Editing Ismail Ibn Sharif (section)

=== Later reign and death ===
{{See also|Battle of Moulouya}}
[[File:ReceptionOfLouisXIVsAmbassadorToSultan.jpg|thumb|Ismail ibn Sharif receiving ambassador [[François Pidou de Saint Olon]] from [[Louis XIV of France]], by [[Pierre-Denis Martin (1663-1742)|Pierre-Denis Martin]] (1693)]]
The rest of Moulay Ismail's reign was marked by military setbacks and family problems relating to the succession. In May 1692, Moulay Ismail sent his son Moulay Zeydan with a large army to attack Ottoman Algeria. He was defeated by the Algerians who counter-attacked and advanced as far as Fez.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9nskAQAAIAAJ&q=ismail+soumission+moulouia&pg=PA186|title=Revue africaine|date=1887|publisher=La Société|language=fr}}</ref> Ismail offered his submission to the dey of Algiers<ref>{{Cite book|last=Galibert|first=Léon|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SySI7h2W95kC&q=24%2C000+fantassins+et+20%2C000+chevaux&pg=PA234|title=L'Algérie ancienne et moderne: depuis les premiers établissements des carthaginois jusqu'a l'expédition du Général Randon en 1853|date=1854|publisher=Furne|language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Grammont|first=H. D. de|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s54aAAAAYAAJ&q=djidiouia+1701|title=Histoire d'Alger sous la domination turque (1515–1830)|date=1887|publisher=E. Leroux|language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Cour|first=Auguste|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l5JQDwAAQBAJ&q=%22Alg%C3%A9riens%22&pg=PA156|title=L'établissement des dynasties des Chérifs au Maroc et leur rivalité avec les Turcs de la Régence d'Alger, 1509–1830|date=2004-09-10|publisher=Editions Bouchène|isbn=978-2-35676-097-5|language=fr}}</ref> and had to send an embassy to Algiers to make peace. He thus fixed his borders with the Beylik of Algiers at the [[Moulouya River]].<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Martinière|first1=Maximilien Antoine Cyprien Henri Poisson de La|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oT46AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA15|title=Documents pour servir à l'étude du Nord Ouest africain: réunis et rédigés par ordre de M. Jules Cambon|last2=Lacroix|first2=Napoléon|date=1894|publisher=Gouvernement général de l'Algérie, Service des affaires indigènes|language=fr}}</ref><ref group="H" name="Hamet 349">{{harvnb|Hamet|1923|p=349}}.</ref> In 1693, Moulay Ismail raided the [[Western Beylik|Oran region]] and attempted to pillage the Beni Amer which was successful. The city of Oran resisted two attacks, leading to the sultan's retreat. This time, it was the Turks who sent envoys to make peace, at the initiative of the Ottoman Sultan, [[Ahmed II]].<ref group="H" name="Hamet 350" /> In 1699, Moulay Ismail participated in the [[Maghrebi war (1699-1702)|Maghrebi War]] and was successful in capturing the [[Western Beylik|Beylik of Mascara]] and advanced with about 50,000 men<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VLdBAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA378|title=Biographie universelle, ancienne et moderne ou histoire, par ordre alphabétique, de la vie publique et privée de tous les hommes qui se sont fait remarquer par leurs écrits, leurs actions, leurs talents, leurs vertus ou leurs crimes|date=1821|publisher=Michaud|language=fr}}</ref> as far as the [[Chelif River]] but his army was routed by the Algerians at the [[Battle of Chelif]] in 1701.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Galibert|first=Léon|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p6mD0oLMWXcC&pg=PA235|title=L Algérie ancienne et moderne: depuis les temps les plus reculés jusqu'à nos jours comprenant le bombardement de Tanger, la prise de Mogador, la bataille d'Isly et le glorieux combat de Djemma-Gazouat|date=1846|publisher=Furne et Cie.|language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Cour|first=Auguste|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l5JQDwAAQBAJ&q=alg%C3%A9ro-marocaine+1701|title=L'établissement des dynasties des Chérifs au Maroc et leur rivalité avec les Turcs de la Régence d'Alger, 1509–1830|date=2004-09-10|publisher=Editions Bouchène|isbn=978-2-35676-097-5|language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Garrot|first=Henri|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p-xAAAAAYAAJ&q=28+avril+1701+chelif+%22alg%C3%A9riens%22|title=Histoire générale de l'Algérie|date=1910|publisher=Impr. P. Crescenzo|language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Mercier|first=Ernest|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MDpbAAAAQAAJ&q=%22et+suivi+de+nu%C3%A9es+de+cavaliers+arabes+fournis+par+les+tribus+%22&pg=PA322|title=Histoire de l'Afrique septentrionale (Berbérie) depuis les temps les plus reculés jusqu'à la conquête française (1930)|date=1891|publisher=Ernest Leroux|language=fr}}</ref> Ismail, wounded in the fighting, had to escape on horseback and narrowly escaped capture. Moulay Ismail fought other minor conflicts with the Ottoman Algeria such as [[Laghouat Expedition (1708–1713)|Laghouat]] in 1708 which turned out successful.
[[File:Alaouite dynasty of Morocco-en.svg|left|thumb|The 'Alawi Empire in the late 17th century, during the reign of Moulay Ismail<ref>{{Cite book |last=أحمد |first=الناصري |url=https://archive.org/details/0035812/07_35814/page/n139/mode/2up |title=الاستقصا لأخبار دول المغرب الأقصى – النسخة المعتمدة كاملة منسقة |date=1894 |publisher=دار الكتاب – الدار البيضاء |page=483}}</ref>]]
Ismail attempted to besiege the city of Ceuta with an army of 40,000 soldiers, but the strength of Spanish resistance meant that the siege dragged on.<ref group="L" name="Rézette 41">{{harvnb|Rézette|p=41}}.</ref><ref name="Ceuta">Bibliothèque de l'État de Bavière, [https://books.google.com/books?id=BCZCAAAAcAAJ&dq=si%C3%A8ge+ceuta+1694&pg=PA284 Dictionnaire de la conversation et de la lecture: Ce – Cha, Volume 12], Belin-Mandar, 1834, {{p.|284}}.</ref> Part of Ismail's army also besieged [[Melilla]] from 1694 to 1696, but the city's fortifications were too much for them.<ref group="L" name="Rézette 41" /> In spring 1701, Moulay Ismail launched another expedition against Algeria. The Moroccan forces advanced to the [[Chelif River]] before they were intercepted by the Algerian army in Chediouïa. With a force of 10,000–12,000 men, the Algerian army managed to defeat the 60,000 soldiers of the Moroccan army.<ref group="L" name="Audiffret 378" /> The Moroccan army suffered a heavy defeat and fell into disarray. Moulay Ismail himself was wounded and barely escaped. The heads of 3,000 Moroccan soldiers and 50 Moroccan leaders were brought to Algiers.<ref group="H" name="Hamet 351">{{harvsp|Hamet|1923|p=351}}.</ref> In 1702, Moulay Ismail gave his son Moulay Zeydan an army of 12,000 men and instructed him to capture the [[Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera]]. The Moroccans razed the Spanish fortress, but failed to retain la Isleta.<ref group="L" name="Rézette 43">{{harvnb|Rézette|p=43}}.</ref> Meanwhile, the English admiral, [[George Rooke]] joined in the siege of Ceuta, blockading the port in 1704.<ref group="L" name="Rézette 41" />

