In a revealing look at Morocco’s diplomatic history, early modern envoys served as bridges between North Africa and Europe, fostering cultural understanding and scientific exchange long before permanent embassies became standard. These temporary ambassadors, dispatched by Moroccan sultans, navigated complex geopolitical landscapes to secure trade, alliances, and knowledge transfer. Recent historical analysis highlights their pivotal role, offering lessons for today’s global relations.
Historical Context of Moroccan Diplomacy
Morocco’s approach to international relations in the early modern period emphasized flexibility over fixed institutions. Unlike European powers with resident embassies, Moroccan sultans sent ad-hoc envoys tailored to specific needs, prioritizing proximity and strategic importance. Spain topped the list with 19 embassies from the 16th to 20th centuries, though only four produced detailed records that survive today.
This system allowed rapid responses to crises, such as piracy disputes or trade negotiations. Envoys carried letters, gifts, and intelligence, blending diplomacy with reconnaissance. Under rulers like Sultan Muhammad III (1757-1790), these missions evolved to include observations on European advancements, informing Morocco’s own modernization efforts.
Strategic Focus on Key European Powers
Spain’s geographic closeness made it a primary target, but envoys also reached France, Holland, Malta, Naples, and Sicily. Ibn Aisha’s 1699-1700 correspondence with France exemplifies this outreach, while Muhammad bin ‘Uthman al-Miknasi documented his 1781-1783 travels across Mediterranean ports. These journeys underscored Morocco’s proactive stance amid Ottoman influences and colonial pressures.
Key Figures and Their Missions
Prominent envoys left indelible marks through their writings and actions, providing some of the earliest non-European perspectives on Europe.
Ahmad bin Qasim: The Trailblazer
Ahmad bin Qasim’s 1612-1613 mission to France and Holland stands out as a landmark. His detailed accounts described European customs, governance, and daily life, offering Moroccans rare insights into Western societies. This voyage, amid tensions with Spain and Portugal, highlighted Morocco’s curiosity about scientific and cultural developments.
Ahmad al-Ghazzal: Diplomatic Polymath
Serving as chief envoy to Spain from 1766 to 1775, Ahmad al-Ghazzal authored over 30 letters in Middle Arabic. This linguistic blend of classical and colloquial styles added nuance to negotiations, facilitating trade pacts and prisoner exchanges. His tenure under Muhammad III marked a peak in Morocco’s Iberian diplomacy.
Haj Mohamed Zbidi and Ahmad al-Kardudi
In the 19th century, Haj Mohamed Zbidi led a grand embassy to Spain, distributing alms to the needy and opulent gifts to royalty, projecting Moroccan prestige. Similarly, Ahmad al-Kardudi’s reports on European innovations spurred educational expeditions, sending young Moroccans abroad to study sciences.
Cultural and Scientific Exchanges
These envoys were not mere negotiators; they were cultural ambassadors advancing mutual understanding. Morocco’s missions introduced Islamic scholarship, architecture, and artisanal crafts to Europe, while envoys absorbed printing, navigation, and military tactics.
Travelogues served dual roles: immediate diplomatic tools and archives for reform. For instance, al-Miknasi’s narratives from Italy detailed urban planning and fortifications, influencing Moroccan urban projects. Such exchanges prefigured modern soft power, with envoys hosting banquets and exhibitions to showcase Moroccan grandeur.
Scientific diplomacy emerged through knowledge reciprocity. Envoys like al-Kardudi relayed findings on European astronomy and medicine, prompting sultans to integrate these into local curricula. This era laid groundwork for Morocco’s later treaties, blending pragmatism with intellectual curiosity.
Diplomatic Innovations and Legacy
Morocco’s envoy system avoided the rigidity of consulates, enabling agility in a volatile era. Writings in accessible Arabic democratized intelligence, read by elites and officials alike. Portraits of Moroccan ambassadors in early modern England further illustrate their impact, preserved as symbols of cross-cultural encounter.
This legacy resonates today. Morocco’s diplomacy, from historical roots to contemporary forums, continues emphasizing cultural bridges. While modern tourism booms—with 17.4 million visitors in 2024 and 8.9 million in early 2025—echo global appeal, the envoys’ story reminds of deeper historical ties.
Broader Implications for Modern Relations
The envoys’ adaptability offers timeless lessons amid today’s multipolar world. Their focus on temporary, purpose-driven missions parallels current special envoys tackling climate or migration. Ottoman-Moroccan parallels in “divinely guided” diplomacy further root these practices in Islamic traditions, influencing global norms.
In Victorian Britain, Moroccan ambassadors represented exotic yet sophisticated partners, challenging Orientalist stereotypes. Dialects of 18th-century diplomacy reveal Morocco’s linguistic dexterity, negotiating in hybrid forms to bridge divides.
As Morocco positions itself as a Mediterranean hub, revisiting these envoys underscores continuity. Their stories, preserved in letters and portraits, affirm cultural diplomacy’s enduring power.
