Alawi Sultanate

Sharifian Sultanate
السلطنة الشريفة (Arabic)
1666–1912
Flag of
One of the flags used by the Alawi dynasty
Approximate territories under the Sultanate's authority in the late 17th to 19th centuries[1]
Approximate territories under the Sultanate's authority in the late 17th to 19th centuries[1]
StatusRuling dynasty of Morocco
Capital
Common languagesArabic, Berber languages
Religion
Sunni Islam
Demonym(s)Moroccan, Moor[2]
GovernmentMonarchy (Sultanate)
Sultan 
• 1666–1672
al-Rashid
• 1908–1912
Abd al-Hafid
Legislaturenone (rule by decree)
History 
• Capture of Fez
1666
• Capture of Marrakesh
1668
• Reign of Moulay Ismail
1672–1727
• Political instability
1727–1757
• Reign of Mohammed ibn Abdallah
1757–1790
1830
1844
1859
• Hafidiya crisis
1907–1908
1912
Population
• 1908[3]
between 4,5 to 8 millions
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Saadi Sultanate
French protectorate in Morocco
Spanish Protectorate of Morocco

The Alawi Sultanate,[4][a] officially known as the Sharifian Sultanate (Arabic: السلطنة الشريفة) and as the Sultanate of Morocco, was the state ruled by the 'Alawi dynasty over what is now Morocco, from their rise to power in the 1660s to the 1912 Treaty of Fes that marked the start of the French protectorate.

The dynasty, which remains the ruling monarchy of Morocco today, originated from the Tafilalt region and rose to power following the collapse of the Saadi Sultanate in the 17th century. Sultan al-Rashid (r. 1666–1672) was the first to establish his authority over the entire country. The sultanate reached an apogee of political power during the reign of his successor, Moulay Isma'il (r. 1672–1727), who exercised strong central rule.

After Isma'il's death, Morocco underwent periods of turmoil and renewal under different sultans. A long period of stability returned under Sidi Mohammed ibn Abdallah (r. 1757–1790). Regional stability was disrupted by the French invasion of Algeria in 1830 and thereafter Morocco faced serious challenges from European encroachment in the region.

Morocco remained independent under 'Alawi rule until 1912, when it was placed under the control of a French protectorate. The 'Alawi sultans continued to act as nominal monarchs under French colonial rule until Morocco regained independence in 1956, with the Alawi sultan Mohammed V as its sovereign. In 1957, Mohammed V formally adopted the title of "King" and Morocco is now officially known as the Kingdom of Morocco.

  1. ^ Sluglett, Peter; Currie, Andrew (2015). Atlas of Islamic History. Routledge. p. 68. ISBN 978-1-317-58897-9.
  2. ^ Leared, Arthur (1876). Morocco and the Moors.
  3. ^ <iframe frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="border:0px" src="https://books.google.co.ma/books?id=EojfAAAAMAAJ&newbks=0&dq=Morocco's%20population%20in%201900&pg=PA34&output=embed" width=500 height=500></iframe>
  4. ^ Examples: Various authors also refer to this in other terms such as Alawi Morocco. See for example:
  5. ^ Bosworth, Clifford Edmund (2004). "The 'Alawid or Filali Sharifs". The New Islamic Dynasties: A Chronological and Genealogical Manual. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 9780748621378.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Abun-Nasr, Jamil (1987). A history of the Maghrib in the Islamic period. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521337674.


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