Between 1699 and 1700, Moulay Ismail divided the provinces of Morocco between his children. [[Abu'l Abbas Ahmad of Morocco|Moulay Ahmed]] was given responsibility for the province of Tadla and a force of 3,000 Black Guards. [[Abdalmalik of Morocco|Moulay Abdalmalik]] was entrusted with Draâ province, with a [[kasbah]] and 1,000 cavalry. Moulay Mohammed al-Alim received Souss and 3,000 cavalries. Moulay El-Mâmoun commanded Sijilmasa and received 500 cavalry. When he died, he was replaced two years later by Moulay Youssef. Moulay Zeydan received command of ''Cherg'' (East), but he lost it after the Ottomans attacked and Ismail made peace with them.<ref group="alN" name="al-Nasiri 122">{{harvnb|al-Nasiri|1906|p=122}}.</ref> He was then replaced by Moulay Hafid. This division of the realm provoked jealousy and rivalry between Ismail's sons, which sometimes degenerated into open clashes. In one of these, Moulay Abdelmalek was defeated by his brother, Moulay Nasser, who took control of the whole of Draâ.<ref group="alN" name="al-Nasiri 123">{{harvnb|al-Nasiri|1906|p=123}}.</ref> Moulay Sharif was appointed governor of Draâ by his father in place of Abdelmalek and succeeded in retaking the region from Nasser.<ref group="alN" name="al-Nasiri 124">{{harvnb|al-Nasiri|1906|p=124}}.</ref>

