Wattasids

(1465-1549)

   They are also known in Arabic as Banu Wattas, a Berber dynasty belonging to a branch of the Zanata confederation. They served as regents for the Marinids and took over as sultans. In the 13th century, they settled in eastern Morocco and the Rif after migrating from southern Libya and Algeria. Although they were conquered by the Sa`diyin dynasty, their short-lived reign is replete with some significant military victories over the Portuguese. The battle of Ma`mura, in which the Portuguese naval and land forces were dealt a severe defeat, indicated that the Moroccan state was modernizing its military forces. Similar to the Marinid religious credentials deficit and compounded by years of Portuguese invasion, the Wattasids were easily taken over by the Sa`diyin. Like their predecessors on the throne, they also provided an environment for education and culture.