Abu al-Abbas Ahmad ibn Muhammad (Arabic: أحمد بن محمد بن محمد الوطاسي), also Sultan Ahmad, or Ahmad al-Wattasi, was a Sultan of the Moroccan Wattasid dynasty. He ruled from 1526 to 1545, and again between 1547 and 1549.[2]
Abu al-Abbas Ahmad | |||||
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Sultan of Morocco | |||||
Reign | 1547 – 1549 | ||||
Predecessor | Nasir al-Qasri | ||||
Successor | Ali Abu Hassun (regent of the crown) | ||||
Sultan of Morocco | |||||
Reign | 1526 – 1545 | ||||
Predecessor | Abu Abd Allah al-Burtuqali Muhammad ibn Muhammad | ||||
Successor | Nasir al-Qasri | ||||
Born | Unknown | ||||
Died | 1549 | ||||
Spouse | Sayyida al Hurra | ||||
Issue | Nasir al-Qasiri Lalla Halou[1] | ||||
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Dynasty | Banū Wattās | ||||
Father | Abu Abd Allah al-Burtuqali Muhammad ibn Muhammad |
In 1532, Ahmad ibn Muhammad sent a letter to Francis I of France through trader Hémon de Molon, encouraging the French king to develop trade relations.[3] In 1533, Francis I of France sent as ambassador to Ahmad ibn Muhammad, in the person of colonel Pierre de Piton.[4] The embassy was made up of five gentlemen and the pseudo-merchant Aymond de Molon were part of the expedition: the embassy carried watches, mirrors, combs and other "merceryes" with some falconry items; everything was to be offered to Ahmed ibn Muhammad, the King of Fez, and to his vizier and brother-in-law Moulay Ibrahim ben Ali ibn Rashid al-Alami. The embassy landed at Larache and was conducted to the king's mahalla, which was in the vicinity; the ambassador handed over the presents, which were little tasted, then he accompanied the king to Fez, staying a month there.[5][6]
Following this embassy, in a letter to Francis I dated August 13, 1533, Ahmad ibn Muhammad welcomed French overtures and granted freedom of shipping and protection of French traders.[7] His foreign policy being to counter the fast-growing powers of Spain and Portugal who keep holding fortress enclaves on Moroccan soil.
In 1545, Sultan Ahmad was taken prisoner by his southern rivals the Saadians.[8] His successor, Ali Abu Hassun, regent for Ahmad's young son Nasir al-Qasiri, decided to pledge allegiance to the Ottomans in order to obtain their support.[8]
France actually started to send ships to Morocco in 1555, under the rule of Henry II, son of Francis I.[7]
He married Sayyida al Hurra.
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