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| Alawiyya dynasty | |
|---|---|
| Name | Alawiyya dynasty |
| Native name | Alaouite |
| Country | Morocco |
| Founder | Sharif ibn Ali |
| Founded | 1666 |
| Current head | Mohammed VI |
| Capital | Fez; Rabat |
| Dynasty type | Monarchy |
Alawiyya dynasty is the ruling royal house of Morocco since the 17th century, claiming descent from the Islamic prophet Muhammad through Ali ibn Abi Talib and Fatimah. The dynasty consolidated power after the decline of the Saadi dynasty and the collapse of the Dila'iya and Wattasid authorities, establishing a hereditary sultanate that navigated relations with the Ottoman Empire, Spain, Portugal, and later France and Spain (20th century).
The dynasty traces its origins to the sharifian family of Tafilalt, specifically Sharif Sharif ibn Ali, who asserted genealogical links to Idris I and Idris II of the Idrisid dynasty and to the larger lineage of Hashemite families of the Arab world. In the 17th century, the power vacuum left by the Battle of Ksar al-Kebir aftermath and the fragmentation after the Saadi collapse allowed the Alawiyya to secure support from tribal confederations such as the Ait Atta and Glaoua and to make alliances with urban elites in Meknes, Fez, and Marrakesh. Early rulers engaged with military leaders influenced by Abd ar-Rahman al-Jazuli and negotiated legitimacy with maraboutic networks tied to the cult of Sidi Ahmad al-Tijani and the order of Shadhili scholars.
The Alawiyya claim descent through the Ya‘qubids genealogical constructions common to sharifian houses and were recognized by Sunni ulama in institutions such as the University of al-Qarawiyyin and by Sufi tariqas including Tijaniyya and Shadhiliyya. The house is organized into branches leading to dynastic lines culminating in figures like Moulay Ismail, Abdallah of Morocco (ruled 1729–1757), Mulay Slimane, and later modern monarchs such as Hassan II and Mohammed V. Marital alliances linked the dynasty to Amazigh tribal leaders of the Senhaja and Sanhaja confederations and to Arab families in Taza and Rabat-Salé.
Alawiyya rulers centralized authority through palace institutions in Meknes under Moulay Ismail and later administrative shifts to Rabat and Fez; they employed qadis from the Maliki madhhab and bureaucrats versed in the Diwan practices inherited from Almohad and Almoravid legacies. The sultans relied on a mixture of tribal guich regiments such as the Makhnaz and on slave soldiery comparable to Ottoman Janissary models, while engaging with European consuls in Tangier and Ceuta. Fiscal reforms under rulers like Sultan Moulay Abdelaziz responded to pressures from military defeats and indemnities after treaties such as the Treaty of Tangier precedents and arbitration cases involving British and Spanish claims.
Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, Alawiyya diplomacy faced increasing pressure from France, Spain, and Britain, culminating in the 1906 Algeciras Conference and the imposition of the French Protectorate in Morocco (1912) and the Spanish protectorate in Morocco. Key figures in negotiations included Marshal Hubert Lyautey, Elyes Lamine Bey-era intermediaries, and Moroccan statesmen such as Abdelhafid and Abd al-Hafid of Morocco. The dynasty negotiated the status of enclaves like Ceuta, Melilla, and the international zone of Tangier, while nationalist movements such as the Istiqlal Party and activists like Allal al-Fassi and Mohammed V mobilized against colonial rule. International incidents involving the Algeciras Conference and the 1912 Treaty of Fez reshaped sovereignty, and World War I and World War II diplomacy further involved monarchs in dealings with Vichy France and Allied powers.
Legitimacy for the Alawiyya rested on sharifian descent, patronage of religious institutions like al-Qarawiyyin, and alliances with Sufi orders including Tijaniyya, Darqawi, and Qadiriyya. The dynasty sponsored architectural projects in Marrakesh and Fez and supported scholars within the Maliki legal tradition, commissioning works by jurists and historians in the vein of Ibn Khaldun-influenced historiography. Royal endowments linked the monarchy to zawiyas of saints such as Sidi Ahmed Tijani and to the preservation of manuscripts in collections akin to the Royal Library of Morocco. Cultural diplomacy involved exchanges with Ottoman courts, European museums, and diplomatic receptions at the Royal Palace of Rabat.
In the 20th and 21st centuries, the Alawiyya navigated decolonization with leaders like Mohammed V and Hassan II overseeing independence, territorial integration of Tarfaya, Ifni, and the contested region of Western Sahara after conflicts with the Polisario Front. Contemporary monarchs such as Mohammed VI have pursued economic reforms involving foreign investors from France, Qatar, and China, and have engaged with international institutions including the United Nations and the African Union. Domestic politics involve interactions with parties like the Istiqlal Party, Justice and Development Party (Morocco), and civil society movements influenced by the 2011 Moroccan constitutional referendum and the regional impact of the Arab Spring.
The dynasty uses heraldic and religious symbols tied to sharifian heritage and Moroccan state insignia displayed at palaces such as the Royal Palace of Rabat, the Dar al-Makhzen in Fez, and the historic complex in Meknes built by Moulay Ismail. Residences include the imperial kasbahs and residences proximate to mosques like Bou Inania and institutions such as Dar al-Sultan. Succession practices evolved from agnatic seniority to primogeniture codified in royal protocols, shaping transitions between monarchs like Yusef of Morocco, Mohammed V, Hassan II, and Mohammed VI. Dynastic legitimacy continues to be reinforced through ceremonies attended by foreign heads of state from France, Spain, Saudi Arabia, and others.
Category:Royal families Category:History of Morocco Category:Dynasties