SAADI

Following the Three Kings battle in 1578 CE, Ahmad al-Mansur, Abd al-Malik’s brother, stepped into power to rebuild the Saadi Sultanate. Ahmad [i] made peace with the Ottoman Empire [ii] and established an alliance with England against Spain to create a trading relationship in animal hides, metalwork, and sugar. His rule expanded across the desert and into Western Sudan to gain control of the trans-Saharan gold trade, enslaved people, and salt. However, through his oppressive role, the sultanate relied solely on his control. After his death in 1603 CE, his three sons sent Morocco into a civil war that destroyed the Saadi Sultanate.

Several factors fell into place for the Saadi Sultanate to rise to power-- one of which was the rotation of multiple Sultans. Muhammed ash-Sheik’s [iii] rule was seen as a threat by the Ottoman due to his claim of descent from the Prophet Muhammed through his daughter Fatimid’s [iv] family bloodline, which put a strain on Ottoman relations. Additionally, the uprising of the Muslim Saadi Sultanate became a severe threat to the Portuguese king, Sebastian I, who wished to impose Christianity on the region. This led to the Battle of the Three Kings [v], which ended with fatalities of all kings during the battle.

The Saadians played a significant chapter in shaping modern Morocco and were patrons of art and architecture [vi]. Both Abdallah al-Ghalib [vii] and Ahmad al-Mansur were responsible for some of the Sultanate's most celebrated monuments. The most famous sultan, Ahmad I al-Mansur built the El Badi Palace in Marrakech, and the contemporary of Elizabeth I. In addition, the reconstruction of the largest Madrassa in Morocco [viii] was built by Abdallah al-Ghalib. It was one of the largest theological colleges in North Africa, housing 900 students and known for its cell cluster decorated in cedar, marble, stucco and entirely covered in inscriptions and geometric patterns.

Saadian rule, especially under sultan Ahmad al-Mansur, became more absolute than seen in previous dynasties. The central government made its presence felt in the lives of everyday Moroccans by creating a new age for the development of the sultanic Moroccan government. Serving as the first Arab Sharifan Dynasty [ix] since the Idrisids [x], they established a model of political-religious legitimacy [xi] which was later controlled by Alaouites [xii]. The Saadi government was seen as the guarantor of food and provisions in a time of famine and crisis. The Saadi Sultanate created a strong association between the status of sovereign ruler and descendants of Muhammad’s bloodline.

From 1509-1549 CE, the Saadis only ruled over southern Morocco, while still recognizing Wattasids [xiii] as Sultans until 1528. The Banu Zaydan family originated from Tagmadert in the valley of the Draa River and claimed their descent from the prophet Muhammad through his daughters Ali Ibn Abi Talib and Fatima. Through an ancestor Yanbu, they claimed Sharifian origins and rendered Sufism respectable in Morocco. While many think the name Saadi derives from the name Bani Zaydan, it derives from ‘’sa’ada’’, meaning happiness or salvation. The Saadis [xiv] official reign over Morocco was not until 1554 when Sultan ash-Sheikh vanquished the last Wattasids.

The Battle of Ksar el-Kebir, or Battle of the Three Kings in 1557, marked the beginning of the golden age [xv] for the Saadi Sultanate. Their victory over the Portuguese King, Sebastian I, secured the sultanate's entry into the stage as a dominant power in regional relations. This allowed sultan Ahmad al-Mansur to expand Morocco’s control into West Africa and secure prosperous economic relations with England, which granted access to more gunpowder, weapons, and respect of European powers. In addition, they were able to gain control of the gold trade, making Morocco a strategic economic partner and dominant power during the time.

As a way to address the power imbalance between the Portuguese, the Saadi’s began cultivating sugar [xvi] to sell to the other European nations--Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands, and England in exchange for gunpowder weapons in the 1510s CE. By the mid-1540s the Saadis had effectively bought enough firearms to take Marrakech and Fez, unifying Morocco and earning sufficient wealth to buy the allegiance of the Moroccan population. During al-Mansur’s rule, the Saadi Sultanate lived its golden age, spreading its power through the south of the Sahara, gaining control of the gold trade, making his rule the most successful in Saadi Sultanate history.