Morocco's Fassi Elite: The Merchant Families Who Ruled Fez

Lucas and Luna explore the merchant-aristocrat families of Fez — the Fassi elite — who wielded immense power behind the Makhzen throne for centuries. From the 16th to the 19th century, families like the Kettani, Fasi, and Benjelloun controlled trans-Saharan trade, banking for sultans, and the prestigious Qarawiyyin University. Lucas explains how these 'Fes elite' leveraged marriage, religious scholarship, and exclusive trade networks to become the true power brokers of Morocco, often rivaling the Alawite sultans themselves. The episode covers the rise of the Fassi notables during the Saadian era, their golden age under Moulay Ismail, and their gradual decline as European powers disrupted Morocco's economy in the 19th century. Lucas also highlights the unique institution of the 'amin' — the guild master — and how Fassi families maintained monopolies on goods like leather, silk, and sugar. Tensions between the Makhzen and the Fassi elite, including the 19th-century 'Bou Hmara' revolt and the Fassi role in the 1912 Treaty of Fez, reveal a complex story of collaboration and resistance. No previous episode has focused on this influential social class. #FassiElite #Fez #Makhzen #Alawite #Saadian #Qarawiyyin #TransSaharanTrade #MoroccanHistory #Kettani #Benjelloun #FasiFamily #Amin #BouHmara #TreatyOfFez #NorthAfrica #History #FexingoHistory #Morocco Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo