Abd al-Malik al-Mu'tasim bi'llah al-Sa'di

عبد الملك المعتصم بالله السعدي

4 August 1578 CE · 30 Jumada II 986 AH

The Sa'di sultan who had fled to the Porte; the Ottomans armed him with five thousand well-equipped fighters to take Fez from his nephew al-Mutawakkil, then sent trainers, weapons and a corps against the Portuguese invasion. His reforms: renewed shipbuilding, maritime trade, a modern army on the Ottoman model of arms and ranks, strengthened diwans and a consultative body versed in home and foreign affairs — his brother Ahmad al-Mansur his right hand. He won the awe of his age even among Europeans; the contemporary French poet Agrippa d'Aubigné called him his people's fairest, sharp of mind, versed in Spanish, Italian, Armenian and Russian, an excellent Arabic poet. At Wadi al-Makhazin he cut the enemy from his fleet, blew the bridge, and repelled the first charge sword drawn though ill — 'since when does sickness bar Muslims from jihad?' — then died in his tent, finger to his lips: conceal it until victory ¹.

Summary

The Sa'di sultan who regained Morocco with Ottoman backing and died on the field of jihad ¹.

From exile to throne

He fled with his brother Ahmad al-Mansur to the Ottoman sultan, who armed him with five thousand well-equipped fighters; he entered Fez victorious over his nephew al-Mutawakkil, then received Ottoman trainers, weapons and a corps against the invasion ².

The reforms

He renewed the ships, revived maritime trade, built a regular army on the Ottoman model of arms and ranks, strengthened the diwans and formed a consultative body versed in state affairs and international politics; the contemporary French poet Agrippa d'Aubigné called him his people's fairest, sharp of mind, versed in Spanish, Italian, Armenian and Russian, an excellent Arabic poet ³.

His death

At Wadi al-Makhazin he cut the enemy from its fleet, blew the bridge, repelled the first charge sword drawn though ill — 'since when does sickness bar Muslims from jihad?' — and died with his finger to his lips: conceal it until victory ⁴.

Battle of Wadi al-Makhazin (986/1578)

The Battle of the Three Kings at al-Qasr al-Kabir, Monday 30 Jumada II 986/4 August 1578. Morocco's sultan Abd al-Malik al-Mu'tasim — Ottoman-backed — met King Sebastian of Portugal, who had massed tens of thousands of Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and German troops to restore his deposed ally Muhammad al-Mutawakkil. Abd al-Malik cut the enemy from his fleet and blew the river's only bridge; he died of illness minutes into the battle, his chamberlain Ridwan and brother Ahmad al-Mansur concealing it until victory was complete in four hours and a third. All three kings perished — Sebastian slain, al-Mutawakkil drowned, Abd al-Malik on the field — and Ahmad al-Mansur was acclaimed on the spot; the Sa'di star rose until Europe's embassies 'kept morning and evening at her palace gates'.

Abd al-Malik al-Mu'tasim bi'llah al-Sa'di

At a glance

Life in time

Summary

From exile to throne

The reforms

His death

Connections

People and things also explored

Sources

People

Battle of Wadi al-Makhazin (986/1578)