Moulay Slimane: Morocco's Sufi Sultan Who Closed the Ports

In 1822, Sultan Moulay Slimane made a stunning decision: he ordered the closure of Morocco's Atlantic ports to all European trade, turning his back on centuries of commerce. This episode explores the reign of this pious, scholarly Alaouite ruler who prioritized religious purity over economic gain. We trace his rise amid plague and rebellion, his alliance with the Tijaniyya Sufi order, his brutal war with the Ait Yafelman, and the intellectual renaissance at the Qarawiyyin. But his isolationist policy backfired, sparking a civil war with his own nephew that shattered the Makhzen's power. Moulay Slimane's reign is a cautionary tale of idealism and pragmatism in a globalizing world. We discuss the role of the ulama, the grip of the makhzen system, and the legacy of a sultan who chose God over gold. #MoulaySlimane #AlaouiteDynasty #MoroccanHistory #Tijaniyya #Sufism #Qarawiyyin #AitYafelman #Makhzen #MoroccoPorts #Isolationism #AhmadibnIdris #Fez #AtlanticTrade #19thCentury #Abdurrahman #NorthAfrica #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo