Alawi Sultanate

The Alawi Sultanate, officially known as the Sharifian Sultanate (Arabic: السلطنة الشريفة) and as the Sultanate of Morocco, was the state ruled by the Alawi dynasty over Morocco, from their rise to power in the 1660s to the 1912 Treaty of Fes that marked the start of the French protectorate in central Morocco as well as the Spanish protectorate in the north and south of the country. The dynasty, which remains the ruling monarchy of Morocco today, originated from the Tafilalt region and rose to power following the collapse of the Saadi Sultanate in the 17th century. Sultan al-Rashid (r. 1666–1672) was the first to establish his authority over the entire country. The sultanate reached an apogee of political power during the reign of his successor, Moulay Isma'il (r. 1672–1727), who exercised strong central rule. After Isma'il's death, Morocco underwent periods of turmoil and renewal under different sultans. A long period of stability returned under Sidi Mohammed ibn Abdallah (r. 1757–1790). Regional stability was disrupted by the French conquest of Algeria in 1830 and thereafter Morocco faced serious challenges from European encroachment in the region. Morocco remained independent under 'Alawi rule until 1912, when it was placed under the control of a French protectorate. The 'Alawi sultans continued to act as nominal monarchs under French colonial rule until Morocco regained independence in 1956, with the Alawi sultan Mohammed V as its sovereign. In 1957, Mohammed V formally adopted the title of "King" and Morocco is now officially known as the Kingdom of Morocco.