Origins & Early Life

Moulay Ismail Ibn Sharif (Arabic: أبو النَّصْرِ مولاي إسماعيل بن الشريف, romanized: Abu 'l-Naṣr Mawlāy Ismāʿīl ibn al-Sharīf, c. 1645 – 22 March 1727) was a Sultan of Morocco from 1672 to 1727, as the second ruler of the 'Alawi dynasty. He was the seventh son of Moulay Sharif and was governor of the province of Fez and the north of Morocco from 1667 until the death of his half-brother, Sultan Moulay Rashid in 1672. He was proclaimed sultan at Fez, but spent several years in conflict with his nephew Moulay Ahmed ben Mehrez, who also claimed the throne, until the latter's death in 1687.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Moulay Ismail's 55-year reign is the longest of any sultan of Morocco. During his lifetime, Isma'il amassed a harem of over 500 women with more than 800 confirmed biological children, making him one of the most prodigious fathers in recorded history. The reign of Moulay Ismail marked a high watermark for Moroccan power. His military successes are explained by the creation of a strong army, originally relying on the 'Guichs' (especially the Udaya) and on the Black Guard (or Abid al-Bukhari), black slaves who were totally devoted to him. As a result, the central power could be less reliant on tribes that...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Hugo Grotius — Contemporary (Died in 1645) (1645): Pioneering jurist whose works established the foundations of modern international law.
• Miyamoto Musashi — Contemporary (Died in 1645) (1645): Legendary swordsman, strategist, and author of 'The Book of Five Rings'.
• Sultan Agung of Mataram — Contemporary (Died in 1645) (1645): Great Sultan of Mataram, a powerful Javanese warrior and consolidator of his kingdom.
• Isaac Newton — Contemporary (Died in 1727) (1727): Polymath who established classical mechanics and modern science through groundbreaking work in physics and mathematics.
• Thomas Gainsborough — Contemporary (Born in 1727) (1727): Master English portraitist and landscape painter of the 18th century.
• Andrew Lloyd Webber — Shared historical date (03-22 · Born) (1948): Iconic English composer and impresario of globally successful musical theatre.
• Anthony van Dyck — Shared historical date (03-22 · Born) (1599): Flemish Baroque master, renowned for court portraits, who dominated English painting.
• Peter the Great — Historical peer (Born in 1672) (1672): Tsar and Emperor who modernized Russia, founding St. Petersburg and the Russian Navy.
• Johann Bernoulli — Historical peer (Born in 1667) (1667): Swiss mathematician known for calculus and educating Leonhard Euler.
• Jonathan Swift — Historical peer (Born in 1667) (1667): Master satirist and cleric whose works defined Georgian literary wit.
• 1645 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1645
• 1727 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1727
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