Ahmed al-Araj

Abou al-Abbas Ahmed al-Araj ibn Muhammad al-Mahdi ( Arabic أبو العباس أحمد الأعرج بن محمد المهدي, DMG Abū al-ʿAbbās Aḥmad al-Aʿruǧ b. Muḥammad al-Mahdī ) was Sheikh of the Saadians in Morocco from 1517 to 1544.

After the death of Abu Abdallah al-Qa'im , Ahmad al-Araj took over the leadership of the Saadian people . However, he shared his rule with his younger brother Mohammed ech-Cheikh . After securing their rule in southern Morocco, they took up the fight against the Ouattasids and Portuguese . Ahmed al-Araj conquered Marrakech in 1524 and placed the tribes of the Atlas Mountains under his rule. Ahmed now resided in Marrakech and Mohammed in Taroudannt .

With the help of French and Dutch arms dealers, the Saadian troops were equipped with firearms and several campaigns against Fez were undertaken. Although the Saadians had to withdraw through the mediation of marabouts , they were able to further consolidate their power and reputation in southern Morocco by driving the Portuguese from Agadir . However, in 1544 there was a final break between the brothers, with Mohammed ech-Cheikh prevailing in the power struggle that broke out and Ahmed al-Araj fled to the Ouattasids. In 1555 he supported Bou Hassoun in the fight against Mohammed ech-Cheikh, but was defeated.

literature

• Ulrich Haarmann : History of the Arab World. Edited by Heinz Halm . 4th revised and expanded edition. CH Beck, Munich 2001, ISBN 3-406-47486-1 ( Beck's historical library ).