Alaouite Founding: Moulay al-Rashid and the Conquest of Fez

In 1666, a sharif from the Tafilalt oasis captured Fez and founded the Alaouite dynasty that rules Morocco today. This episode traces Moulay al-Rashid's rise from a contested succession after his father's death to his decisive victory at the Battle of Angad and the siege of Fez. We explore how he balanced Arab and Amazigh forces, won over the religious elite of the Qarawiyyin, and built a capital at Meknes with his brother Moulay Ismail. The episode covers his use of both trade and raiding along the Saharan salt routes, his rivalry with the Dila'iyya zawiya, and the key role of the Ait Yafelman tribes. Listeners will also learn about the Alaouite claim to sharifian descent from the Prophet Muhammad via al-Hasan ibn Ali, and how this gave them legitimacy in a land weary of civil war. A turning point in Moroccan history, the episode sets the stage for the later splendors and controversies of Moulay Ismail's reign. #Alaouite #MoulayalRashid #Fez #Tafilalt #Meknes #Dila'iyya #AitYafelman #sharif #AlaouiteDynasty #Morocco #17thCentury #BattleofAngad #Qarawiyyin #Zenata #Sijilmasa #History #FexingoHistory #NorthAfrica Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo