History of Morocco

The Morocco is an area of the North-West of Africa whose name even, derived from Marrakech, imperial and capital city of 1062 to 1273, goes back to the 16th century. Inhabited as of prehistory by populations Berber S, the country knew settlements phenicians, Carthaginian, Romans, vandals, Byzantines and finally Arabic. It is the revolt against the latter empire, which, in 788, gave rise to a state in this the Maghreb el-Aqça (the extreme Maghreb or setting extreme). From this day, the Moroccan nation always kept, if it is not its absolute independence, a very strong autonomy.

First traces of settlement

The Man left many traces during all the prehistoric period, marks of a very old settlement, undoubtedly facilitated by a climate more favorable than today.

With the Acheuléen (Paleolithic inferior), traces going back to at least 700.000 years shows a first human activity. These men of the type néanderthalien lived mainly of the gathering and hunting. The tools of this time are the arranged rollers, the Biface, the Hachereau X… discovered mainly in the areas of Casablanca and Salé. The Moustérien (Paleolithic means) between 120 and 40 thousand years before the Christian era, is characterized by the evolution of the tools. From this period, there are remainders of scrapers and scrapers, in particular with Jbel Irhoud where one finds all the lithic Industrie.

The period of the Atérien (name which comes from Bir elater in Algérie) is known only in North Africa. This period is characterized by the control of the shaping of the cutting and resistant tool like flint. This period also knew a climate change, since, at that time, the fauna rarefies and the Flore is desiccated, leaving room to the desert which cuts the Africa into two.

It is starting from the Paléolithique superior and the arrival of the homo sapiens with industry Ibéromaurusien that one does not have traces of true settlements. In Taforalt (Oujda), the found tools go back to 30 to 20 thousand before JC. and of the funerary rites are identified: deaths have the side body in décubitus and the painted bones.

These populations are maintained until towards 9000 before JC then it will be eliminated or absorptive by the arrival of the first ancestors of the current Berber populations: The Capsien S (name resulting from the ancient city of Capsa , today Gafsa ) arrive of the east (as show it the linguistic studies, which classify in the same family the Egyptian and the Berber one).

Sites Neolithic S, showing the appearance of a sédentaristaion and the birth of agriculture are discovered close to Skhirat (Necropolis of Rouazi-Skhirat) and to Tetouan (caves of Kaf Taht el Ghar and Ghar Kahal)

Antiquity

The Phéniciens, tradesmen undertaking, install their first establishments on the coasts Morrocan woman dice it and found port Comptoir S like Tingi (Tangier) or Lixus (Larache). It is starting from the foundation of Carthage (in Tunisia, the Maghreb of the east) that the area starts to be really development. The punic influence will be felt nearly thousand years in Morocco, in its relations with the chiefs of local Berber tribes: indeed starting from the Life century, Carthaginians in gold quète (drawn from the Atlas), of crimson (shell that one finds in Mogador for example, and which gives the dyeing of the same name), will trade with the inhabitants of Morocco.

It is as from fourth century BC that, in the north of Morocco, the first political organization of the country appears: the kingdom of Maurétanie appears, result of the federation of various Berber tribes which had benefitted from the punic influence.

When the Romans arrive about second century BC, after the destruction of Carthage, they are initially combined with this kingdom of Maurétanie, which enables them to fight and take with reverse the chief Numide Jugurtha. Maurétanie becomes a friendly kingdom, a “state-customer”, who, if it depends closely on Rome and takes part in all the internal quarrels of the Empire, remains in independent fact. In 40, the kingdom of the Moors loses his king. Caligula, which did assassinated it, faced the war of Aedemon: It will take four years to subdue this revolt and in 46, the Claude emperor annexes the kingdom which becomes the Maurétanie tingitane (chief town Tingi , become Tangier). The Roman domination is limited to the plains of north (until the area of Volubilis close to Meknès) and the Empire does not seek to control the area very firmly: it seems that the autonomous and peaceful Berber tribes were overlapping in the Roman possessions. For as much Rome must fight unceasingly against the mountain Berbères.

As well as the remainder of North Africa, Maurétanie Tingitane will know christianization. Tens of évêchés cover the area, being addressed initially to the Roman populations then with romanized. It is into 298, in Tangier, under Dioclétien that Saint Marcel, Roman centurion, is decapitated. The Berber ones of Morocco will not be, unlike the Berber ones of Algeria and Tunisia, that very little christianized. Two évêchés were identified in Tingitane (in Tangier and Larache), but it is possible that there were four of it.

At the 3rd century, the Empire moves back. It is also the case in North Africa and in particular Morocco: Maurétanie Tingitane is found reduced at the only town of Tingi and the northern coast. It is attached besides administratively to Spain. The cities all of the south are abandoned, including the large city Volubilis . At the south only the port of Sala is preserved at the Empire. The reasons of this fold are badly known: pressure of the Berber mountain dwellers and the south? more violent economic crisis in this area? affaiblissemet due to the conflicts dynastic of the Empire with the episode of the Gordian ones?

Benefitting from the weakening of the Roman Empire of occident, a troop of barbarians of language teutonne, made of Suèves, Vandals and Alains crosses the Rhine into 406. The Vandals go down then to Spain and pass to Africa into 429. They reach Hippone (Algeria) in 430. The government of Constantinople in vain engages a naval expédion against this invasion. The Vandals settle in Africa of the North-West for more than one century. 533-534 should be awaited, to see the countryside of Africa engaged by Justinien I {{er}} and directed by the general thrace Bélisaire to destroy the Royaume vandal. The pacification of the reconquered territory was, it, harder.

Maurétanie Tingitane, as for it, is initially not touched by the conquest and the domination vandal. Those will never control but the coasts Mediterranean. The area passes under Byzantine control into 534. But the Berber ones, accustomed to a broad autonomy since more than one century, if they “are still romanisés”, are not any more “Roman”, and they will resist savagely around prince Garmel. The Moslems very quickly use the warlike capacities of the new converts: wisigothic Spain is conquered in three years, the troops Arab and Berber arrive in Navarre into 715. They will be in Poitiers into 732.

The whole of coastal Morocco is under domination of the Ommeyyade empire. In the area of Rif a small autonomous Berber emirate is established: the emirate of Nekor or Nokour.

See also: Emirate of Nekor

In 740 the first Moroccan revolt vis-a-vis it takes place Arab capacity: at all a questioning of Islam, the kharijitism is used as pretext to call into question the caliphate of the East. It is, for its faithful, the will to choose “the best” to control, and not inevitably a descendant of the prophet (what wants the Shiism), or a candidate chosen by the wise ones (what the sunnism wants). The kharijitism is the thesis more appreciated by the Berber people, which have feelings relatively democratic: the chief must be selected by all, and not imposed. The caliphate ommeyyade cannot accept it, and a conflict bursts. In 750, in Damas, the ommeyyades are reversed by the abassides. Morocco finds itself in an quasi-anarchy.

Moroccan dynasties

Idrisside dynasty (788-974)

See also: Dynasty Idrisside

The history of Idrissides starts, when an Arab prince of the family of “Ali (fourth Caliph of the Islam) accompanied by his foster brother Rached Ben Morched El Koreichi, took refuge in the Moyen Atlas. Fleeing the threat of the Abbasid (the massacre of the battle of Fakh close of Mecque), they remained in Egypt before settling in Walilah (volubilis), under the protection of the Berber tribe of the Awarba S. Succeeding in rejoining the tribes with its cause, it was invested Imam and founded the town of Fès in 789 under the name of Idriss Ier. It is the beginning of the dynasty of Idrissides. Since this date, Morocco forever completely lost its independence. It preserved until our days its national identity.

Idris Ier is assassinated by an emissary of the caliph Abbasside Haroun Al-Rachid. Not suspecting that the woman of Idris Ier Kenza was pregnant, Haroun Al-Rachid thought that the threat was overcome. But a few months later, Idris II had been born. Its education was entrusted to freed from his/her Rachid father. 11 years later, he was proclaimed king of Morocco. With the passing of years, its wisdom and its direction for the policy continue, it succeeds in unifying a greater number of tribes, the number of its faithful increases and the power of its army develops. Feeling with narrow in Walilah, it left it for Fès, or it based the district of Kairouanais on left bank (Idris Ier had been established on Right Bank, the district of the Andalusians).

In 985, the Fatimides helped by their vassal Moussa Ben Abi-l-Afiya drove out Idrissides. The latter embraced the cause of the Omeyyades caliphate of Cordoue and took refuge in Andalusia.

