Madani El Glaoui

Madani El Glaoui (1860–July 1918)[1] was a prominent political figure in Morocco during the late 19th century and early 20th century. He was the older brother of Thami El Glaoui.

Illustration in a French newspaper in 1912, depicting Madani El Glaoui (centre) and his brother Thami (right) receiving honors from the French general Hubert Lyautey (left)

Life and career

The Glaoui family (also transliterated as Glawi)[1] was one of the most powerful political clans in Morocco in the later 19th century and in the first half of the 20th century, having risen to prominent positions of power under Muhammad IV and subsequent sultans. The same family had also constructed a lavish kasbah and fortified residence in Telouet, in the High Atlas, starting in 1860.[2] The family was originally from a place called Tigemmi n'Imezouaren in the territory of the Fatwaka tribe, near the Tassaout river.[3] His father was the qaid of Telouet, Mohammed ben Hammou, known as Tibibit,[3] and his mother was Zouhra Oum El Khaïr, a black slave.[3] When Si Mohammed died on 4 August 1886, his eldest son Si Mhamed took over his father's position and then died the same year.[3] After the death of Si M'hammed, his brother Si Madani took charge of the family clan.[3]

By 1893 the family rivaled in power the other great qa'id families of the south, such as the Goundafi and Mtouggi. That year, when Sultan Hassan I was on a tax-collecting expedition, Madani Glaoui aided the sultan and allied himself with him politically. The sultan rewarded him by appointing him khalifa (deputy) over a large region including Todgha, Tafilalt, and Fayja.[1]

During the Hafidiya civil war (1907–1908) between Sultan Abdelaziz, the incumbent on the throne, and his brother Abd al-Hafid, Madani initially aided Abdelaziz. After he accompanied the sultan on a military expedition that ended in failure, he then began to doubt Abdelaziz's political abilities and decided to switch sides, supporting Abd al-Hafid instead. After winning the throne, Abd al-Hafid rewarded Madani with high offices, including Minister of War in 1907 and Vizier (similar to Prime Minister) in 1909.[1] Madani's younger brother, Thami, was appointed Pasha of Marrakesh.[1][4] As the French began to intervene directly in Morocco in the following years, they initially forced Abd al-Hafid to stop supporting the Glaouis, whom they saw as troublesome. They soon changed their minds upon realizing that the Glaouis could be instrumental in controlling the region. The family thus developed friendly relations with the French.[1] Madani died in 1918.[1] His brother Thami ultimately kept his position as Pasha of Marrakesh under French Protectorate rule until 1956, during which time he acted as the strongman of southern Morocco.[1][4]

References
  1. Park, Thomas K.; Boum, Aomar (2006). Historical Dictionary of Morocco. Scarecrow Press. pp. 136–138. ISBN 978-0-8108-6511-2.
  2. Cavender, Amel (2017). Migrants and Fassi Merchants: Urban Changes in Morocco, 1830-1912. Purdue University, Department of History (PhD thesis). pp. 99–100. ProQuest 1958939814.
  3. Lahnite, Abraham (2011). La politique berbère du protectorat français au Maroc, 1912-1956 (in French). Vol. L'application du Traité de Fez dans la région de Souss Tome 3. Harmattan. pp. 79–82. ISBN 978-2-296-54982-1.
  4. Maxwell, Gavin (2004) [1966]. Lords of the Atlas : Morocco and the Rise & Fall of the House of Glaoua 1893–1956. London: Cassell. ISBN 0304354198.
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