protectorate · Egypt, North Africa and Sudan
French protectorate in Morocco
Origins
After the Agadir crisis, France forced Sultan Abd al-Hafid of the Alaouite Sultanate to sign the Treaty of Fez in March 1912, establishing a protectorate. Hubert Lyautey, the first resident-general, made Rabat the capital and spent years subduing the Atlas tribes.
Rule and society
The sultan and makhzen remained in place, but the resident-general governed. Lyautey built new European cities beside the old medinas and developed Casablanca's port. French settlers took fertile land, and phosphate mining grew. The Berber Dahir of 1930 sparked nationalist protest, and the Istiqlal party demanded independence in 1944.
Decline and legacy
France deposed and exiled Sultan Mohammed V in 1953, provoking violent unrest. He returned in 1955, and France recognised Moroccan independence in March 1956. Mohammed V adopted the title of king, forming the Kingdom of Morocco.
Lineage
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- French protectorate in Morocco was a protectorate of French Empire1912 CE – 1956 CE
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Cite this page
- APA
- The Epoch Institute. (2026). French protectorate in Morocco. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/french-protectorate-in-morocco
- MLA
- “French protectorate in Morocco.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/french-protectorate-in-morocco. Accessed .
- Chicago
- The Epoch Institute. “French protectorate in Morocco.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/french-protectorate-in-morocco.
- Harvard
- The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘French protectorate in Morocco’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/french-protectorate-in-morocco (Accessed: ).
Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