Morocco's Moulay Ismail: The Sultan Who Built an Empire of Slaves

Moulay Ismail ibn Sharif, the second ruler of Morocco's Alaouite dynasty, reigned for 55 years and turned the country into a major power. But his methods were brutal: he built an army of black slaves, the Abid al-Bukhari, and used forced labor to construct his vast imperial capital at Meknes. This episode explores how Ismail consolidated power, his wars with the Ottoman Empire and European powers, and the legacy of his slave soldiers who became a pillar of the Makhzen state. We also look at the legend of his 500 wives and 800 children, and how his reign shaped Morocco's relationship with sub-Saharan Africa. #MoulayIsmail #AbidAlBukhari #Meknes #Alaouite #Morocco #Slavery #SlaveSoldiers #BlackGuard #Makhzen #Ottoman #Tangier #Larache #17thCentury #History #FexingoHistory #NorthAfrica #Sultan #ForcedLabor Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo