Sidi M'Hamed al-Ayachi (; ), also el-Ayachi or al-Ayashi ( – 1641), was a Moroccan

marabout A marabout ( ar, مُرابِط, murābiṭ, lit=one who is attached/garrisoned) is a Muslim religious leader and teacher who historically had the function of a chaplain serving as a part of an Islamic army, notably in North Africa and the Saha ...

, warlord, and jihadist. The Sultan of

Morocco Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria ...

, Mulay Zidan al-Nasir, had made him governor (''qā′id'') of Azmūr, but in 1627 he decided to secede and created his own state. Since the death of

Ahmad al-Mansur Ahmad al-Mansur ( ar, أبو العباس أحمد المنصور, Ahmad Abu al-Abbas al-Mansur, also al-Mansur al-Dahabbi (the Golden), ar, أحمد المنصور الذهبي; and Ahmed al-Mansour; 1549 in Fes – 25 August 1603, Fes) was the ...

in 1603, Morocco had progressively fallen into a state of anarchy due to his sons fighting for the thrones, it caused a loss of central authority beheld by the Sultan. With Morocco in a state of

civil war A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government polic ...

, in 1610 to reinforce his power,

Mohammed esh Sheikh el Mamun Mohammed esh Sheikh el Mamun also spelled Muhammad al-Shaykh al-Ma'mun, (b. 1566 – d. 1613) among other transliterations; also known as Abu Abdallah Mohammed III, ar, أبو العبدالله محمد سعدي الثالث) was a member of th ...

conceded to the

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: ** Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Ca ...

the city of

Larache Larache ( ar, العرايش, al-'Araysh) is a city in northwestern Morocco. It is on the Moroccan coast, where the Loukkos River meets the Atlantic Ocean. Larache is one of the most important cities of the Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region. M ...

and pledged of their alliance. However, they also seized the opportunity to capture al-Ma'mura in 1614.''The Cambridge history of Islam'' by P. M. Holt, Ann K. S. Lambton, Bernard Lewis p.247
/ref> The Sultan's seeming inability to defend the country, infuriated Sidi al-Ayachi, and he began a counter-offensive against

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' ( Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , ...

, privateering against its shipping, and obtaining the help of the

Moriscos Moriscos (, ; pt, mouriscos ; Spanish for "Moorish") were former Muslims and their descendants whom the Roman Catholic church and the Spanish Crown commanded to convert to Christianity or face compulsory exile after Spain outlawed the open ...

and the

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national id ...

. He managed to re-capture al-Mamura, albeit temporarily, and extended his power as far as

Taza Taza ( ber, ⵜⴰⵣⴰ, ar, تازة) is a city in northern Morocco occupying the corridor between the Rif mountains and Middle Atlas mountains, about 120 km east of Fez and 150 km west of Al hoceima. It recorded a population of 1 ...

. In April 1627, Sidi al-Ayachi revolted against the sultan and attacked the harbour of

Salé Salé ( ar, سلا, salā, ; ber, ⵙⵍⴰ, sla) is a city in northwestern Morocco, on the right bank of the Bou Regreg river, opposite the national capital Rabat, for which it serves as a commuter town. Founded in about 1030 by the Banu Ifran, ...

, which he captured and transformed into his own principality, the Republic of Bou Regreg, becoming its independent governor. The English diplomat

John Harrison John Harrison ( – 24 March 1776) was a self-educated English carpenter and clockmaker who invented the marine chronometer, a long-sought-after device for solving the problem of calculating longitude while at sea. Harrison's solution revo ...

negotiated a treaty with Sidi al-Ayachi in May 1627, a month later.''Ships, money, and politics'' by Kenneth R. Andrews p.167
/ref> The Dutch also strongly supported Sidi al-Ayachi, and supplied him with arms. It was not until Sultan Mohammed esh Sheikh es Seghir came to the throne in 1636, that real efforts were made to restore Sidi al-Ayachi to the throne and of his territories. Sidi al-Ayachi was killed in battle in 1641.

Notes

{{Clear 17th-century Moroccan people People from Salé Moroccan politicians