Morocco's Black Guard: Moulay Ismail's Slave Army

In the late 17th century, Sultan Moulay Ismail of the Alaouite dynasty created a formidable army from enslaved Black Africans, known as the Abid al-Bukhari or Black Guard. This episode explores how Moulay Ismail, ruling from his new capital at Meknes, built this force to consolidate power, suppress rebellions, and defend Morocco against Ottoman encroachment. The Abid were loyal solely to the sultan, forming a Praetorian-like guard that numbered up to 150,000. We delve into their recruitment from Tafilalt and Sijilmasa, their rigorous training, and their role in expanding the Makhzen's authority. The Black Guard enabled Moulay Ismail to launch campaigns against European enclaves like Tangier and Larache, and to crush revolts among the Berber tribes. Yet their reliance created a parallel structure that later sultans struggled to control. We also discuss the controversial legacy of this slave army, comparing it to the Mamluks and Janissaries, and how it shaped Morocco's military and political history.

#AbidAlBukhari #MoulayIsmail #BlackGuard #Alaouite #Morocco #Meknes #Sijilmasa #Tafilalt #Makhzen #SlaveArmy #17thCentury #NorthAfrica #History #FexingoHistory #PraetorianGuard #Mamluk #Janissary #BerberTribes

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