Battle of Marrakesh
DateAugust 19, 1908
Location
Near Marrakesh, Morocco
Result Abd al-Hafid's victory
Belligerents
Sultan's forces Abd al-Hafid's forces
Commanders and leaders
Abd al-Aziz Abd al-Hafid

The Battle of Marrakesh was a central battle in the Hafidiya, in which Abd al-Hafid seized power from his brother Abd al-Aziz, fought outside Marrakesh, Morocco on August 19, 1908.[1] A battalion led by Abd al-Aziz departed from Rabat and was ambushed and defeated on its approach to Marrakesh by forces loyal to Abd al-Hafid.[1]

Background

In May 1907 the southern aristocrats, led by the head of the Glaoua tribe Si Elmadani El Glaoui, invited Abd al-Hafid, an elder brother of Abd al-Aziz, and viceroy at Marrakesh, to become sultan, and the following August Abd al-Hafid was proclaimed sultan there with all the usual formalities.[2]

On 5 August 1907, France bombarded and occupied Casablanca after the death of Europeans in a riot incited by the implementation of measures of the Treaty of Algeciras.[3][4] In September, Abd al-Aziz arrived at Rabat from the capital, Fes, and endeavored to secure the support of the European powers against his brother. From France he accepted the grand cordon of the Legion of Honour, and was later enabled to negotiate a loan. This was seen as leaning to Christian support and aroused further opposition to his rule, and in January 1908 he was declared deposed by the ulama of Fes, who offered the throne to Abd al-Hafid.[2]

Battle

31°37′48″N 8°0′32″W / 31.63000°N 8.00889°W / 31.63000; -8.00889After months of inactivity Abd al-Aziz made an effort to restore his authority, and quitting Rabat in July he marched on Marrakesh. His force, largely owing to treachery, was completely overthrown on August 19 when nearing that city,[5]

References

  1. 1 2 Miller, Susan Gilson. (2013). A history of modern Morocco. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-139-62469-5. OCLC 855022840.
  2. 1 2 One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Abd-el-Aziz IV". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 32.
  3. ↑ Adam, André (1968). Histoire de Casablanca: des origines à 1914. Aix-en-Provence: Ophrys.
  4. ↑ R., Pennell, C. (2000). Morocco since 1830 : a history. London: Hurst & Co. p. 135. ISBN 1850654263. OCLC 42954024.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ↑ "Abd al-Aziz". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. I: A-Ak - Bayes (15th ed.). Chicago, IL: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 2010. pp. 14. ISBN 978-1-59339-837-8.
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