Ahmed Al Mansur Saadi

Ahmad al-Mansur al-Mansour and Ahmed Al-called Dhahbi ) is the sixth Sultan of the dynasty Saadian from 1578 until his death in 1603.

Summary 1 Biography 2 Notes and references 3 Appendices 3.1 Articles Related 3.2 Links to external 3.3 Bibliography

Biography

He took power after the death of his brother Abu Marwan Abd al-Malik died in the battle of Wadi Makhazine (called Battle of Three Kings) against the Portuguese and it was after this victory he is nicknamed el- Mansour (the Victorious). His wealth was such that he built the palace al-Badi, in which employees were the most precious materials, came from Europe , from Asia and Africa. In this palace of lavish receptions, the Sultan received the embassies of Spain, England, France and the Sublime Porte.

His reign is an artistic and cultural renaissance for Morocco , including Marrakech. Al-Mansur is also known for having modernized the Moroccan army and have brought the news of the Ottoman military art. Economically, large plantations of sugar cane are highlighted in the Haouz plain. Moroccan sugar is exported mainly to England, and not suffering from competition from Brazilian and Caribbean plantations. On the political front, the Sultanate saadien do not know the institution of the grand vizier, but the title of "OUAZ Al Qalam" (Secretary of the pen), responsible for managing the correspondence of the State. As for the hajib , the chamberlain, its role is growing within the Palace saadien with the introduction of a heavy label inspired by Topkapi. Administratively, the Makhzen saadien appoints pashas Beys and head of the provinces. In Fez, the country's second city, the Sultan is represented by a khalifa. The garrison, composed of foreign elements (Turkish renegades, Andalusian) and Moroccans have the dual mission of maintaining order and assisting in tax collection.

Faced with the expansion of Spain and his new wealth (the empire Aztec has to be conquered and then the gold rushes in Spain), the sultan sought another source of gold and turns to the greatest source known to play out the new America, that of the Sudan , famous for its wealth through the pilgrimage to Mecca by the emperor of Mali Mansa Kankan Musa in the ^thirteenth century and that of Emperor Gao at the beginning of XVI ^century. He carefully prepares the conquest and in 1578, under the command of Djouder , a converted Spanish eunuch, he launched 10,000 men, with horses, camels and especially guns to attack the Empire of Gao.

It is at its peak, extending from Senegal to air ( Tuareg then pay tribute) Dynasty Askias (of Songhai A if ki is: literally "It will not be one" ). The two armies met, therefore the banks of the Niger River between Timbuktu and Gao in the Battle of Tondibi. The winner Djouder receives a peace proposal immediately rejected by the sultan who requires his gold. The Moroccan army plundered everything she finds and sends it to Morocco (speaking from 1 to 1 / 2 ton of gold). Countless viziers ruled over Gao and murdering. The administration of the empire collapsed and West Africa will never recover.

Several son of Askia start over, but only one, the resisting Askia Nouhou by choosing exile in Dendi further south. His descendants continue the resistance and a semblance of state for half a century.

Preceded by	Ahmed al-Mansur Saadi	Followed by
Abd al-Malik	Saadian	Zaidan al-Nasir

References