Ahmed al-Hiba
Encyclopedia
Ahmed al-Hiba (died 1919), was a leader of an armed resistance to the French colonial power in southern Morocco
, and pretender to the sultanate of Morocco
. In English texts he is usually named simply El Hiba.
He was the son of Ma al-'Aynayn
, a religious leader of the Sahara
. His Father was appointed Caid
of Tindouf
in 1887, by the Moroccan sultan Hassan I. Ma al-'Aynayn
led an armed uprising against the French in the first decade of the twentieth century, and died in 1910 in Tiznit
. Shortly after his death, in 1912 the French imposed the Treaty of Fez
on the Moroccans and took virtual control of the country. Ma al-'Aynayn
's son al-Hiba then decided that this effectively vacated the position of Sultan of Morocco, and proclaimed himself Sultan at Tiznit
(Morocco) as his father had done before him.
A general uprising in the south of Morocco saw al-Hiba recognized as Sultan in Taroudant
, Agadir
and the Dades and Draa
regions. He gained a powerful ally in Si Madani, head of the Glaoua family
. With his tribal army he entered Marrakech
on 18 August 1912 and was proclaimed Sultan there also.
A decisive battle with the French took place at Sidi Bou Othman near Marrakech
on 6 September 1912. al-Hiba's forces were defeated by the French commanded by Charles Mangin
, with the loss of some 2000 tribal warriors. In January 1913, the Glaoua family
, now allied with the French, drove al-Hiba back to the Sous.
al-Hiba did not give up the struggle and continued to harass the French in his own area until his death on 23 June 1919 in Kerdous Little Atlas. His struggle was carried on by his brother Merebbi Rebbu.
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, and pretender to the sultanate of Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
. In English texts he is usually named simply El Hiba.
He was the son of Ma al-'Aynayn
Ma al-'Aynayn
Mohamed Mustafa Ma al-'Aynayn was a religious and political leader who fought French and Spanish colonization in North Africa...
, a religious leader of the Sahara
Sahara
The Sahara is the world's second largest desert, after Antarctica. At over , it covers most of Northern Africa, making it almost as large as Europe or the United States. The Sahara stretches from the Red Sea, including parts of the Mediterranean coasts, to the outskirts of the Atlantic Ocean...
. His Father was appointed Caid
CAID
Caid may refer to:* Caid , a type of governorship found in North Africa and Moorish Spain* Caid , a form of football popular in Ireland until the mid-19th century...
of Tindouf
Tindouf
Tindouf is the main town in Tindouf Province, Algeria, close to the Mauritanian and Moroccan borders. The region is considered of strategic significance, and it houses Algerian military bases. Since 1975, it also contains several Sahrawi refugee camps operated by the Polisario Front a guerrilla...
in 1887, by the Moroccan sultan Hassan I. Ma al-'Aynayn
Ma al-'Aynayn
Mohamed Mustafa Ma al-'Aynayn was a religious and political leader who fought French and Spanish colonization in North Africa...
led an armed uprising against the French in the first decade of the twentieth century, and died in 1910 in Tiznit
Tiznit
Tiznit or Tiznet is a town in the southern Moroccan economic region of Sous-Massa-Draa , founded in 1881 by the sultan Hassan I. It has a population of approximately 50,000. Tiznit is well-known for its silver jewelry, daggers and sabres....
. Shortly after his death, in 1912 the French imposed the Treaty of Fez
Treaty of Fez
By the Treaty of Fez , signed March 30, 1912, Sultan Abdelhafid gave up the sovereignty of Morocco to the French, making the country a protectorate, resolving the Agadir Crisis of July 1, 1911....
on the Moroccans and took virtual control of the country. Ma al-'Aynayn
Ma al-'Aynayn
Mohamed Mustafa Ma al-'Aynayn was a religious and political leader who fought French and Spanish colonization in North Africa...
's son al-Hiba then decided that this effectively vacated the position of Sultan of Morocco, and proclaimed himself Sultan at Tiznit
Tiznit
Tiznit or Tiznet is a town in the southern Moroccan economic region of Sous-Massa-Draa , founded in 1881 by the sultan Hassan I. It has a population of approximately 50,000. Tiznit is well-known for its silver jewelry, daggers and sabres....
(Morocco) as his father had done before him.
A general uprising in the south of Morocco saw al-Hiba recognized as Sultan in Taroudant
Taroudant
Taroudant is a Moroccan city located in the Sous Valley in the southern part of the country. It is situated east of Agadir on the road to Ouarzazate and the Sahara desert and south of Marrakech. It is called the "Grandmother of Marrakech" because it looks like a smaller Marrakech with its...
, Agadir
Agadir
Agadir is a major city in southwest Morocco, capital of the Agadir province and the Sous-Massa-Draa economic region .-Etymology:...
and the Dades and Draa
Draa River
The Draa is Morocco's longest river . It is formed by the confluence of the Dadès River and Imini River. It flows from the High Atlas mountains south-ward to Tagounit and from Tagounit mostly westwards to the Atlantic Ocean somewhat north of Tan-Tan...
regions. He gained a powerful ally in Si Madani, head of the Glaoua family
T'hami El Glaoui
El Haj T'hami el Mezouari el Glaoui , better known in English-speaking countries as T'hami El Glaoui or Lord of the Atlas, was a Berber Pasha of Marrakech from 1912 to 1956...
. With his tribal army he entered Marrakech
Marrakech
Marrakech or Marrakesh , known as the "Ochre city", is the most important former imperial city in Morocco's history...
on 18 August 1912 and was proclaimed Sultan there also.
A decisive battle with the French took place at Sidi Bou Othman near Marrakech
Marrakech
Marrakech or Marrakesh , known as the "Ochre city", is the most important former imperial city in Morocco's history...
on 6 September 1912. al-Hiba's forces were defeated by the French commanded by Charles Mangin
Charles Mangin
Charles Emmanuel Marie Mangin was a French general during World War I.-Early career:...
, with the loss of some 2000 tribal warriors. In January 1913, the Glaoua family
T'hami El Glaoui
El Haj T'hami el Mezouari el Glaoui , better known in English-speaking countries as T'hami El Glaoui or Lord of the Atlas, was a Berber Pasha of Marrakech from 1912 to 1956...
, now allied with the French, drove al-Hiba back to the Sous.
al-Hiba did not give up the struggle and continued to harass the French in his own area until his death on 23 June 1919 in Kerdous Little Atlas. His struggle was carried on by his brother Merebbi Rebbu.