Feudal leader Thami El Glaoui

thami el glaoui son, brahim.

until second half of 20th century, moroccan society in state of feudalism close pertained in europe during medieval times. @ top sultan, held 2 positions of king (temporal ruler) , imām (spiritual leader). court, or central government (makhzen), headed grand vizier. next tier of government provided large number of pashas (from persian padshah, literally: viceroy) , qaids (the equivalent of european dukes or counts) responsibilities collect taxes , keep order, ends kept private armies. under them mass of ordinary commoners responsibilities pay taxes, obey local master , provide him troops when necessary.

t hami born in 1879 qaid of telouet, si mohammed ben hammou , ethiopian concubine zora. when si mohammed died in 1888, eldest son si el madani took on father s position teenaged t hami assistant.

in autumn of 1893, sultan moulay hassan , army crossing high atlas mountains after tax-gathering expedition when caught in blizzard. rescued si madani , t hami, , grateful sultan bestowed on si madani qaidats tafilalt sous. in addition, presented glaoua arsenal working 77-mm krupp cannon, such weapon in morocco outside imperial army. glaoua army, used weapon subdue rival warlords.

in 1902, madani, t hami , glaoua force joined imperial army of moulay abdelaziz marched against pretender bou hamara. sultan s forces routed pretender. madani became scapegoat, , spent months of humiliation @ court before being allowed return home. thereupon began actively work depose moulay abdelaziz. achieved in 1907 enthronement of abdelhafid of morocco, rewarded glaoua appointing si madani grand vizier, , t hami pasha of marrakesh.