Almoravides and Moroccan empire (974-1147)

See also: Almoravides

Almoravides result from the Berber tribes sanhajas desert Mauritanian. They was doubled warlike tribes of a powerful religious movement the purpose of which was to found Islam sunnite rite malékite in all the Moslem Occident (Al-Andalus and North Africa). Almoravides left the current borders mauritano-Malians, seized the rich person kingdom of Ghana with all the gold which it produced, managed to go up the caravan tracks towards north, until Tafilalt in the years 1050. They had as a chief Abou Bakr Al Lamtouni then Youssef Ben Tachfine. It is the latter which founds Marrakech in 1062, at the beginning simple wandering camping intended to become the capital of an empire. Almoravides make disappear in the areas which they control all the doctrines that they suspectent of heresy. Thus they put an end to the presence of the Shiism in the area of Under and which they destroy the Berrghouatta kingdom which thrived in the central plains of Morocco. Everywhere Almoravides impose the most strict sunnism malékite, as taught by the theological schools of Médine and Kairouan. This religious unification doubles of a political unification. Almoravides thus extend their conquests to the central Maghreb. In 1086 Youssef Ben Tachfine, called by the Moslem Al Andalus kinglets, the Straits of Gibraltar to the head of its Saharan forces crosses and manages to break the Christian offensive of the Castilians and the Portuguese with Zallaqa. Almoravides put an end to the chaotic reign kinglets and unify Moslem Andalusia, which is incorporated in their empire as from 1090. Youssef Ben Tachfine, which took the title of Emir of the Moslems, reigns on a geopolitical unit extending from Senegal until the accesses of the Pyrenees and the Atlantic coasts to Algiers. This domination almoravide appears in the cultural field by a symbiosis of the identities Andalusian, west-Maghrebian and Saharan, preparing the way with the emergence of a civilization hispano-Moorish. In the economic domain, the State almoravide is characterized by its control from flows from the gold, of which it controls the production zones and the transport routes, from Ghana to the Mediterranean basin. After the death of Youssef Ben Tachfine in 1106, his Ali son succeeds to him, but already the dynasty is disputed as well in Spain as in Africa.

Almohades (1147-1248)

See also: Almohades

Almohades (Al Muwahiddines) are in the beginning a religious movement rested by the mystic Ibn Tûmart (who autoproclamait Mahdi and impeccable Imam). Ibn Tûmart was Berber which had remained a long time in the Middle East, and would have met personally famous Persan theologist Al Ghazali. Of return in its area of origin (the High-Atlas) in 1125 Ibn Tûmart imposes intransigent doctrines which hear " to purify the mœurs". It takes for target the dynasty almoravide, judged according to him heretic. The movement almohade becomes extensive and Ibn Tûmart controls soon all the mountain since its eyrie of Tinmel. The best disciple of Ibn Toumert is a Zénète of Nedroma which names Abd Al-Mumin. Accepted by Masmoudas of the High-Atlas, it takes the head of the movement with died of its Master and becomes the first true sovereign almohade. Almoravides and Almohades are devoted to ceaseless battles, Almoravides employing a militia of Christian mercenaries carried out by the Catalan knight Reverter. Almohades have at their disposal a tribal army firmly organized by an iron discipline. But the Emirate almoravide crosses one crisis period, and the Maghreb falls like a ripe fruit to the hands from Almohades. Marrakech will be taken in 1147 and almost all the monuments almoravides will be shaved there, to ensure " purification".

Abd Al-Mumin takes the title of caliph, thus breaking with the Abbasids of Baghdad and imposing the idea of an independent Berber caliphate. He and its successors Abu Yaqub Yusuf and Abu Yusuf Yaqub Al-Mansur increase the empire almohade by the conquests of the Eastern Maghreb (until in Tripolitaine) and of Al-Andalus. The State almohade becomes a major power of the Mediterranean world, and its three capitals: Marrakech, Reduction and Seville, know the apogee cultural and artistic of civilization hispano-Moorish. The trade, the agricultural productions and artisanal are flourishing, and the ports tie relations with the Italian commercial cities. But after this top of glory the decline with the caliph Muhammad year-Nasir will come, overcome by the crusaders with Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212. The empire almohade will start to disaggregate, leaving the place to the four political entities of the Moslem Occident: kingdoms of Fès (Mérinides), Tlemcen (Zayyanides), Grenade (Nasrides) and Tunis (Hafsides).

Mérinides (1248-1465)

See also: Mérinides

… Summarized to write …

Dynasty Wattasside (1465-1555)

See also: Dynasty Wattasside

Wattassides or Ouattassides or Banû Watâs come from a Berber tribe Zénètes, like the Mérinides sultans. These two families were connected and Mérinides recruited many viziers at Wattassides. The viziers wattassides assert themselves little by little on the capacity. The last sultan mérinide is détroné in 1465. He follows from there one period of confusion which lasted until 1472. Morocco is cut into two with, in the south, an emerging Arab dynasty, the Saadiens, and in north the sultanate wattasside.

