Guich | |
---|---|
جيش (Arabic) | |
Active | 1664–1912[1] |
Country | Morocco |
Allegiance | Sultan of Morocco |
Branch | Army and Military police |
Type | Infantry and Cavalry |
Size | Unknown |
Garrison/HQ | Fes and Marrakesh |
Equipment | Moukahla Nimcha Khanjar Winchester rifle (later)[1] |
Guich tribes,[2] Gish tribes, or Jaysh tribes[3] (Arabic: جيش jaysh, literally "Army"[4][5]), or sometimes Makhzen tribes, were tribes of usually Arab origin[6][7] organized by the sultans of Moroccan dynasties under the pre-colonial Makhzen regime to serve as troops and military garrisons, as well as to protect the outskirts of the capital and suppress rebellions.[2] They were usually cantoned in their own lands and maintained a state of perpetual military mobilization.[1] The contingents were formed in order to be loyal to the sultan only instead of to other local interests, but they often maintained a coherent group identity long after the death of the sultan and were sometimes the source of political instability.[8][1] The historical guich system took shape primarily under the reign of the 'Alawid sultan Mawlay Isma'il, although variations of similar military organisations were used by prior rulers and dynasties.[8][1] The major historical guich tribes were the Cheraga, the Udayas, the Cherarda, and the Bwakher.[1] The guich constituted one of the main parts of the Moroccan army.[3]: 55