In response to the intrigues, slanders, and opposition of [[Lalla Aisha Mubarka]], who wanted her son Moulay Mohammed Zeydan to succeed his father as Sultan, Ismail's eldest son Moulay Mohammed al-Alim revolted in Souss and took control of Marrakesh on 9 March 1703. When Moulay Zeydan arrived with an army, Mohammed al-Alim fled to Taroudant. His brother besieged the place and captured it on 25 June 1704, and took him to Oued Beht on 7 July.<ref group="alN" name="al-Nasiri 124" /> Mohammed al-Alim was harshly punished by his father, who amputated one hand and one arm, executing both the butcher who refused to spill Mohammed al-Alim's blood on the grounds that he was a [[Sharif]], and the one who agreed to do it.<ref group="L" name="Audiffret 379">{{harvnb|Audiffret|1821|p=379}}.</ref> He subsequently eliminated a caid of Marrakesh who had been responsible for Moulay Mohammed al-Alim's acquisition of the city, with exceptional violence.<ref group="C1903" name="Castries 1903 20">{{harvnb|Castries|1903|p=20}}.</ref> Moulay al-Alim committed suicide at Meknes on 18 July, despite precautions that his father had put in place to prevent this.<ref group="alN" name="al-Nasiri 125">{{harvnb|al-Nasiri|1906|p=125}}.</ref> On learning of the atrocities which Moulay Zeydan had committed at Taroudant, especially the massacre of the city's inhabitants,<ref group="alN" name="al-Nasiri 124"/> Moulay Ismail organised for him to be murdered in 1708, having his wives smother him when he was black-out drunk.<ref group="L" name="Audiffret 379" /> Moulay Nasser also revolted in Souss, but was eventually killed by the [[Oulad Delim]], who remained loyal to Moulay Ismail.<ref group="alN" name="al-Nasiri 131">{{harvnb|al-Nasiri|1906|p=131}}.</ref>

[[File:Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail.jpg|thumb|left|[[Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail]] in [[Meknès]], Morocco]]To prevent further trouble, Moulay Ismail rescinded the governorships that he had conferred on his sons, except for Moulay Ahmed, who retained his post as governor of Tadla and Moulay Abdelmalek who became governor of Souss.<ref group="alN" name="al-Nasiri 132">{{harvnb|al-Nasiri|1906|p=132}}.</ref> Since Abdelmalek behaved like an independent and absolute monarch and refused to pay tribute, Ismail decided to change the order of succession – this was aided by the fact that Abdelmalek's mother was no longer close to him.<ref group="L" name="Braithwaite 2">{{harvnb|Braithwaite|p=2}}.</ref> Abdelmalek belatedly apologized, but Ismail remained hostile to his son.<ref group="L" name="Braithwaite 4">{{harvnb|Braithwaite|p=4}}.</ref> As a result, Moulay Ismail chose Moulay Ahmed as his successor.<ref group="L" name="Braithwaite 5">{{harvnb|Braithwaite|p=5}}.</ref>

In 1720, [[Philip V of Spain]], who wanted to get revenge on Morocco for having aided the Grand Alliance in the [[War of the Spanish Succession]], sent a fleet commanded by the [[Jean François de Bette, 3rd Marquess of Lede|Marquess of Lede]] to raise the siege of Ceuta which had been ongoing since 1694 and to force the Moroccans to give up on retaking the city. The Spanish fleet managed to raise the siege, but Moulay Ismail resumed it in 1721, after the Marquess of Lede had returned to Spain. The Sultan further planned a large armada for an invasion of Spain, but it was destroyed by a storm in 1722. The siege of Ceuta continued until Ismail's death in 1727.<ref group="L" name="Audiffret 379" /><ref group="L" name="Rézette 41" />

Moulay Ismail ibn Sharif finally died on 22 March 1727 at the age of 81,<ref group="L" name="Audiffret 379" /> from an abscess in his lower abdomen. His reign lasted 55 years, making him the longest-reigning Moroccan monarch.<ref group="H" name="Hamet 354">{{harvnb|Hamet|1923|p=354}}.</ref> He was succeeded by Moulay Ahmed.<ref group="L" name="Braithwaite 5" /> Both he and Ahmed were buried in the same [[Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail|mausoleum in Meknes]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last1=Touri|first1=Abdelaziz|title=Le Maroc andalou: à la découverte d'un art de vivre|last2=Benaboud|first2=Mhammad|last3=Boujibar El-Khatib|first3=Naïma|last4=Lakhdar|first4=Kamal|last5=Mezzine|first5=Mohamed|publisher=Ministère des Affaires Culturelles du Royaume du Maroc & Museum With No Frontiers|year=2010|isbn=978-3-902782-31-1|edition=2}}</ref> The empire immediately fell into civil war, as a result of a rebellion of the Black Guards. More than seven claimants to the throne succeeded to power between 1727 and 1757, some of them repeatedly, like [[Abdallah of Morocco|Moulay Abdallah]] who was Sultan six times.<ref group="L" name="Bensoussan 69">{{harvnb|Bensoussan|2012|p=69}}.</ref>