Long before the modern Kingdom of Morocco faced colonial partition, it possessed one of the Mediterranean’s most formidable naval forces. In this episode, we explore the Sultanate of Morocco’s maritime ambitions under the Saadian and early Alaouite dynasties, focusing on the port city of Safi and the strategic alliance with England against Spain. We examine how Moroccan shipyards in Salé and Agadir produced vessels capable of challenging Iberian dominance, supported by skilled Jewish and Muslim artisans who navigated complex trade networks across the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The conversation highlights the Battle of Three Kings and its aftermath, revealing how naval power became a tool for diplomatic leverage rather than just conquest. You will meet figures like Ahmad al-Mansur and learn about the 'Salé Brothers' corsairs who operated from the shore to protect merchant interests. This story challenges the common narrative that North African powers were merely defensive or piratical, showing instead a sophisticated statecraft rooted in sea control, gunpowder technology, and international diplomacy during the late sixteenth century.
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