In 1472, Mérinides lost all their strategic territories and do not have any more control of the Straits of Gibraltar. The Portuguese take possession of Tangier in 1415 and yields it to England in 1661 like dowry brought by Catherine de Bragance to her husband Charles II of England. At the time where Tangier was still a Portuguese city, it was the capital of Algarve of Africa, because let us not forget that there were two Algarves at the time, one in Europe and another in Africa. Ceuta was taken by the Portuguese in 1415, and Melilla by the Spaniards in (1497). Morocco then knows the darkest period of all its history.

Wattassides give finally the capacity to a dynasty being claimed of an Arab origin of the sherifs (the Saadiens) in 1554.

Saadiens (1555-1659)

See also: Saadiens

Saadiens are an Arab dynasty of the sherifs originating in the valley of the Draâ. It arrives at the capacity in 1511 with the sultan Abou Abdallah Mohammed. Starting from 1554 it entirely controls Morocco, whereas the Maghreb is under the control of the Othoman is . Indicated by the zaouïas “Chadiliya of Draa”, they have the heavy task to reunify the Morocco and to fight the powerful Portuguese army (Great power eurpéenne at the time). In 1578 with Ksar to el-Kébir (Battle of the Three Kings), the Portuguese army is completely destroyed by the army saadienne. After this battle, the dynasty concentrates on the North-East of Morocco in order to protect the kingdom against Othoman inclinations . In spite of their opposition to the Sublime Door, Saadiens organize to them makhzen and their army on the Othoman model. The dynasty dies out in 1659 with died of the sultan Ahmed II.

The Alaouites sultans (of 1636 to our days)

See also: Dynasty alaouite

One of most famous Alaouites is the sultan Moulay Ismail, second sovereign of the dynasty. Its reign ranges between 1672 and 1727. Moulay Ismail succeeds his/her Rachid brother, accidentally dead in Marrakech. The sultan imposes the authority of the makhzen on the whole of the Empire of the sherifs, thanks to his army made up militia of black slave-soldiers (Abid Al Bokhari) and military tribes guich (Oudayas, Cherrardas, Cherragas). The makhzen ismailien is a formidable bureaucratic machinery which controlled the country since Meknès, new imperial capital to replace Fès and of Marrakech. Under the reign of Ismail Meknès obtains a true City prohibited with the Morrocan woman, with her whole of palate, basins, mosques, gardens and fortresses. One a long time compared Ismail with Louis XIV, in addition the Moroccan sultan maintains a correspondence followed with the king France, which he asks for the hand of his daughter, the princess of Conti. Ask which will be rejected by Versailles. Ismail carries out a continual war against the recalcitrant tribes of the Atlas (which it ends up subjecting) but also against the external enemies: Spaniards, English and Othomans. The sultan extends the authority of the sherifs on Mauritania and the oases of Touat. From 1727 to 1757 Morocco undergoes a dynastic serious attack during which Abid Al Bokhari make and demolish the sultans, while the tribes guich raise and razzient the imperial cities. The other tribes benefit from anarchy to enter in dissidence (siba). The order is restored by Mohammed III (1757-1790) who restores the authority of the makhzen and opens Morocco on the world. Treaties are concluded with the principal European powers, which maintain the consulates and the commercial firms in the new Moroccan ports of the Atlantic rested by Mohammed III. The most known example is Mogador (Essaouira) conceived by a French engineer working for the sultan. Moulay Suleiman (1792-1822) follows on the contrary an isolationist policy. On the internal plan its policy causes tribal and urban revolts, related to its decision to prohibit the moussems and maraboutisme.

Colonial pressure

See also: Morocco précolonial

Involved powers

During the XIXe century, the European colonial powers try to sit their influence in North Africa. At the time of the Conquest of Algeria, France obtains from Morocco a promise of neutrality (1823). But in 1839, the sultan Abd el-Rahman supports the action of the Algerian sultan Abd el-Kader, the Algerian conflict extends in the Moroccan provinces. The Moroccan army is demolished by the French troops of the marshal Bugeaud in Isly on August 17th, 1844. The treaty of Tangier, of September 10th, 1844, puts out the law the sultan Abd el-Kader and defines the border between the two countries.

