Mohammed al-Shaykh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mohammed ash-Sheikhمحمد الشيخ |
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|---|---|
| Sultan of Morocco | |
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| Reign | 1549–57 |
| Emir of Sūs | |
| Reign | 1544–49 |
| Born | 1490/1491 |
| Died | 23 October 1557 |
| Issue | Abdallah al-Ghalib (Sultan 1557–74) Abdelmoumen Abd al-Malik (Sultan 1576–78) Ahmad al-Mansur (Sultan 1578–1603) |
| Dynasty | Banū Zaydān |
| Religion | Islam |
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Mohammed ash-Sheikh (born 1490 or 1491 – died October 23, 1557) was a very important leader in Morocco. He was the first sultan of the Saadi dynasty. This family ruled Morocco for a long time.
Mohammed ash-Sheikh is famous for three big things. He kicked the Portuguese out of most of their bases in Morocco. He also defeated another ruling family called the Wattasids. Plus, he stood strong against the powerful Ottomans. Because of him, the Saadi dynasty took complete control of Morocco.
Fighting the Portuguese
After his father, Abu Abdallah al-Qaim, died in 1517, Mohammed ash-Sheikh and his brother, Ahmad al-Araj, led the fight against the Portuguese. They took control of Marrakesh in 1524.
Ahmad al-Araj became the ruler of Marrakesh. He still recognized the Wattasid Sultan who ruled from Fez. Mohammed ash-Sheikh stayed in charge of Taroudannt in the south.
In 1527, the Saadi and Wattasid families made a peace deal called the Treaty of Tadla. This happened after the Wattasids lost a battle. They agreed to rule different areas, with the Tadla region as their border.
After 1536, Ahmad al-Araj became more powerful. This caused problems between the two brothers. Ahmad al-Araj even teamed up with the Wattasids. But Mohammed ash-Sheikh kept his power in Southern Morocco. He famously captured Agadir from the Portuguese in 1541. He also took other towns along the coast. After losing Agadir, the Portuguese quickly left other cities like Azamor and Safi.
Eventually, his brother Ahmad al-Araj had to flee to Tafilalet.
Uniting Morocco
Mohammed ash-Sheikh improved his army by learning from the Ottomans. With his stronger army, he captured Fez in 1549. This led to the end of the Wattasid family's rule. He used European cannons to take Fez, just like he did when he captured Agadir. He then sent his son with an army to take Tlemcen in 1549. They removed the Zayyanid ruler there.
After Fez fell, the Portuguese were also forced out of Ksar-el-Kebir and Asila in 1550. This meant the Portuguese only had a few places left in Morocco: Ceuta, Tangier, and Mazagan.
In early 1554, the Wattasids, with help from the Ottomans, managed to take Fez back. But it didn't last long. Mohammed ash-Sheikh quickly defeated the last of the Wattasids in the Battle of Tadla. He recaptured Fez in September 1554. During an Ottoman attack on Oran in 1556, Mohammed ash-Sheikh helped the Spanish. He managed to take Tlemcen from the Ottomans. With the final victory of the Saadi and the death of the Wattasid leader in 1554, the war was over.
His Final Years
Mohammed ash-Sheikh was killed in 1557. This happened because he was planning to team up with Spain against the Ottomans. Some Ottoman soldiers pretended to leave their army and joined his service. They then assassinated him. He was buried in the Saadian Tombs in Marrakesh. His son, Abdallah al-Ghalib, became the next sultan.
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In Spanish: Mohammed ash-Sheikh para niños
