Abd al-Rahman ibn Hisham

1789 - 1859

Sultan of Morocco, 1822 - 1859.

During the reign of Abd al-Rahman, Morocco lost its international standing and suffered economic decline and social and political unrest.

A major problem was how to respond to the invasion of Algeria by France in 1830. Abd al-Rahman first tacitly supported Algerian resistance forces, then sought to avoid a confrontation. In August 1844, this policy failed when a Moroccan army was beaten at Isly by General Thomas-Robert Bugeaud de la Piconnerie and Moroccan ports were bombarded by the French navy. Morocco's defeat opened the door to increased European political and economic intervention.

The economic policies pursued by Abd al-Rahman became disastrous as well. The signing of an Anglo - Moroccan commercial agreement in 1856 gave most-favored-nation status to Britain, and its provisions were soon extended to other European powers.

Finally, a major conflict with Spain erupted into war in August 1859.

Bibliography

Pennell, C. R. Morocco since 1830. New York: New York University Press, 2000.

Schroeter, Daniel. Merchants of Essaouira: Urban Society and Imperialism in Southwestern Morocco, 1844 - 1886. Cambridge, U.K., and New York: Cambridge University Press, 1988.

— EDMUND BURKE III