The the United Kingdom seeks to increase its economic power and signs, in 1856, a commercial treaty very with its advantage. The Spain pushes its desire of reconquest. Answering successes of the colonizations achieved by the France, it takes possession of the islands Jaafarines, small islands Mediterranean, in May 1848. It starts and gains the war of Tétouan in 1859-1860. This defeat imposes on Morocco heavy human losses as well as an important war indemnity, which already badly worsens an economic situation in point.

The France as for it, eager to constitute in North Africa a homogeneous territory signs, in 1863, a convention free-Morrocan woman. The advantages granted to France and the United Kingdom are extended to all the European countries at the time of the conference of Madrid (1880)

The sultan Moulay Hassan with the head of the country during this period (1873 - 1894) tries to modernize it and exploits the European competitions to preserve his independence. It is also him which stops the expansionism Spanish in Morocco. But with its death, and even more with died of the regent Ben Foamed known as Ba Ahmad in 1900, the colonial operations begin again of more beautiful on Morocco. France in particular occupies and integrates the Eastern Moroccan grounds into its departments of French Algérie between 1902 and 1904.

Indeed, since it occupies and colonizes Algeria, France is concerned with safety of the borders algéro-Morrocans and lorgne on the close sultanate, one of the last countries independent of Africa. Its tradesmen and contractors show themselves there very active, in particular with Casablanca, a port of recent creation.

Thus Lalla Maghnia and the the central Sahara concerning the border of the Mali, the Touat , Tidikelt , the Saoura , Béchar , Jorf Torba , Abbadia , Métarfa , Hassi Regelation , khaila , El Hamira , Kenadsa , Sahela , Merkala , and Timimoun , pass under French control.

The policy followed by Abd Al-Aziz leads the country to an economic crisis and financial.

Blow of Tangier

In 1904, an agreement concluded between the partners from the Harmony leaves in France Morocco like zone of influence, the United Kingdom concentrating on Egypt, the north of Morocco is conceded in Spain. The emperor Guillaume II protests against the ambitions of France in Morocco. In accordance with its new doctrines of Weltpolitik , he wants to have his share of the colonial conquests.

March 31st, 1905, in order to prevent the seizure of France on Morocco, it unloads theatrically in Tangier, the north of the sultanate, crosses the city to horse, the head of an imposing procession, and goes to the meeting of the sultan Abd Al-Aziz to ensure it of its support. This “blow of Tangier” involves a push of germanophobie in France and the resignation of the French Minister for the Foreign affairs, Theophilus Delcassé.

Conference of Algeciras

See also: Conference of Algeciras

The blow of Tangier also leads to the meeting the following year, from January 16th to April 7th, 1906, an International Conference on Morocco in Algésiras, in the south of Spain. It confirms the independence of Morocco. She recalls the right of access of all the Western companies to her market… However, to the great displeasure of Guillaume II, France and Spain see themselves entrusting the police force of the Moroccan ports and a French is charged to chair the Bank of State of Morocco.

In 1909, Spain extends its zone of influence to all the Moroccan front.

Incident of Agadir (1911)

See also: Drain-hole of Agadir

One indicates by the expression of the drain-hole of Agadir an diplomatic incident which took place in 1911, between France and Germany, in connection with the sending of a drain-hole (small slightly armed boat) of the navy of German war in the Moroccan port of Agadir, then placed under French protectorate.

The Protectorate S French and Spanish (1912 - 1956)

See also: Treaty of Fez

Starting from 1902, the European economic penetration intensifies so much so that the sultan Moulay Hafid, brother of Moulay Abd el-Aziz, is constrained to sign in 1912 the treaty of protectorate which is the Convention of Fès. The treaty institutes, starting from March 30th, 1912 the mode of French protectorate. In October of the same year, Spanish under-protectorate is set up on the north of Morocco (Tangier excluded).

The First World War

In 1915, Hubert Lyautey receives the order of Paris to withdraw the troops of the interior to send them in France. This evacuation seems premature insofar as pacification still encounters rebel movements supported by the Germans

The War of Rif

See also: War of Rif

In 1921, Rif revolts against Spain. The rebels crush the Spanish forces at the time of the Bataille of Anoual. The supreme leader of the Spanish forces, the Silvestre general is killed, of great quantities of weapons and of ammunition are taken on this occasion. In 1922, Abd el-Krim proclaims the Republic confederated of the Riffian ones. The French forces enter then in war against this new state which threatens the national interests. The Riffian armies go in May 1926 and Abd el-Krim is exiled on the island of the Meeting until 1948.

The Second world war

See also: Second world war

The Lyautey General leaves Morocco in 1925, and France decreases the prerogatives of the fundamental capacity of the sherifs while proceeding more and more by direct management. A resistance is organized, initially only intellectual, starting from young urban elites, then passer by with an action of agitation-propaganda; the second world war marks a truce between the nationalist opposition and France.

During the war, the Sultan Mohamed Ben Youssef (Mohamed V), Sultan of the Cherifien kingdom since 1927, undertakes to protect all the Moroccan Jews vis-a-vis the mode from Vichy. In 1942 the unloading of Alliés in Casablanca takes place.

The sultan Mohamed Ben Youssef, following the allied victory in Africa, gives his support to “free France”, and supports the organization and the recruitment of the forces Frenchwoman in Africa. Morocco pays a heavy tribute with the European war: 25.000 men died to release France.

With the return of the soldiers to Morocco, they are acclaimed by a dense crowd.

It follows of the leavens of nationalist revolt in the country. The invasion of France by the German in 1940 then, in 1942, the Anglo-American unloading on the coasts of Morocco, had reached the authority of France. In 1943, the party of the Istiqlal (independence) is rested by Moroccan nationalists.

Idea of independence to real independence

• 1953  : Popular riots in Casablanca hard repressed: the French government fears an extension to the other Moroccan cities. Sultant Mohammed Ben Youssef refuses to abdicate: the French authorities deposit the sovereign and condemns it to the exile in Madagascar. The French government installs with the Palate of Reduction Mohammed Ben Arafa, relative distant from Mohammed Ben Youssef: it is 70 years old. Spain of Franco, not prevented this operation, refuses to recognize its legitimacy. The Moroccan zone under Spanish domination was going to become thus for the Moroccan nationalists in escape a sanctuary from where they organized operations of resistance against the French presence.

• 1955  : France, empétrée in the colonial conflicts in Indo-China and Algeria, decides to tackle the Moroccan question. Edgar Faure, ¨Président the Council, negotiates with Mohammed Ben Arafa: pre-talks of negotiation are led to Aix the Baths (Savoy) between the 22 and on August 26th enters, Moroccan side: If El Hadj El Mokri, Top dog, If Kolti, delegated of the Top dog to the postal and telecommunications authorities, If Thami El Mosbi, delegated of the Top dog to Finances, If Berrada, Vizier associated with the Top dog for the economic affairs, If Abderrahaman El Hajoui, Assistant editor with the protocol and S.E. Hadj Fatemi Ben Slimane, former pasha de Fez, and French side: Edgar Faure, president of the Council, Antoine Pinay, Foreign Minister, Robert Schumann, Minister of Justice, Pierre July, Minister for the Moroccan and Tunisian Businesses and the Koenig General, Minister for National defense. The sultan Moulay Ben Arafa resigns the 1° October 1955. November 16th the sultan Mohammed Ben Youssef, accompanied by his son Moulay Hassan, future Hassan II, returns to Rabat. He starts at once discussions with the French government with the castle of That-Saint-Cloud.
• 1956 the independence of Morocco is proclaimed on March 3rd. The sultan Sidi Mohammed Ben Youssef takes the title of king Mohammed V. Hassan II succeeded to him then, currently, Mohammed VI.

.

Modern Morocco (since 1956)

The Spain in its turn recognizes the independence of the country the April 7th, 1956 before restoring the Protectorat of Tétouan. Finally the international statute of Tangier is abolished the October 21st same year and the port turns over to the Kingdom.

The first years after independence, until 1960, the Moroccan policy consists in reconstituting “Large Morocco”, project in which the King did not want to be overflowed by the party of the Istiqlal. After the departure of the minister Allal El Fassi, the idea is abandoned.

In 1969, Spain yields Ifni, eleven years after Tarfaya.

1963: War of sands

See also: War of sands

The war of sands is a war putting at the catch the Morocco and the Algérie and which began as of independence from the latter.

The file of the Western Sahara

See also: History of the Western Sahara

See also: the Marche Verte

Morocco partially annexed the the Western Sahara following green Walk in 1975, then completely in 1979. The kingdom faces the dissension of Mauritania which it also asserts this territory, of Algeria and especially of the populations sahraouies (Front Polisario) but the final resolution on the statute of the territory remains suspended with a referendum organized by the United Nations, which was deferred on several occasions because of a dissension between the parts on the census of the electorate.

1976: Second War enters Algeria and Morocco

1980-90: Social instability

1991 at our days

Appendices

Random links:

Quintana handbook | Camille Sée | Beautiful-river | Alain Labelle | Pribac Hrebeljanović | Réflexions_vraies