Episode 21: From Alliance to Rupture: Colonel Silvestre's Campaign Against Sharif Ahmed Al-Raisuni (1911–1912) أو

Episode 21: From Alliance to Rupture: Colonel Silvestre's Campaign Against Sharif Ahmed Al-Raisuni (1911–1912)

Introduction

The relationship between Sharif Ahmed Al-Raisuni and the Spanish military commander Colonel Manuel Fernández Silvestre evolved from cautious cooperation into open confrontation within a relatively short period. Archival correspondence exchanged between Spanish authorities and their representatives in northern Morocco reveals a gradual deterioration in relations, driven by competing visions of authority, sovereignty, and political control over the Jbala region.

An Initial Attempt at Cooperation

At the outset, Colonel Silvestre sought to ease tensions with Al-Raisuli and establish a working relationship that would facilitate Spanish interests in the region. To this end, he requested a direct meeting with the Sharif, hoping to reconcile existing differences and secure his support for Spain’s political objectives.

The first meeting took place in Asilah on 20 August 1911. Following the encounter, Silvestre reported positively to the Spanish Minister of War in Madrid, describing Al-Raisuli as a leader who appeared willing to cooperate. In his telegram, he noted that the Sharif was acting "with complete sincerity in favor of our interests," despite persistent French efforts to attract him to their sphere of influence.

The Emergence of Tensions

This period of relative understanding proved short-lived. By September 1911, relations had begun to deteriorate significantly. Silvestre accused Al-Raisuli of imposing unauthorized taxes on local tribes and increasingly questioned the legitimacy of his authority.

In a telegram dated 6 September 1911, Silvestre argued that Spain should present itself as the protector of the tribes against Al-Raisuli's administration. He further suggested that weakening the Sharif’s position would facilitate Spanish expansion into the region and eventually allow the replacement of Al-Raisuni with a more compliant local authority.

However, not all Spanish officials shared Silvestre’s aggressive approach. In a communication dated 15 September 1911, the Spanish Minister of State urged caution, referencing formal complaints submitted by Al-Raisuli concerning Silvestre’s repeated interference in civil and administrative affairs.

A Struggle for Authority

As tensions deepened, the conflict increasingly centered on the question of legitimate authority. Al-Raisuli accused Silvestre of undermining the structures of the Sharifian Makhzen by encouraging local officials to disregard his directives.

Particularly contentious was Silvestre’s relationship with the Caliph of Ksar El Kebir, Ibn Al-Sayyagh, whom Al-Raisuni believed had been encouraged to challenge the authority of the regional administration.

In a letter dated 25 September 1911, Al-Raisuli condemned Silvestre’s actions as inappropriate interference in Moroccan governance and warned that such behavior threatened the established authority of the Makhzen. For his part, Silvestre continued to strengthen his network of local collaborators, granting Spanish protection cards to individuals aligned with his interests.

The Awlad Bu Ma'iza Crisis

The conflict reached its most critical stage during the dispute involving the village of Awlad Bu Ma'iza. When the community rebelled against Al-Raisuni’s authority, the Sharif dispatched forces to restore order and collect taxes owed to the administration.

Spanish military units intervened on behalf of the rebels, preventing Al-Raisuni’s forces from carrying out their mission and effectively expelling representatives of the Makhzen from the area.

The incident generated considerable controversy, even within Spanish official circles. Subsequent correspondence from the Spanish Ministry of War expressed regret regarding the intervention and acknowledged the political difficulties it created for Al-Raisuni.

The Final Encounter

A final meeting between the two men took place in Asilah on 12 November 1912. By this stage, mutual distrust had become deeply entrenched.

Silvestre demanded the release of all prisoners held by Al-Raisuni’s administration, while the Sharif firmly defended his position as the legitimate governor of the region and rejected what he viewed as unacceptable interference in internal Moroccan affairs.

The political landscape changed dramatically shortly thereafter. Following the implementation of the agreements that formalized the partition of Morocco into French and Spanish zones of influence, Al-Raisuli resigned from his position as governor of the mountain tribes and relocated to Tangier.

The Assault on Al-Raisuni’s Administration

Al-Raisuni’s departure created an opportunity that Silvestre quickly exploited. During the Sharif’s absence in Tangier, Spanish forces launched a raid against his residence and administrative headquarters in Asilah.

The operation included the forced entry into the local prison, the release of detainees, the arrest of several of Al-Raisuni’s associates, and the confiscation of property belonging to members of his family.

Faced with mounting pressure, some of Al-Raisuli’s supporters sought temporary refuge in the historic Portuguese Tower at Bab al-Hamar before escaping to other parts of northern Morocco.

In response, Al-Raisuni appealed to both the British and German legations in Tangier, seeking diplomatic intervention to secure the release of his relatives and protect his interests. Yet his efforts yielded little success, as the international powers had already accepted northern Morocco as falling within the Spanish sphere of influence.

The conflict between Colonel Silvestre and Sharif Ahmed Al-Raisuni illustrates the broader struggle that unfolded in northern Morocco during the years preceding the consolidation of the Spanish Protectorate. What began as an attempt at cooperation gradually transformed into a contest over legitimacy, sovereignty, and political authority. The deterioration of their relationship not only marked the decline of Al-Raisuli’s administrative power but also foreshadowed the deeper colonial transformations that would reshape the region in the years that followed.

Topics Covered in This Episode

Ahmed Raisuni,Northern Morocco History,Spanish Occupation,Taher Lhioui,The Rif Resistance,

To delve deeper into this critical chapter of our history, click the link below for more information. And to ensure you don’t miss the full story, make sure to catch up on our previous installment: Episode 19

https://northern-morocco-archive.blogspot.com/2026/06/episode-20-between-colonial-arrogance.html

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