Accession to power and military centralization
The reign of Moulay Ismail was perhaps a highlight in the royal history of the country. Not only has it been the longest reign of any monarch before or after him, but it was also one of the strongest periods militarily speaking.
Prior to him taking power, Moroccan monarchs usually relied on tribes (that often rebelled) to supply them with men. During his reign, he relied highly on two main military corps: the Guichs, privileged tribes established by Moulay Ismail to limit subject region, and the Black Guard, also known as Abid al-Bukhari (Bukhari’s slaves), an army of black slaves totally devoted to the Sultan.
Moreover, Moulay Ismail also controlled a large fleet of corsairs based at the Old Salé (current Salé) and the New Salé (current Rabat). This fleet constantly supplied the Sultan with Christian weapons and slaves through its raids from the Mediterranean all the way to the Black Sea.
The Kingdom of Morocco established important diplomatic relationships during Ismail’s reign, notably with the Kingdoms of France, Great Britain, and Spain. The Europeans nicknamed him “the Bloody King” or “the Bloodthirsty” due to his cruelty and ruthlessness. In Morocco, he was known as “the Warrior King”.
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