RASHID, AR-

died 1672, Marrakech, Mor. founder (1666) of the reigning 'Alawi (Filali) dynasty of Morocco. By force of arms he filled a power vacuum that, with the collapse of the Sa'di dynasty, had allowed half a century of provincial and religious warfare among rival Sufi marabouts, or holy men, and the rulers of various sheikhdoms. In 1664 Mawlay (Lord) ar-Rashid succeeded his brother Muhammad, who for 30 years had tried to carve out a principality in northeastern Morocco. Obtaining funds through the murder of a wealthy Jew, ar-Rashid gathered a force of Arab and Berber mercenaries and imposed his rule in the east. He set up a provisional capital at Taza, in a gap in the Rif Mountains overlooking the Atlantic plain. In 1666 ar-Rashid's army spilled down the gap and seized Fs, the capital of the powerful religious brotherhood of Dila. Ar-Rashid proclaimed himself sultan, thus formally establishing the 'Alawi dynasty. From Fs he proceeded to conquer the north, plundered and razed the Dila monastery, and seized control of Morocco's Atlantic seaboard from its ruling marabouts. Turning his attention southwest, he occupied Marrakech in 1669 and conquered the Sous region and the Anti-Atlas Mountains. By ruthlessly crushing the power of the religious brotherhoods and forcibly uniting most of the country's warring tribes under one dynasty. Mawlay ar-Rashid set the political configuration for what became modern Morocco. He died suddenly of an accident, however, before he could consolidate his rule. He bequeathed to his brother Isma'il (q.v.) the problems of subjugating the hostile Berbers of the Atlas Mountains and wresting control of vital seaports from European powers.