French conquest of Morocco

French conquest of Morocco
Map showing the area conquered by period. Zaian War (1914–21) Rif War (1920–26) Middle Atlas campaign (1932-1934) Anti-Atlas (20 February - 10 March 1934)
Date 1911–1934 Location North Africa Result French victory
Belligerents
France Morocco	Republic of the Rif Zaian Confederation Varying other Berber tribes
Commanders and leaders
Louis-Hubert Lyautey Paul Prosper Henrys Joseph-François Poeymirau Philippe Pétain	Muhammad Ibn 'Abd al-Karim al-Khattabi Abdel-Salam Mohammed Abdel-Karim Mhamadi Bojabbar Mohamed Mouha ou Hammou Zayani Moha ou Said Ali Amhaouch Assou Oubasslam
Casualties and losses
9,445 French regulars (622 officers) killed 11,254 natives killed 15,000 wounded[1]	~10 000 casualities

The French conquest of Morocco took place in 1911 in the aftermath of the Agadir Crisis, when Moroccan forces besieged the French-occupied city of Fez. On 30 March 1912, Sultan Abdelhafid signed the Treaty of Fez, formally ceding Moroccan sovereignty to France, transforming Morocco into a protectorate of France. However, many regions remained in revolt until 1934, when Morocco was declared to be pacified, but in several regions French authority was maintained by cooperation with local chiefs and not military strength.^[2]

On 17 April 1912, Moroccan infantrymen mutinied in the French garrison in Fez. The Moroccans were unable to take the city and were defeated by a French relief force. In late May 1912, Moroccan forces unsuccessfully attacked the enhanced French garrison at Fez. The last aftermath of the conquest of Morocco occurred in 1933-1934, the pacification of Morocco took over 22 years.^[3][4]

See also

• French protectorate in Morocco
• Spanish protectorate in Morocco
• France–Morocco relations
• French Algeria
• French Tunisia

References

1. Gershovich, Moshe (2012). French Military Rule in Morocco: Colonialism and its Consequences. Routledge. ISBN 9781136325878.
2. Bradford, James C. (2004-12-01). International Encyclopedia of Military History. Routledge. p. 904. ISBN 9781135950347.
3. King Hassan II: Morocco's Messenger of Peace. ProQuest. 2007-01-01. p. 12. ISBN 9780549338512.
4. Hart, David M. (2014-05-12). Tribe and Society in Rural Morocco. Routledge. p. 23. ISBN 9781135302542.

Further reading

• Bidwell, Robin (1973). Morocco under Colonial Rule: French Administration of Tribal Areas 1912–1956. London: Cass. ISBN 0-7146-2877-8.
• Burke, E. (1972). "Pan-Islam and Moroccan resistance to French colonial penetration, 1900–1912". The Journal of African History 13 (1): 97–118. doi:10.1017/S0021853700000281.