Moroccan ports are occupied by English, Portuguese, and Spanish forces and sundry
pirates, from Mediterranean Melilla to Agadir on the Atlantic coast.
1498
Church Inquisitors present European Muslims and Jews with a choice: a) conversion and
persecution; or b) torture and death. Many choose c) none of the above, and escape to
Morocco.
1525
Like a blast of scorching desert wind, the Beni Saad Berbers blow back European and
Ottoman encroachment in Morocco, and establish a new Saadian dynasty in Marrakesh.
1578
The Saadians fight both alongside and against Portugal at the Battle of Three Kings, ending
with 8000 dead, a scant 100 survivors and the decimation of Portugal’s ruling class.
1591
With 4000 European mercenaries, Ahmed al-Mansour ed-Dahbi crosses the Sahara and
defeats a 40,000-strong army for control of the fabled desert caravan destination of
Timbuktu.
1610–14
Oxford graduate and erstwhile lawyer Henry Mainwaring founds the Masmouda Pirates
Republic near Rabat, pillaging Canadian cod, French salt-fish and Portuguese wine. He is
later elected to Britain’s parliament.
1659–66
The Alawites end years of civil war, and even strike an uneasy peace with the Barbary
pirates controlling Rabati ports.
1684
Barbary pirates take English captives and England seizes Tangier, leading to arguments over
who stole what from whom. Prisoners are released when England relinquishes Tangier –
after destroying its port.
18th century
The Alawites rebuild the ancient desert trading outpost of Sijilmassa, only to lose control to
Aït Atta Berber warriors, who raze the town. Only two not-so-triumphal arches remain.
1757–90
Sidi Mohammed III makes a strategic move to the coast, to rebuild Essaouira and regain
control over Atlantic ports. Inland imperial cities of Fez and Meknès slip into decline.
1767–1836
Cash-strapped Morocco makes extraordinary concessions to trading partners, granting
Denmark trade monopolies in Agadir and Safi, and France and the US license to trade in
Morocco for a nominal fee.