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The Beni Marin were soon driven back, till a few years later Tlemcen alone remained to them, and this they held only till 1359 (see TLEAKEN). Thereafter their empire became habitually divided between rival claimants, and the Portuguese began to obtain footholds on the coast. (B. M. ; K. A. M.) The Wattasi Dynasty.—The Wattasi dynasty which suc ceeded the Beni Marin was short lived (1471-1548), the reign of its founder, Said HI. "El Wattass," and of his son Mohammed VIII., "the Portuguese," being marked by the conquest of Granada by Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic (1492), the first expulsions of the Moors from Spain (1502) and the first con quests of Spain and Portugal in North Africa (Melilla, Pefion de Velez, and all the Atlantic ports, except Salle-Rabat). Tetuan was founded by the Moorish refugees from the Continent, who also brought back to Rabat and Fez the Andalusian taste for fine monuments.
As a reaction against the conquests of the Christians, a popular and religious movement gave their chance to a new family of "Sharifs," or nobles, more or less of Arab descent (as contrasted with the native Berber), and more or less related to Mohammed by the female side. The Saeadi dynasty (1550-1668) rose in the Dra'a district, on the Sahara slope of the Atlas. They established themselves inde pendently in Marrakesh from 1524, and their first act was to launch a jihad, or "holy war," against the Portuguese. By the end of the i6th century, they had reconquered most of the Atlantic ports.
After Abd-el-Malek —who perished at the famous "battle of the three kings," together with King Sebastian of Portugal, and Mohammed XI. whom he had deposed,—Ahmed IV. "El Mansur," "the Victorious," also called "El Dehebi," "the Golden," conquered Timbuktu, and brought back great riches (especially slaves and gold, whence his name) from the Sudan. He also proved to be a good ad ministrator, in so far, at least, as the Makhzen system of govern ment can be considered as good. It consisted principally in "pitting" certain tribes against the rest (Bled es-Siba), by ex emption from taxes and tithes ;—a doubtful procedure of course, but which finds an explanation and excuse in the geographical features of the country, in the natural anarchy of perpetually warring tribes, and in the fundamental opposition—which can be traced all through the history of Morocco—between the settled urban population and the nomads. "El Dehebi" was also a great
builder, erecting, among other monuments, the marvellous pavilion, containing the tombs of the dynasty, in the palace of El Bedi, at Marrakesh, which ranks to this day as one of the most won derful works of art of Northern Africa.
His most remarkable successor was Zidan, who reigned 20 years (1608-28), and also employed a number of European artisans in the palaces he constructed, or completed.
A fresh outburst of fanaticism partly provoked by the friendship for Europeans shown by Mohammed XIII. (1636-54), the last but one of the Sa'adians, but particularly inflamed by a certain number of marabouts (Islamic "saints"), who have always played a great part in the political and religious movements of North Africa, favoured the ambitions of a new dynasty. The Filali or Hassani,—Berbers,—also (more or less) of mixed Arab descent, sprang from one of the oases of Saharan Morocco, the Tafilalt. Their first representative, Mohammed XIV., captured Fez in 1649; though the dynasty only established themselves in Marrakesh (the home of their predecessors) in 1668. The dynasty is still on the throne.
The two brothers of the founder, Rashid II. (1664-72), and especially Moulay Ismail, "the Bloodthirsty" (1672-1727), solidly established their power. Ismail,—though amply deserving his surname,—had the parts of a real sovereign. After his long reign of 55 years he left Morocco, notwithstanding many revolts, a more united empire than it has been ever since, until the French Protectorate. This was due principally to his body-guard (which exists to this day; though its role is no longer the same) of Negro Slaves (Abids) whom he recruited and settled close to his capital, Meknes,—and distributed in kasbahs (forts) throughout the country, furnish ing them with negro wives, and giving a special position to their sons,—a selection of whom were each taught a craft,— and who were bound to him besides by a special religious tie : an oath on a copy of the book of hadith (sayings of Mohammed), by El Bokhari. Whence another name of the body-guard : the Bokharis. He also employed a foreign legion of renegades. Many hundreds of sons and countless daughters were born to him in a harem rivalling that of Solomon, for which he even asked a French princess of royal blood, Mademoiselle de Conti, a daugh ter of Louis XIV. by Louise de Lavalliere (1699).