Mohammed ash-Sheikh

Moulay Mohammed ech - Cheikh ech - Cherif al - Hassani al- Darai at- Tagmadert (Arabic مولاي محمد الشيخ الشريف الحسني, DMG Mulay Muhammad aš - Shaykh aš - Sharif al-Hassani, † 1557) was the first sultan of the Saadi Sheikh and in Morocco ( 1544-1557 ).

After the death of Sheikh Abu Abdallah al - Qa'im ( 1517) took over Mohammad ech - Cheikh next to his older brother Ahmed al - Araj the leadership of the Saadian in the fight against the Portuguese. First successes against the Ouattasiden were obtained with the conquest of Marrakesh ( 1524).

However, it came in 1544 to the break between the brothers, said Ahmed al - Araj allied himself with the Ouattasiden under Bou Hassoun. Nevertheless, Mohammad ech - Cheikh was able to maintain in southern Morocco and won with the expulsion of the Portuguese from Agadir ( 1541) and other Atlantic ports high reputation among the population. After the reorganization of the army after Ottoman example he succeeded in 1549 the conquest of Fes and the overthrow of the Ouattasiden. While this could occupy under Bou Hassoun with Ottoman help in 1554 again Fez, but was saved with the victory of the Saadi and the death of Bou Hassoun the rule of the Saadian.

To fend off the claims of the Ottomans, Mohammed ech - Cheikh adopted the title of caliph and allied with Spain. This was at the same time fighting the corsairs of Algiers and Tunis. Inside Mohammed ech - Cheikh tried to curb the influence of the brotherhoods and marabouts. Through the organization of a functioning tax system and the establishment of a strong mercenary army the rule of the Saadian was further secured. However, Mohammed ech - Cheikh was assassinated by Ottoman agents in 1557. His son Abdallah al - Galib (1557-1574) succeeded him in Morocco.