasty entered a more aggressive phase. Muhammad al-Mahdi conquered Agadir in 1541, using artillery acquired from Europeans, and turned the prestige of victory over the Portuguese into a platform for extending Sharifian authority. He later captured Meknes and Fez, although his taxation of tribes and marabouts provoked revolts and weakened the coalition that had first supported him.
The dynasty survived Ottoman intervention and internal succession struggles. Muhammad al-Mahdi recovered Fez in 1554, while his son 'Abdallah al-Ghalib consolidated power after his death in 1557. In 1576 an Ottoman army installed 'Abd al-Malik, but the new ruler soon freed himself from Ottoman control. His victory at al-Qasr al-Kabir in 1578, achieved against Portugal, elevated Morocco's international prestige and prepared the ground for the reign of Ahmad al-Mansur.
Under Ahmad al-Mansur, the Sharifian state strengthened its professional army with Turkish instructors, firearms, Andalusians, and renegades. The court also sought greater revenues through taxation and closer control of Saharan commerce. The dynasty's interests reached toward Tafilelt, Tuat, Taghaza, and the trade routes leading to Songhay, linking Moroccan state-building to wider competition over gold and salt.
À partir de XVIᵉ siècle
Morocco and the western Maghrib
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The Sharifian Sa'did dynasty was the Moroccan ruling house that emerged from a jihad against Portuguese strongholds and progressively challenged the Wattasids of Fez. Based initially in Marrakesh, it expanded through military victories, artillery, alliances with religious brotherhoods, and control of southern Moroccan resources. Its rulers later confronted Ottoman influence in Algeria and pursued interests in the trans-Saharan trade.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
The Sharifs built their power in southern Morocco through the language and mobilization of jihad against the Portuguese. Ahmad al-A'raj acted as an independent ruler while still sending presents to the sultan of Fez, but he eventually rejected tributary status on the grounds that his Sharifian standing entitled him to sovereignty. His conquest of Marrakesh established the southern city as the rival of Fez and created a durable political division within Morocco.
After Ahmad al-A'raj was deposed by his brother Muhammad al-Mahdi in 1539/40, the dynasty entered a more aggressive phase. Muhammad al-Mahdi conquered Agadir in 1541, using artillery acquired from Europeans, and turned the prestige of victory over the Portuguese into a platform for extending Sharifian authority. He later captured Meknes and Fez, although his taxation of tribes and marabouts provoked revolts and weakened the coalition that had first supported him.
The dynasty survived Ottoman intervention and internal succession struggles. Muhammad al-Mahdi recovered Fez in 1554, while his son 'Abdallah al-Ghalib consolidated power after his death in 1557. In 1576 an Ottoman army installed 'Abd al-Malik, but the new ruler soon freed himself from Ottoman control. His victory at al-Qasr al-Kabir in 1578, achieved against Portugal, elevated Morocco's international prestige and prepared the ground for the reign of Ahmad al-Mansur.
Under Ahmad al-Mansur, the Sharifian state strengthened its professional army with Turkish instructors, firearms, Andalusians, and renegades. The court also sought greater revenues through taxation and closer control of Saharan commerce. The dynasty's interests reached toward Tafilelt, Tuat, Taghaza, and the trade routes leading to Songhay, linking Moroccan state-building to wider competition over gold and salt.