The Conquest of Morocco: The Bizarre History of France's Last Great Colonial Adventure, the Long Struggle to Subdue a Medieval Kingdom by Intrigue and Force of Arms, 1903-1914

Details the early twentieth-century French conquest of the medieval kingdom of Morocco, discussing the French military leaders, the Moroccan rulers, the battles, and the mysterious, exotic land of Morocco At the turn of the century, the Arican country closest to Europe geographically was probably the least known. Morocco was a nation yet to emerge from the Middle Ages, violent and primitive, a place ruled by local warlords out of mud castles, and swept by religious fanaticism. "To strike out from Tangiers," writes Douglas Porch, "was to enter a time capsule -- emperors, slaves, harems, fortified towns, filth, superstition, blood feuds, and barbarism." Yet in the mad scramble for African colonies, backward and poverty-stricken Morocco had one great attraction: it was available. In 1903, with the posting to Africa of one of the oddest of all French military figures, General Hubert Lyautey (royalist, strategist, homosexual), France undertook to change this state of affairs, and by the time World War I broke out the conquest was virtually complete. - Jacket flap. At the turn of the century, the African country closest to Europe geographically was probably the least known. Morocco was a nation yet to emerge from the Middle Aged, violent and primitive, a place ruled by local warlords out of mud castles, and swept by religious fanaticism. To strike out from Tangiers was to enter a time capsule- emperors, slaves, harems, fortified towns, filth, superstition, blood feuds, and barbarism. Yet in the mad scramble for African colonies, backward and poverty-stricken Morocco had one great attraction: it was available. In 1903, with the posting to Africa of one of the oddest of all French military figures, General Hubert Lyautey, France undertook to change this state of affairs, and by the time World War I broke out the conquest was virtually complete. This book tells the story of France's last great colonial adventure The road to Zousfana Europeans in Africa The country Fez Taghit --The call The Rogui El Raisuni The Lyautey method 1905 : the Coup de Tanger Casablanca The Chaouia Campaign The Beni Snassen and Bou Denib A new sultan The first siege of Fez The rescue The massacre The second siege of Fez Marrakech The Zaer Consolidation and defeat Epilogue Douglas Porch. Includes Index. Bibliography: P. 317-320.