Abu Abd Allah al-Sheikh Muhammad ibn Yahya facts for kids

Abu Abd Allah al-Sheikh Muhammad ibn Yahya was a very important leader in Morocco. He was the first Wattasid Sultan of Morocco and ruled the city of Fez from 1472 to 1504. His full name in Arabic is أبو زكرياء محمد الشيخ المهدي. He is also known by other names like Abu Abdellah al-Shaykh Muhammad ben Yehya.

Who Was Abu Abd Allah al-Sheikh Muhammad ibn Yahya?

Abu Abd Allah al-Sheikh Muhammad ibn Yahya was born into the powerful Wattasid family. This family had been ruling the eastern Rif region of Morocco since the late 1200s. Even though they were technically under the Marinid sultans, the Wattasids mostly ruled their own areas.

The Wattasids Gain Power

By the early 1400s, the Wattasid family grew stronger. At the same time, the Marinid sultans were busy trying to stop invasions from Portugal and Spain. When a new Marinid sultan, Abd al-Haqq II, became ruler in 1421 at just one year old, the Wattasids took over as his regents. A regent is someone who rules for a king or queen when they are too young or unable to rule themselves. The Wattasids continued to hold this power even when Abd al-Haqq II grew up.

A Family's Survival

In 1459, Sultan Abd al-Haqq II ordered a terrible event: he had many members of the Wattasid family killed. Abu Abd Allah al-Sheikh Muhammad ibn Yahya was one of the very few Wattasids who survived this attack.

How He Became Sultan

After the 1465 Moroccan revolt, there was a lot of confusion and fighting in Morocco. Abu Abd Allah al-Sheikh Muhammad ibn Yahya used this time to fight against another powerful family, the Joutey branch of the Idrisids.

Victory and Rule

In 1471, he defeated their leader, Muhammad ibn Ali Amrani-Joutey, who had tried to declare himself Sultan. After this victory, Abu Abd Allah al-Sheikh Muhammad ibn Yahya became the ruler of the Kingdom of Fez. This kingdom controlled a large part of northern Morocco.

Welcoming People from Spain

Muhammad al-Sheikh was known for his kindness. When many Jewish people were forced to leave Spain in 1492 because of the Alhambra Decree, he welcomed them to Morocco.

A Righteous Leader

A writer named Rabbi Abraham ben Solomon, who was one of the people who came from Spain, called Muhammad al-Sheikh a "Righteous Among the Nations". This title is given to people who show great courage and kindness by helping others, especially during difficult times.

Who Ruled After Him?

When Abu Abd Allah al-Sheikh Muhammad ibn Yahya died in 1504, his son, Abu Abd Allah al-Burtuqali Muhammad ibn Muhammad, became the next Sultan.