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

We explore the Abid al-Bukhari, the slave army that Moulay Ismail built in 17th-century Morocco. Recruited from sub-Saharan Africans, these soldiers became the backbone of his absolutist state—loyal only to the sultan, bound by a religious oath to the Sahih al-Bukhari. We trace their origins, their brutal training, how they helped Ismail crush rebellions and raid for more slaves, and the long-term social and political consequences. The Black Guard outlived Ismail, shaping Moroccan politics for centuries. Lucas and Luna discuss the paradox of enslaved soldiers wielding immense power, the logistics of a 150,000-man army, and how this force compares to other slave armies like the Mamluks or Janissaries. #AbidAlBukhari #MoulayIsmail #BlackGuard #Morocco #Alaouite #SlaveSoldiers #Makhzen #Meknes #SahihAlBukhari #17thCentury #NorthAfrica #MilitaryHistory #Slavery #SubSaharanAfrica #Tafilalt #Janissaries #Mamluks #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo