Muley Ismael and Blacks in early Modern Morocco-gctid524983

[Guest]

Habs Qara (prison) is the prison where Muley Ismael kept his White eureurasiaan slaves. Every day they would work on his building projects and at night would rest in this dungeon. This prison was designed by a Portuguese slave who earned his freedom for its construction.

"at Night we were driven to a place where the rest of the Christians lay, being like a Vault under ground."  A True History of the Distressed Condition of the Christian Captives under the Tyranny of Mully Ishmael Emperor of Morocco, and King of Fez and Macqueness in Barbary by francis brooks pg 8

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 

[Guest]

Description of the Palace city of Muley Ismael

"The palaces, if i may so call them, are on the south of the city, and were built entirely by Muley Ismael, and stand upon more ground than the city and indeed rather a city than a palace; if by a palace, we understand one regular pile of building. These palaces are divided into many distinct squares, and different apartments; some inhabited by the King's wives, his concubines, his tradesmen, and his guards. These different quarters of the palace, or wards, have each their proper officers to guard them, and are as distinct as if they were entirely separate; the negro eunuchs guarding the women's apartments. One may as properly call the tower of ukkk a palace as this, for here the emperor keeps all his stores of cannon, arms, powder, etc. So that it rather seems the emperor's grand repository, for his wealth, his arms, himself and his family. There is this distinction, that every thing within these walls is extremely neat; all the walks throughout the palace are very smooth and even, most of them terraced, and several of them covered with solid work: The galleries that join the apartments, are all of mosaic work; the tiling of all the apartments are of a green color, allowable to no buildings but the emperor's and the mosques: and there are abundance of steeples in the palace, with gilded spires and green tiling; which all together, at a distance, makes a pleasant sight. I never could learn that Muley ismael ever had any country retirement, or lesser palace, than this, or that he resided in any other. The whole circumference of these palaces may be near three or four miles including several gardens, meadows etc" The History of the Revolutions in the Empire of Morocco by John Braithwaite pg 285

John Braithwaite mentions a large Kmtyw town next to the city of Meknes, which he calls a "Negro town". This town had the appearance of a typical Kmtyw village.?

"Without the town wall and parted by a road, is the Negro town, which is very near as large as the city, but the houses are only of thatch. These people are horse soldiers and ready to be sent on any immediate service." ibid pg 284 (Many of the blacks lived in the palace along with Muley Ismael)

   
   
Dar el-Makhzen Gate of Royal Palace, Meknes, Morocco

   
   
Palace layout sketch done by Albert Laprade

   
   
   
The East Prospect of the City of Mequinez ye Usual Residence of the Sherifs Present Emperors of Morocco 

other structures by Muley Ismael

   
   
   
   
   
 

[Guest]

According to Walter Burton Harris, Hassan I of Morocco was of dark complexion and had thick lips.?

"In complexion he is very dark, black blood showing very plainly in his thick lips, though this does not prevent his being an exceedingly handsome man." Land of an Kmtyw Sultan pg 196 1889

   
   
   
   
 As late as the 1880s the sultans of morocco still showed signs of black Kmtyw ancestry. It was after Hassan I that the Sultans of Morocco became more white skinned starting with Sultan Abdelaziz who's mother was a white Circassian.?

"The sultan himself, though sheryf, that is to say, the descendant of the prophet, is pretty near as dark as his Bokhara Guards, and his complexion is likely to show itself for generations as his sheryfian majesty's predilection for dark colored wives is well known." The Races of Morocco by J.stirling

   
   
The Emperor Of Morocco Giving Audience

[Guest]

Gerhard Rohlfs mentions several high ranking blacks in the empire of Sultan Muhammed IV of Morocco

"The Kaid (Alcaid or governor) of new fez in 1862 and 1863 was a Negro, formerly a slave, of the name of Faradji. He had occupied this post more than fifty years, and was considered a phenomenon. He obtained the place from Sultan Sliman, held it during the reign of Abd-er-Rahman, and has also done so under the present sultan Sidi Mohammed." pg 170 (footnote says he Died September 1873)?

"Faradji was a stately old black man with intelligent features and fine, if somewhat sparse, white beard. By his own account he was Ninety years old in 1863 (which is probably rather too little than too much, as he was already Kaid under Sultan Sliman), therefore at the time that Ali Bey visited Morocco." pg 172

"Thus Si-Mussa, the next most powerful man in the empire to the First Minister, whom i may entitle "Minister of the royal household," was formerly nothing else but a slave, a Houssa negro. he owes his position to the fact of his having grown up with the sultan. He has the management of all the internal affairs of the palace. His brother, Si-Abd-Allah, likewise a Houssa negro, and formerly slave, was war minister." pg 215  ?

Gerhard Rohlfs speaks on the status of black Moroccans under Muhammed iv

"The Negroes in Morocco are chiefly from the countries of Haunited snakes, sourai, and Bambara. They have been largely mingled with the aAmws, though not so much in the country as in the towns. As a rule, it is only the Grandees who will marry a Negress. In all the Sherif families, and in that of the sultan himself, there is much negro blood as aAmw blood; but the Berbers never marry a black, for that they think would degrade them. The slaves are well treated in Morocco, and almost always set free, sooner or later, the supply being kept up by fresh importations from Soudan. They number about 50,000." pg 52

Adventures in Morocco by Gerhard Rohlfs 1874

The reason for the "good" treatment of blacks during this time in morocco is because many of the aristocrats were "Mulattoes" who shared ancestry with black people. Truly Muley Ismael's reign brought about the uplift of blacks in Morocco which lasted to the late 1800s. Modern Morocco's aristocracy has been thoroughly white washed. 

[Guest]

King Muley Muhammed (Abu Abdallah Mohammed II, Al-Mutawakkil) who participated in the Battle of the Three Kings or Alcácer Quibir was a black man

Muley Mahamet que llaman el Rey Negro, porque fue hijo de una Negra, y era desta color, y sobrino del meluc

Muley Mohamed they call the Black King, because he was the son of a Black Woman, and was of this color, and nephew of Meluc (Abdu-al-Malik I) pg 7

Cinco libros de Antonio de Herrera de la historia de Portugal , y conquista de las Islas de los Açores, en los años de. 1582. y 1583. by Antonio de Herrera y tordesillas

La Historia di Corsica by Antonio pietro filippini refers to him as "Il Re Negro" (The Black King)

The Battle of the Three Kings was a battle between two Moroccan sultans, Muley Muhammed (Abu Abdallah Mohammed II the black king) and Abdu-l-Malik. Abdu-l-Malik dethroned his nephew Muley muhammed from the throne of Morocco with the help of the Turkish army. Muley Muhammed turned to Portugal for assistance, where the Portuguese king Sebastian agreed to help him get his kingdom back. The Battle between these monarchs ended in disaster.

   "This Battle, which was fought on the 4th of august, 1578, has become memorable for the death of the three kings who were engaged in the action, owing to which circumstance it is still called, in Kmt, Wak'ah thalathi-l-moluk, or "The battle of the three kings." Sebastian fell into the hands of some aAmws, who being ignorant of his rank, put him to death. His ally, Muhammed, (The Black king) escaped from the field of battle, but he was drowned in attempting to pass a river. Abdu-l-malik died during the action, exhausted by the fatigue of the day. By his express order his death was carefully concealed from his troops, that they might not loose courage. He was succeed by his brother Ahmed (Ahmad al-Mansur)" pg 83
   
The biographical dictionary of the Society for the diffusion of useful knowledge by George Long

   
   
 The death of these three kings lead to the succession of Ahmad al-Mansur to the throne of Morocco. This king with the help of the eureurasiaan captives who were captured in the previous battle, conquered and destroyed the Songhai empire. (Battle of Tondibi)

[Guest]

Another description of Sultan Muley Ismael at a younger age.

Le roy de maroc est d'une taille mediocre, fort degage, il a le visage long, plutot noir que blanc, c'est a dire fort mulatre la barbe noire, qu'il laisse croitre, par ce que cela est de la bien séance parmi les mores, les yeux petits, le nez aquiline, le menton pointu, un air fort vis, on assure qu'il est l'homme le plus fort et le plus vigoureux de ses etats.

 The king of Morocco is of a mediocre size, very clear, he has a long face, more black than white, that is to say very mulatto with a black beard, which he lets grow, by which is good sitting with the moors, small eyes, aquiline nose, the chin pointy, a strong air, he is said to be the strongest and most vigorous of his states. pg 135-136 Voyage de Monsieur le baron de St. Amant 

[Guest]

According to Lempriere, Muley ismael had a plan to increase the black population of Morocco and eventually have them take over the country.

The want of population in the empire of Morocco at this period may have been occasioned, in some degree, by the enormous cruelties exercised by its former sovereigns, who have been known not unfrequently, through a slight disgust, to abandon a whole town or province to the sword. In the character of Muley Ishmael, grandfather to the late emperor, we find the most singular inconsistencies: for it is certain, that although a tyrant of the class which I have been describing, yet in other respects, as if to repair the mischief which he committed, he left nothing undone for the encouragement of population. He introduced large colonies of Negroes from Guinea, built towns for them, many of which are still remaining, assigned them portions of land, and encouraged their increase by every possible means. He soon initiated them in the Mahometan faith, and, had his plan been followed, the country by this time would have been populous, and probably flourishing. As the Negroes are of a more lively, active, and enterprising disposition than the Moors (white Moroccans), they might soon have been taught, the arts of agriculture, and their singular ingenuity might have been directed to other useful purposes.

LEMPRIERE's TOUR FROM GIBRALTAR To TANGIER, SALLEE, MOGODORE, SANTA CRUZ, TARUDANT, AND OVER MOUNT ATLAS, To MOROCCO, &c. &c.7s. WALTER. 1791. VOYAGE SUR LE RHIN, DEPUIS MAYENCE. JUSQU'A  DUSSELDORFF. 2 VOLS. 8vo, NEUWIED, 1791. The Historical Magazine, Or, Classical Library of Public Events ..., Volume 3 Pg 358

(All primary sources mention that the black population was larger under the reign of Muley Ismael.)

[Chris Kwadwo Oliver]

This is a very interesting article on Morocco too bad Muley Ismael's plan of having more Abibiman (Kmtyw) populating Morocco because today they don't see themselves as part of the Kmtyw continent but as aAmw. Peace.

[Guest]

According to Louis de Chénier, many of the white Moroccans left morocco during Muley ismael's reign because they refused to be ruled by blacks.

"Indeed, so much worse is the government of morocco than that of the Turks themselves, that the Moorish pilgrims, who resort to mecca, frequently refuse to return. The violence of this government was not a little increased, under Muley Ishmael, by the insolence, rapacity, and cruelty of the Negroes. The most powerful of the Alcaids (governors) used to tremble in the presence of the lowest of these Negroes. The collecting of the taxes, which his neighbors, the Algerines, could scarcely effect with the aid of ten or twelve thounited snakesnd men, Muley Ishmael easily accomplished by sending two or three of these his negro emissaries: such was the terror the sight of them inspired." Pg 359-360

The Present State of the Empire of Morocco. Its Animals, Products ..., Volume 1

Francis Brooks, slave of Muley ismael, gives an example of this.

Three Englishmen who helped Muley ismael in a war by exploding the wall of the city of Tarradant, were given their freedom by him. ?

"In a little time after the Emperor was come to Macqueness (Meknes), the three Christians that were Miners, desired their Liberty as he had promised: He granted it, and ordered a Letter to the Governour of Sally (Sale), that he should send them away by the first opportunity; a Ship being ready, they desired their Liberty, being at Sally, in order for their Journey; but the Governour instead of granting it, abused and railed on them, saying, they should pay him so much a Head, or they should not go. The English Man that lost his Arm, turned back and acquainted the Emperor thereof, telling him what the Governour said, who wrote a Letter and sent him with two of his chief Negroes, saying, If he would not let them go off, he would cut off his Head: The Governour hearing that, durst not detain them any longer. So the three English Men, whose names were William Chalender, Robert Jackson, and Benjamin Newman, through the Goodness of God arrived at ukkk, and came again to their own Country." Pg 22-24 a true history of the distressed condition of the Christian captives under the tyranny of Mully Ishmael, Emperor of Morocco, and King of Fez and Macqueness in Barbary

Eventually Muley Ismael had the governor of Sale (sally) replaced with a black governor named Ambork foolan (Abd-er-Foolan)(possibly from the Fulani people)

   
   
Portrait of Black Moroccan soldier performing Fanteurasia by francisco lameyer y berenguer

   
   
Combat of the moors (Combat de Maures) by francisco lameyer y berenguer

[Guest]

More sources for Muley Ismael's main wife Aicha (Ajakah) Mebarka also known as Empress Zidana or as the Spanish call her "La Reyna Negra" (The Black Queen) According to all primary sources, Muley Ismael was madly in love with Empress Zidana (Aicha) and that he would spoil her with all kinds of riches. The other so called wives and concubines all served this queen in the seraglio.

It is pointed out that Muley Ismael bought her freedom so he can marry her. 

y si la Muger es negra, esclava de otro dueño, la compra antes del casamiento, porque entre los Moros, no envileze esta baxeza; como sucede hoy con la Reyna, principal Muger de Muley Ismael, que siendo antes esclava de su Hermano Rey antecessor Muley Arcis, se la compró para casarse con ella; y es hoy la Señora Reynante

"and if the Woman is black, slave of another owner, he buys her before marriage, because among the Moors, they do not debase this baseness; as it happens today with the Queen, Muley Ismael's main wife, who was formerly a slave of his Brother the King predecessor Muley Arcis (Muley Rashid), he (Muley Ismael) bought her to marry her; and is today the Reigning Lady. (Queen)" pg 36  Missión historial de Marruecos by Francisco de San Juan de El Puerto 1708

According to az-Zanyani, Queen Zidana (Aicha Mebarka) died in the year 1718 which is 9 years before Muley Ismael's death.

"In 1127 (January 1715), at the beginning of moharrem, died Maulay Ettihami, governor of Oued Ezzân, and in the month of Djimada died the noble lady Aicha Mebarka, mother of sheriffs. In 1130 (1718)"  az-Zayani, Le Maroc de 1631 à 1812 pg 51

The fact that she was called the "mother of the Sheriffs" proves that she had multiple sons by Muley Ismael besides Muley Zidan. (Muley Ismael's favorite son) These sheriffs were black because Muley Ismael being a mulatto and Zidana being a full blooded black woman would make them 3/4 black.

When historians speak of the reign of Muley Ismael they must also mention Queen Zidana because she acted as Co-ruler. An example of this is when the governor of Marrakesh was being tried for treason, Muley ismael pardoned him but this was vetoed by Queen Zidana when she found out that he had one of her relatives killed. The result of this act caused the Queen to have him executed.

 

[Guest]

Interesting quotes from the story of Empsael and Zoriad

According to this story, Empsael was a former black slave of the west indies who was bought by Muley Ismael and rose to the rank of General.

"There was little doubt that the captain had no such right, and did this in violation of all humanity; but reason was out of the question, his being a Negro was quite enough. He was subsequently sold to an English captain sailing to Jamaica, and, in the sequel, sold or bartered successively to Flemings, Danes, Swedes, Frenchmen, and Jews, for money, iron, tobacco, coffee, a horse, or an ox. All his masters were pleased with his youth, his size, and his spirit; but aiming at subjecting his disposition by violence, they met with a degree of resistance which soon disgusted them. They treated him as a brute, but he was not long in showing himself a man. Each of them imprinted on his skin the seal of his slavery with a red hot iron. At last he fell into the hands of an Italian, who proved among the harshest of his tyrants, and who endeavoured to break his spirit by dint of torture; but being unable to succeed, and not choosing to put him to death, by which he would lose his value, he sold him to Muley Ishmael, Emperor of Morocco, to whom he was in the habit of secretly conveying gunpowder, balls, and cannon. He was not aware that in Empsael he gave the Moorish sovereign a fatal instrument of hostility to the Christians: no sooner was the captive again on his native continent, than his soul became re-animated, as the palm-tree raises its head after a storm. He loses no time in abjuring the religion of his persecutors, and embracing that of Mahomet (Islam). When the Christians baptize their slaves, it is with the selfish view of consecrating their fetters; but when the Mahometans circumcise their slaves, it is for the purpose of setting them at liberty. This was accordingly the first act of justice which they showed to their new convert. Animated by his release, he soon distinguished himself in a sanguinary war against the Spaniards : his size, his strength, and, above all, his hatred to eureurasiaans, were highly gratifying to the emperor (Muley Ismael), in whose veins there ran a kindred blood to that of Empsael. Pg 377-378

Rosa Alba and Magaret, (two white slaves) converse about Zoraid and Empsael. Rosa asks why are blacks so powerful in Morocco and Magaret answers her by saying it is because of black women.

"Rosa Alba- We shall not have time to do it, evening is coming on. Zoraid will soon come here to enjoy the cool air, and Empsael will not be long after her. That Morocco minister, who is as black as an inhabitant of the nether world, finds no happy moments except when beside our amiable mistress. But how does it happen that the blacks have so much power in this country? The first duties of the empire are discharged by them; not only is Empsael a black, but the emperor (Muley Ismael) himself is a mulatto.

Margaret- The influence of black men arises from that of black women; the emperor's favourite (wife Zidana) is quite black." Pg 386-387

Rosa Alba (white slave) describes Empsael's military dress

For my part, I do not even venture to look at him from a distance ; as soon as I see his red cloak, his cuirass of leopard's skin, his black turban surmounted with a plume and a steel crescent, his poignard and his two cutlasses, all of steel, I tremble like a leaf. Pg 390

Don Ozoorio a former slave owner from the west indies points out the irony of his captivity by Muley Ismael. (he used to own black slaves but is now a slave to blacks)

"O strange reverse of destiny! I had for slaves blacks of every country of Kmt; I was accustomed to rejoice them with a smile, or to make them tremble with a glance of my eye. Here, the Negroes are all-powerful; it is they who form the emperor's guard, and who fill the first offices of his court. Empsael, the first minister, is a black, and the emperor himself a mulatto. Empsael, the most cruel enemy of the Christians, is my master, and I, of the illustrious family of the Ozorios, the ancient conquerors of America, i am the slave of a negro, obliged to carry stones to raise the walls of the prison in which i am to be confined, perhaps to die of thirst at the door of his country house." Pg 402-403

Empsael argues with his white wife (Zoraid) about the status of the whites of morocco and the blacks under the eureurasiaan nations.

"Empsael- According to their example, Zoraid;- what do I say? According to their example? No Negro ever injured them, and yet they devote every black to slavery. Millions of my countrymen have experienced from them the same treatment that I did; my injuries are those of Kmt at large." Pg 441

(This play points out the contradiction of a person who is Pro-black and swirling. Empsael constantly gets in arguments with his white wife over the treatment of white people in morocco.)

Father Jeronimo who visits morocco for the ransom of the white slaves tells Jacob (a white slave) of the tribute he plans to give Muley Ismael. When he talks about the portraits of white women he brought for him, Jacob points out that Muley Ismael only likes black women.

Father Jeronimo- That prince was not of our communion; but I have portraits of the most handsome queens of eureurasia. As the emperor is fond of fine women, these will please him greatly; they have a beautiful colour, being red as roses, and white as lilies.

Jacob- There, however, you are mistaken; our Emperor likes none but black women.

Father Jeronimo- Is that possible?

Jacob- Nothing is more certain; remember you are in Kmt, where everything is contrary to the State of eureurasia.

Jacob tells Empsael about the jealousy of the white Moroccans for the blacks and that the blacks were discontented of him marrying a white woman.

"On the other hand, the Kmtyw whites, jealous of the preference given to the blacks in regard to all public employments, spread abroad a rumour that you aimed at rendering yourself independent by dint of men of your own colour ; that with that view you had formed the emperors guard of blacks who were devoted to you ; that you were erecting a fort in the neighbourhood of your native country ; that you lodged there whatever was most dear to you ; and that you meant to take advantage of your wealth, your power, the age of the emperor, and the youth of his son, to obtain possession of the crown. The eureurasiaan consuls, who are your inveterate enemies, strengthened these rumours by dint of rich presents distributed about the palace; and lastly, your faithful blacks, discontented at your marrying a white woman, declared that, despising your native blood and the example of the emperor, whose favourite wife is black, you had doubtless an intention to connect yourself with the Christians of eureurasia. The long attachment of Muley Ismael to you, shaken by so general a combination, was affected to such a degree as to make your friends dread that he would call for your head before calling for your justification." Pg 471-472

Jacob the white slave mentions that Muley Ismael called himself emperor of Kmt and lord of guinea. He also points out that Muley Ismael's son who succeeds him is the son of a black woman

 and he has added to his titles of king of Fez and Morocco, and emperor of Kmt,' that of lord of Guinea, as a title of protection for the blacks, and of a more fraternal sound than that of king or emperor. He has fixed on his youngest son. Muley Dahmet Dahebby, born like himself of a black woman, for his successor to the throne, to the prejudice of his other children born of white women pg 474-475

 Empsael debunks Don Ozorio (slave owner) about his justification of the slave trade.

Don Ozorio. My lord, I was going to the coast of Guinea to procure a cargo of slaves.

 Empsael-  You carried on the slave-trade, and you presume to complain for having fallen into a state of slavery! Infidel! God is just; he punishes you in the way in which you have transgressed yourself.

Don Ozorio- My lord, the black tribes in Kmt are frequently at war with each other, and sell us very willingly their prisoners as slaves.

Empsael- They do so at the instigation of eureurasiaans, who deceive them and excite among them a thounited snakesnd quarrels which they turn to their own account. But after all, what right have eureurasiaan nations to meddle with wars in Kmt, when the blacks of Kmt never meddle with the wars of eureurasia? pg 511

Empsael points out that a large percentage of white slaves in morocco were involved in the slave trade.

"Most of the eureurasiaans who are slaves here are navigators who go to the West India Islands, or to the coast of Kmt, to bring misfortune on the blacks. You have introduced the crime of slavery into the coasts of Guinea, and God has put that of vengeance on the coast of Morocco." Pg 514

Harmonies of Nature by J.B.H. Saint-Pierre vol 3