Interchapter The Northern Front (1920)

The Northern Front (1920): Military Strategy and Colonial Intrigue Through the Archives of Taher El Lhioui

"Where conspiracies failed to break their resolve, the mountains bore witness to the courage, sacrifice, and unwavering spirit of Northern Morocco's defenders."

"Where conspiracies failed to break their resolve, the mountains bore witness to the courage, sacrifice, and unwavering spirit of Northern Morocco's defenders."

Documentary Introduction

The year 1920 marked a decisive turning point in the armed resistance of Northern Morocco against Spanish occupation. Through original military correspondence, official documents, and archival records, historian Taher El Lhioui reconstructs this critical period with remarkable precision. His work reveals the determination of the tribal resistance under the leadership of Sharif Moulay Ahmed El Raisuni (the Khalifa) while exposing the covert methods employed by the colonial authorities after repeated military setbacks.

I. Battlefield Engagements

The archive records several decisive military confrontations.

The Battle of Beni Ider (January 1920) witnessed fierce resistance against the forces commanded by General Berenguer and General Sanjurjo. Local commanders, including Si Abdessalam El Harmiti and El Amin Ben El Ahrash El Hassani, played a prominent role in organizing the defense and maintaining tribal cohesion.

Along the Ghomara Front, resistance fighters under the command of Moulay El Hassan El Raisuni El Saidi successfully opposed Spanish amphibious operations directed toward the territories of Beni Ziat and Beni Bouzra. Despite Spanish superiority in artillery and air power, the resistance relied on trenches, fortified positions, and intimate knowledge of the mountainous terrain.

The archive further documents the steadfast defense of Chefchaouen and Tarzout, where the rugged mountains became a formidable obstacle for invading forces through the united efforts of the tribes of Akhmas, Beni Ahmed, and Ghomara.

II. Intelligence Operations and the Attempted Poisoning

After failing to achieve decisive military success, colonial intelligence increasingly resorted to clandestine operations.

Among the most striking episodes preserved in the archive is an alleged attempt to assassinate Moulay Ahmed El Raisuni while he was in Beni Msour. According to contemporary accounts, a household servant was recruited to place poison in a sheep's head prepared for the Sharif's meal. The plot was uncovered after the food was tested on an animal, which died immediately, confirming the presence of poison and allowing El Raisuni to escape the assassination attempt.

III. Military Correspondence and the Spirit of Resistance

The preserved correspondence illustrates a sophisticated strategic vision founded upon three principal elements:

Psychological resilience, as reflected in El Raisuni's letter to Commander Abdessalam Ben El Jellali, emphasizing perseverance and rejecting despair.

Tribal mobilization, through coordinated action among the tribes of Beni Gorfet, Somata, and Beni Youssef, forming a unified defensive front.

Rejection of the Protectorate, affirming that armed resistance represented the legitimate response of the mountain and lowland tribes to foreign domination and their continued aspiration for complete independence.

Conclusion

The work of historian Taher El Lhioui transcends the mere narration of historical events. It constitutes an effort to preserve documented historical truth against colonial distortions while safeguarding the memory of the men and communities who sacrificed for the defense of Northern Morocco.

The historical record is further enriched by oral testimonies preserved within families whose members lived through these events. Among them are the recollections transmitted by the grandfather of Taher El Lhioui, whose memories correspond in many respects with the surviving archival documentation. While archival records remain the primary historical source, these oral traditions provide valuable contextual evidence and contribute to preserving the collective memory of the resistance.

Topics Covered in This Episode

1920,Archive,Northern Morocco,Resistance,Strategy

See also the previous chapters and episodes

https://northern-morocco-archive.blogspot.com/2026/06/the-appointment-of-first-khalifa-in.html⁠

https://northern-morocco-archive.blogspot.com/2026/06/moulay-ahmed-raisouni-and-tribal.html⁠

 

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