Abd al-Rahman of Morocco

Moulay Abd ar -Rahman (Arabic مولاي عبد الرحمن, DMG Mulay ʿ Abd al -Rahman ) (* 1788, † 1859), Sultan of the Alawites in Morocco from 1822.

Moulay Abd al-Rahman joined in 1822 succeeded his uncle Moulay Sulaiman ( 1798-1822 ) on. After the pacification of the brotherhoods and marabouts he began the expansion of imperial administration. This was reinforced its control extended to the Berber tribes of the Atlas Mountains and in southern Morocco. Several rebellions against this growing involvement in the state could be suppressed. In order to secure popular support for his policies, but the Muslim Brotherhood had to be promoted, who had great influence on the common people and the tribes.

While inside the power of the sultan was expanded, Abd ar -Rahman suffered some setbacks in foreign policy. For 1829, the Atlantic ports of Larache, Tetouan Arzila and were bombarded by the Austrian fleet, since Moroccan corsairs still vulnerable to European maritime trade in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. 1836 were U.S. warships Morocco in a similar manner. Only after that piracy was suppressed by Abd ar - Rahman.

At another confrontation occurred with France, which had occupied the neighboring Algeria in 1830 and there met with resistance by Abd al -Qadir, who was supported by Morocco. As tensions escalated into a war, the Moroccan army was defeated in 1844 at the Isle of the French troops. Morocco had to cut off aid for Abd al -Qadir and agree to the determination of the limits to Algeria. Despite some setbacks, I managed to hold Abd al-Rahman the influence of the European powers to the Alawidenreich under control. Was succeeded by his son Sidi Mohammed IV ( 1859-1873 ).