Morocco's Jewish Queen: The Khenata al-Barnousiyya Regency

In the early 18th century, as the Alaouite sultan Moulay Ismail lay dying, a remarkable figure stepped into the vacuum of power: Khenata al-Barnousiyya, a Jewish woman who had risen from humble origins to become the sultan's trusted advisor. This episode explores how Khenata, as regent, navigated the treacherous politics of the Makhzen, brokered peace with the powerful Ait Yafelman tribe, and held the empire together against rival claimants. We examine her strategic use of marriage alliances, her role in the Black Guard's succession dispute, and how her Jewish identity shaped—and limited—her authority. Drawing on oral traditions and fragmented court chronicles, Lucas and Luna discuss the fragile line between influence and power for women in pre-colonial Morocco, and why Khenata's story has been overshadowed by the sultan she served. #KhenataalBarnousiyya #MoulayIsmail #Alaouite #Makhzen #JewishQueen #Morocco #Regency #AitYafelman #BlackGuard #AbidalBukhari #Meknes #17thCentury #18thCentury #WomenInHistory #NorthAfrica #Amazigh #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo