Wattasid dynasty facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wattasid dynasty الوطاسيون
1472–1554
Map of the Wattasid sultanate (dark red) and its vassal states (light red)
Status	Ruling dynasty of Morocco Vassal of the Ottoman Empire from 1526
Capital	Fez
Common languages	Berber languages Arabic
Religion	Sunni Islam
Government	Monarchy
Sultan
• 1472-1504	Abu Abd Allah al-Sheikh Muhammad ibn Yahya
• 1545-1547	Nasir al-Qasri
History
• Established	1472
• Battle of Tadla	1554
Currency	Dirham
Preceded by Succeeded by Marinid dynasty Saadi Sultanate

The Wattasid dynasty (Arabic: الوطاسيون, al-waṭṭāsīyūn) was a powerful family that ruled Morocco for many years. Like the Marinid dynasty, they were from the Zenata Berber people. The Wattasids and Marinids were related families.

The Marinid rulers often chose Wattasid members to be their viziers. A vizier was like a chief minister or a very important advisor. Over time, these Wattasid viziers gained a lot of power. They eventually took control of the Marinid kingdom. This happened after the last Marinid ruler, Abu Muhammad Abd al-Haqq, was killed in a revolt in Fez in 1465. He had previously killed many Wattasids in 1459.

Abu Abd Allah al-Sheikh Muhammad ibn Yahya became the first Wattasid Sultan. He only controlled the northern part of Morocco at first. The southern parts were ruled by different local leaders. The Wattasid dynasty finally lost power in 1554. This was after the Battle of Tadla, when the Saadi dynasty took over. The Saadi princes had already been ruling southern Morocco since 1511.

A Challenging Time for Morocco

Morocco faced many problems in the 1400s and early 1500s. These problems included issues with money, politics, and society. The number of people living in Morocco did not grow much. Trade with the far south was also cut off. This happened because the Portuguese took control of many seaports. Cities became poorer, and learning and culture also suffered during this time.

The Wattasid Story

Morocco was not in a strong position when the Wattasids took charge. The Wattasid family had already been governing the eastern Rif region on their own since the late 1200s. Their main base was in Tazouta, near today's Nador. They had strong connections with the Marinid sultans. Many Wattasids worked in important government jobs.

While the Marinid dynasty tried to fight off invasions from Portugal and Spain, the Wattasids slowly gained more power. They did this through clever political moves. When the Marinids realized how much power the Wattasids had, they tried to get rid of them. They killed many Wattasids, but Abu Abd Allah al-Sheikh Muhammad ibn Yahya survived. He then founded the Kingdom of Fez and started the Wattasid dynasty. His son, Mohammed al-Burtuqali, became the next ruler in 1504.

The Wattasid rulers struggled to protect Morocco from foreign attacks. The Portuguese continued to expand their control along Morocco's coast. Mohammad al-Chaykh's son tried to capture Asilah and Tangier in 1508, 1511, and 1515, but he was not successful.

In the south, a new powerful family appeared: the Saadian dynasty. They captured Marrakesh in 1524 and made it their capital city. By 1537, the Saadis were very strong. They defeated the Portuguese Empire at Agadir. Their military victories were very different from the Wattasids' approach. The Wattasids often tried to make peace with the Catholic kings to the north.

Because of their successes, the people of Morocco saw the Saadians as heroes. This made it easier for the Saadians to take back Portuguese strongholds on the coast. These included Tangiers, Ceuta, and Maziɣen. The Saadians also attacked the Wattasids, who were forced to give in to the new power. In 1554, many Wattasid towns surrendered. The Wattasid sultan, Ali Abu Hassun, briefly took back Fez. However, the Saadis quickly defeated him and killed him. The last Wattasids tried to escape Morocco by ship, but they were also killed by pirates.

The Wattasids did not do much to improve life in Morocco after the Reconquista (the Christian reconquest of Spain). It took the Saadian dynasty to bring back order and stop the expansion of the kingdoms from Spain and Portugal.

Wattasid Coins

We know about some Wattasid coins. There are a few very rare gold coins. They also made square silver dirhams and half dirhams. These coins still followed the old standard from the Almohad Caliphate, weighing about 1.5 grams.

The Wattasid Rulers

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Related topics Morocco in the 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s History by topic Economic Military Postal Imperial cities
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Wattasid Viziers (Chief Ministers)

• 1420–1448: Abu Zakariya Yahya al-Wattasi
• 1448–1458: Ali ibn Yusuf
• 1458–1459: Yahya ibn Abi Zakariya Yahya

Wattasid Sultans (Rulers)

• 1472–1504: Abu Abd Allah al-Sheikh Muhammad ibn Yahya
• 1504–1526: Abu Abd Allah al-Burtuqali Muhammad ibn Muhammad
• 1526–1526: Abu al-Hasan Abu Hasan Ali ibn Muhammad
• 1526–1545: Abu al-Abbas Ahmad ibn Muhammad
• 1545–1547: Nasir ad-Din al-Qasri Muhammad ibn Ahmad
• 1547–1549: Abu al-Abbas Ahmad ibn Muhammad
• 1554–1554: Abu al-Hasan Abu Hasun Ali ibn Muhammad

Family Tree

Important Dates

• 1479: The Treaty of Alcáçovas recognized Morocco as being in the Portuguese area of influence.
• 1485: A treaty with Spain was signed. The sultanate agreed not to help the Kingdom of Granada. Spain agreed not to capture Moroccan ships in the Alboran Sea.
• 1488: Portuguese forces took Safi.
• 1491: Muhammad XIII, Sultan of Granada (El Zagal) went to Fez, but he was captured and blinded.
• 1492: Spanish Muslims and Jews arrived in Morocco.
• 1497: Spain captured Melilla.
• 1502: Portugal captured Mazagan.
• 1505: Portugal captured Agadir.
• 1506: Portugal captured Mogador.
• 1511: The Saadians captured Rabat.
• 1524: The Saadians captured Marrakesh.
• 1541: The Saadians captured Agadir.
• 1541: The Saadians captured Safi.
• 1542: Hasan Hâsim captured Tetuan.
• 1548: The last Wattasid king was captured by the Saadians.
• 1550: The Saadians conquered Fez.

See also

• List of rulers of Morocco

Sources