The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Abd el Aziz

ABD EL AZIZ, ābd-ool-a′zēz′, Sultan of Morocco, son of Sultan Mulai Hassan: b. Marakesh, 1880. In 1894 he succeeded his father as Sultan. So progressive was he in his tendencies and so friendly toward Europeans that he aroused thereby the fanaticism of his people. Taking advantage of this, a prophet, Bu Hamara, precipitated a formidable rebellion in 1902, bringing about the intervention of France. This was finally followed by the Algeciras Conference, in 1906, by which France and Spain undertook to maintain law and order along the Moroccan Coast, Abd el Ariz agreeing to co-operate with these two European nations. But this promise he found difficulty in keeping on account of his growing unpopularity. The following year Mulai Hafid, elder brother of the Sultan, headed a rebellion of the southern tribes and Abd el Aziz was obliged to remove his capital from Fez to Rabat. In spite of the support of France, both moral and financial, he was unable to maintain his authority, and in January 1908 the throne was declared vacant by the priesthood of Fez and immediately offered to Mulai Hafid. Realizing that his attempt to regain his authority by force would prove futile, Abd el Aziz compromised with his brother and retired to private life in Tangier.