Bahia Palace

Bahia Palace. Architectural masterpiece of the Echerki Al-Bukhari family. , Bahia Palace , The builders of Bahia Palace are descendants of the Echerki Al-Bukhari family, a family intrinsically linked to "Abid Al Bukhari," an army of slaves formed by Sultan Moulay Ismail (1672-1727) whose main objective was to protect the power by calming the repeated desertions of tribes, protecting the borders, collecting taxes, ensuring the regency of the sovereigns, and facilitating a peaceful transition of power. The Ben Moussa family is a significant example of the Makhzan families who served the power for a century. Its members held high public positions in the Cherifian Kingdom, especially Moussa Ben Ahmed, the effective founder of the palace, and his son Ahmed, nicknamed Ba Hmad, who expanded and embellished it. (5 hectares of green space and 3 hectares of built-up area)., Moussa Ben Ahmed Al Boukhari, nicknamed "Abi Imrane," was one of the sons of Ahmed Ben Mbarek, who died in 1820. He held the position of Hajib to the Alaouite Sultan Sidi Mohamed Ben Abderrahman (1859-1873) and played a considerable role in ensuring the allegiance of Sultan Moulay Al Hassan I, who elected him as Grand Vizier (Chamberlain). He died in 1879 due to typhoid and was buried at the Moulay All Cherif mausoleum in Marrakech alongside Sultan Sidi Mohamed Ben Abderrahmane. Moussa Ben Ahmed is considered the founder of Bahia Palace, and his signature can still be seen in the grand Riad. The northwest room is centered on an alcove, and on its sculpted plaster frame, two poetry verses can be translated as follows: , "This room is the work of Ahmed's son, a vizier whose favorable star is rising.", "Its construction date corresponds to good news announcing the arrival of someone who quickly obtained high dignity and marks of honor.", These Arabic poetery refer to the exact date of the construction of Bahia Palace, as the word "bouchra lana" (good news) is wrapped in gold leaf. Based on the traditional dating method that assigns a number to each letter, the resulting date is 1283 H. 1868., Ahmed Ben Moussa, nicknamed Ba Hmad (1840-1900), was the Hajib of Sultan Al Hassan I and Grand Vizier (Chamberlain) of Sultan Moulay Abdelaziz. Ba Hmad is one of the influential figures who marked the history of Morocco towards the end of the 19th century. A man of letters and culture, a devout believer, a great political and military leader. Ba Hmad succeeded in attenuating the riots and insurrections of rebel tribes, creating political compromises, and preserving the country's independence against any external attack., After the death of Sultan Moulay Al Hassan I, Ba Hmad orchestrated the transition of power to Sultan Moulay Abdelaziz and formed a powerful government by carefully choosing its members, such as Mr. Abdessalam Tazi as Minister of Finance, Mr. Mohamed El Mfadal Ghrit as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Driss Ben Moussa as Hajib, Mr. Said Ben Moussa as Minister of War, and Mr. Mokhtar ben Abdellah as Grand Secretary of the Kingdom., Some high offices of the Cherifian State , Chamberlain "Asadrala 'adam": Political position known mainly in the Muslim West, it was created by the last Merinid sultans and ended with the advent of the French protectorate and the independence of Morocco. Ba Hmad and El Mokri were the most famous personalities who held this position. Chamberlain's office: named "the great Bnika", performs a multitude of tasks including the control of the pashas and caids, the supervision of the judges and the nadirs of the habous, the drafting of the decrees and the Cherifian dahirs, and he also fulfilled the function of adviser as we hear today. , Hajib: He is the direct intermediary between the sultan and his people, the government spokesman and the mediator in conflicts. He assists the sultan in his daily and ceremonial activities and ensures allegiance and sometimes even acts as Interim sultan during transitional periods., Al'alaf alkabir: Political and military post which today is equivalent to the Minister of Defense, the first who occupied it was Haj Abdellah Ben Ahmed the brother of Hajib Moussa Ben Ahmed then his uncle Mohamed Elkbir Ben Laarbi Jamal and his brother Mohamed Essaghir then Si Said Ben Moussa, El Mehdi Mnebhi, Mohamed Gabas and El Madani El Glaoul. , Captions , Grand Riad, The northeast room of grand Riad, Dar Ibahia (Ba Hmad enlargements)