Itinerant court in Morocco: the unforgotten past

Occupation: Senior Lecturer
Affiliation: Institute of Asian and African Studies, Lomonosov Moscow State University
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow

Journal name

Asia and Africa Today

Edition

Issue 8

Pages

75-79

Abstract

The article is focused on the phenomenon of the itinerant court, or mobile government, in Morocco. This way of ruling the country was known in the Islamic Far West since the Middle Ages. The sultans travelled across the Empire in order to collect the taxes or tribute to hold a court and to arbitrate the conflicts between Moroccan tribes. The itinerant court was an effective mechanism that allowed the sultans to maintain their power in such isolated areas like the Atlas mountains and the Sahara desert.

The author shows that this tradition is still practiced today in Morocco: the king Muhammad VI travels across the country and takes part in different events which are not always of particular importance. This fact demonstrates that the king is eager to be present in everyday life of ordinary Moroccans, and this way of ruling the country goes back to the tradition of his monarchial ancestors. The participation of king in such events like opening a new airport or in a Friday prayer in local mosque allows to maintain his popularity among his subjects.

The phenomenon of «itinerant court» is an example of flexibility of Moroccan traditions, especially the manner of ruling the country. The king shows by his actions that he is open to his people and that the dynasty can adapt itself to the changing world. Moreover, it is supposed that this resilience of the ruling family is one of the main reasons of the political stability in Morocco.

Keywords

Morocco, tradition, modernisation, «itinerant court», collection of tribute

Publication date

10.08.2019

Number of characters

16730

Cite

GOST	Solovyeva D. «Itinerant court» in Morocco: the unforgotten past // Asia and Africa Today – 2019. – Issue 8 C. 75-79 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://asaf-today.ru/S032150750005790-1-1 (circulation date: 10.09.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S032150750005790-1
MLA	Solovyeva, Daria V. "«Itinerant court» in Morocco: the unforgotten past." Asia and Africa Today 8 (2019):75-79. DOI: 10.31857/S032150750005790-1
APA	Solovyeva D. (2019). «Itinerant court» in Morocco: the unforgotten past. Asia and Africa Today (8), pp.75-79 DOI: 10.31857/S032150750005790-1

100 rub.

When subscribing to an article or issue, the user can download PDF, evaluate the publication or contact the author. Need to register.

Number of purchasers: 2, views: 1609

Readers community rating: votes 0

1. Kubbel L.Ye. 1974. The Songhay Empire. Some Experience of an Investigation of Its Socio-Political Structure. M. (In Russ.)

2. Kobishchanov Yu.M. 1995. Poludiye: a Phenomenon of Russian and Universal History of Civilizations. M. (In Russ.)

3. Ivanov N.A. 2008. The Free and Duty Tribes of North Africa in XIV cent. M. (In Russ.)

4. Al-Nasiri A.A. The Book of Examination of Findings about the Dynasties of the Far Maghrib. Casablanca: Dar al-kitab, 1954-1956. V. 8. 200 p. (In Arab.)

5. Orlov V.V. 2004. The Worship of Nature in the «Popular Islam» in Maghrib [XVIII-XIX]. M. (In Russ.)

6. Al-Qadiri M.T. The Chronicles of the Life of People of XI-XII centuries. Publ. by M. Hajji and A. at-Tawfiq. Rabat: Maktabat at-Talib, 1986. V. 4 (In Arab.)

7. Ad-Dou'ayf ar-Rabati M. A. History of Du'ayf ar-Rabati. History of the Blessed Alawi Dynasty from its Founding to the End of Mawlay Sulayman's Reign (1043/1633-1238/1812). Casablanca: Dar al-Ma'sourat, 1988. V.1 (In Arab.)

8. Ayash J. 1982. The Study of Moroccan History. M. (In Russ.)

9. Aubin E. Le Maroc d’aujourd’hui. Paris: Armand Colin, 1904. 500 p.

10. MusatovaT.L. 1990. RussiaMorocco: the Far and Close Past. The Essay of History of The Russian-Moroccan Relations in XVIII - Early XIX cent. M. (In Russ.)

11. Harris W.B. Tafilet. The Narrative of a Journey of Exploration in The Atlas Mountains and The Oases of The NorthWest Sahara. Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1895. 386 p.

12. Bergue M. The Description of a Captivity in The Kingdom of Fas - Memories of a Swedish Captive About the Days of The Sultan Mawlay Abdallah. Trans. From Swedish by Abd R. Hazal. Casablanca: Ifriqya al-Sharq. 2011. 185 pp. (In Arab.)

13. Dakhlia J. Dans la mouvance du prince: la symbolique du pouvoir itinérant au Maghreb // Annales. Economies, sociétés, civilisations. 1988, № 3. Pp. 735-760.

14. Sukhov N.V. 2013. «The Political Spring» in Morocco. M. (In Russ.)

15. Hassan II. La Mémoire d’un roi. Entretiens avec Eric Laurent. Librarie Plon, 1993. 305 p.

16. SM le Roi pose la première pierre d’un nouveau terminal à l’aéroport de Rabat-Salé et lance la nouvelle génération des avions de la RAM // MAP Express. 19.12.2018 - http://www.mapexpress.ma/actualite/activites-royales/sm-roi-pose-premiere-pierredun-nouveau-terminal-laeroport-rabat-sale-lance-nouvelle-generation-avions-ram/ (accessed 15.01.2019)

17. Mohamed VI, l’absentéisme déconcertant du roi du Maroc // Le libre penseur.org. 24.08.2018 - https://www.lelibrepenseur.org/mohamed-vi-labsenteisme-deconcertant-du-roi-du-maroc/ (accessed 12.01.2019)

18. Mohammed VI et son château picard: entre Histoire et petits secrets // Le Point. 27.08.2017 - https://www.lepoint.fr/s ociete/mohammed-vi-et-son-chateau-picard-entre-histoire-et-petits-secrets-25-08-2017-2152180_23.php (accessed 12.01.2019)

19. Mohammed VI, le roi «virtuel» du Maroc // Middle East Eye. 30.03.2018 - https://www.middleeasteye.net/fr/ reportages/mohammed-vi-le-roi-virtuel-du-maroc-669050659 (accessed 12.01.2019)

20. Orlov V.V. 1998. Traditional Social Organization of Alawi Morocco (The Middle XVIII - Early XIX cent.). Conceptions - Structures - Interrelations. M. (In Russ.)

21. Abitlol M. Histoire du Maroc. Paris: Perrin, 2009. 673 p.

22. Terrasse H. L’histoire du Maroc des origines a l’établissement du Protectorat français. Casablanca, Editions Atlantides, Vol. 1-2. 1950. 401+509 pp.

23. Hammoudi A. Master and Disciple: the Cultural Foundations of Moroccan Authoritarianism. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1997. 222 p.

24. Les 7 plus beaux palais du Roi Mohammed VI en images // WLB - https://www.welovebuzz.com/les-7-plus-beauxpalais-du-roi-mohammed-vi-en-images/ (accessed 14.01.2019)

25. SM le Roi, Amir Al Mouminine, accomplit la prière du Vendredi à la mosquée Son Altesse la Princesse Lalla Latifa à Salé // Maroc.ma. 18.05.2018 - http://www.maroc.ma/fr/activites-royales/sm-le-roi-amir-al-mouminine-accomplit-la-priere-duvendredi-la-mosquee-son-altesse (accessed 21.07.2018)

26. SM le Roi, Amir Al Mouminine, accomplit la prière du Vendredi à la mosquée Tayba à Sala Al Jadida // Maroc.ma. 08.06.2018 - http://www.maroc.ma/fr/activites-royales/sm-le-roi-amir-al-mouminine-accomplit-la-priere-du-vendredi-la-mosquee-taybasala (accessed 23.07.2018)

27. SM le Roi, Amir Al Mouminine, accomplit la prière du Vendredi à la mosquée Al Ikhlass à Casablanca //Maroc.ma. 01.06.2018 - http://www.maroc.ma/fr/activites-royales/sm-le-roi-amir-al-mouminine-accomplit-la-priere-du-vendredi-lamosquee-al-ikhlass (accessed 25.07.2018)

28. SM le Roi Mohammed VI, Amir Al Mouminine, accomplit la prière du vendredi à la mosquée Annasr à Marrakech // MAP Express. 23.12.2016 - http://www.mapexpress.ma/actualite/activites-royales/sm-le-roi-mohammed-vi-amir-al-mouminineaccomplit-la-priere-du-vendredi-a-la-mosquee-annasr-a-marrakech/ (accessed 20.01.2019)