Sayyida Al Hurra
The pirate queen of the Islamic West
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Index
Life
A Political Leader
A Pirate
The End of her Reign
Map of Morocco
Life
Sayyida Al Hurra was born in 1485 to a family of Andalusian nobles. Her real name is Lalla Aicha bint Ali ibn Rashid al-Alami. Her family fled the Kingdom of Granada in 1492, at the end of the Reconquista, and settled in Chefchaouen. She had a happy childhood and was given a good education. She could speak foreign languages like Castilian Spanish and Portuguese. When she was 16, she married Sidi Al Mandri II. He was 30 years older than her and was the governor of the city Tétouan. She worked as the vice-governor of Tétouan and when her husband died in 1515, she succeeded him as the governor and gained the title al-Hurra.
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A Political Leader
As the governor of Tétouan Sayyida was described by Spanish and Portuguese politicians as "their par-tner in the diplomatic game". In 1541, she married Ahmed al-Wattasi, a morrocan king. He travelled to Tétouan to marry her because Sayyida refused to leave her position as governor or even leave the city to marry him. She continued being the governor of Tétouan even after her marriage and she appointed her brother as vizier to Ahmed al-Wattasi, Sultan of Fez. This made her family a powerful force in uniting Morocco against the foreign powers of Spain and Portugal.
Return
A Pirate
Sayyida never forgot that her family had to leave Granada and she promised to take revenge on the Christian enemy. She forged an alliance with Barborossa of Algiers who taught her the ways of piracy in the Meditteranean sea. She was a very effective pirate and was viewed as the only person to negotiate with for the release of Christian prisoners. She gained a lot of riches from being a pirate. In 1540, she was part of a large pirate raid on Gibraltar. Pirates succeded in filling their ships with gold and slaves.
Return
The end of her reign
After 30 years of reigning over Tétouan and raiding the Mediterranean sea as a pirate, Sayyida was overthrown from power in 1542 by her son-in-law. She retired to Chefchaouen and lived there for 20 years more. The title Sayyida Al Hurra means "noble lady who is free and independent". She is remembered today as an important historical figure and a major female figure in the history of the Islamic West.
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Sayyida Al Hurra
Emma O'Donohue
Created on July 20, 2023
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Transcript
Sayyida Al Hurra
The pirate queen of the Islamic West
Next
Index
Life
A Political Leader
A Pirate
The End of her Reign
Map of Morocco
Life
Sayyida Al Hurra was born in 1485 to a family of Andalusian nobles. Her real name is Lalla Aicha bint Ali ibn Rashid al-Alami. Her family fled the Kingdom of Granada in 1492, at the end of the Reconquista, and settled in Chefchaouen. She had a happy childhood and was given a good education. She could speak foreign languages like Castilian Spanish and Portuguese. When she was 16, she married Sidi Al Mandri II. He was 30 years older than her and was the governor of the city Tétouan. She worked as the vice-governor of Tétouan and when her husband died in 1515, she succeeded him as the governor and gained the title al-Hurra.
Return
A Political Leader
As the governor of Tétouan Sayyida was described by Spanish and Portuguese politicians as "their par-tner in the diplomatic game". In 1541, she married Ahmed al-Wattasi, a morrocan king. He travelled to Tétouan to marry her because Sayyida refused to leave her position as governor or even leave the city to marry him. She continued being the governor of Tétouan even after her marriage and she appointed her brother as vizier to Ahmed al-Wattasi, Sultan of Fez. This made her family a powerful force in uniting Morocco against the foreign powers of Spain and Portugal.
Return
A Pirate
Sayyida never forgot that her family had to leave Granada and she promised to take revenge on the Christian enemy. She forged an alliance with Barborossa of Algiers who taught her the ways of piracy in the Meditteranean sea. She was a very effective pirate and was viewed as the only person to negotiate with for the release of Christian prisoners. She gained a lot of riches from being a pirate. In 1540, she was part of a large pirate raid on Gibraltar. Pirates succeded in filling their ships with gold and slaves.
Return
The end of her reign
After 30 years of reigning over Tétouan and raiding the Mediterranean sea as a pirate, Sayyida was overthrown from power in 1542 by her son-in-law. She retired to Chefchaouen and lived there for 20 years more. The title Sayyida Al Hurra means "noble lady who is free and independent". She is remembered today as an important historical figure and a major female figure in the history of the Islamic West.
Return
Return