Morocco's Moulay Abd ar-Rahman: The Sultan Who Faced France

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the reign of Moulay Abd ar-Rahman, the Alaouite sultan who ruled Morocco from 1822 to 1859. They discuss his struggle to maintain independence against French colonial expansion in Algeria, the decisive Battle of Isly in 1844 where French forces under Marshal Bugeaud defeated the Moroccan army, and the subsequent Treaty of Tangier that reshaped Morocco's borders. The conversation highlights Abd ar-Rahman's efforts to modernize the Makhzen army, his patronage of Sufi orders like the Tijaniyya, and his complex relationship with the powerful Ait Yafelman tribes of the Atlas. They also touch on the sultan's architectural legacy in Meknes and Fez, and how his reign set the stage for the later French protectorate. This episode covers a pivotal turning point in Moroccan history, when the sultanate faced the full force of European imperialism. #MoulayAbdArRahman #Alaouite #Morocco #BattleOfIsly #FrenchColonialism #TreatyOfTangier #Makhzen #Tijaniyya #AitYafelman #Sufi #19thCentury #MarshalBugeaud #ColonialHistory #NorthAfrica #History #FexingoHistory #Imperialism #Sultan Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo