French protectorate in Morocco
The French protectorate in Morocco, also known as French Morocco, was the period of French colonial rule in Morocco that lasted from 1912 to 1956. The protectorate was officially established 30 March 1912, when Sultan Abd al-Hafid signed the Treaty of Fez, though the French military occupation of Morocco had begun with the invasion of Oujda and the bombardment of Casablanca in 1907.
The Maghreb in the second half of the 19th century
The assassination of Emile Mauchamp in Marrakesh, taken casus belli by France
1909 Morocco commemorative medal—distributed to French soldiers that participated in the French invasion of Morocco
The French cruiser Gloire in the Bombardment of Casablanca August 1907, printed on a postcard
Abd al-Hafid of Morocco or Moulay Abdelhafid was the Sultan of Morocco from 1908 to 1912 and a member of the Alaouite Dynasty. His younger brother, Abdelaziz of Morocco, preceded him. While Mulai Abdelhafid initially opposed his brother for giving some concessions to foreign powers, he himself became increasingly backed by the French and finally signed the protectorate treaty giving de facto control of the country to France.
Portrait taken by J. Giry and given as a gift to Ridder van Rappard, special envoy of the Netherlands, on 13 February 1913
An illustration of Abd al-Hafid signing his act of abdication, on the front page of Le Petit Journal's weekly Supplément illustré, printed 25 August 1912.
Muhammad al-Muqri, Charles Émile Moinier [fr], Sultan Abd al-Hafid of Morocco, and Si Kaddour Benghabrit, 8 August 1912
Abdelhafid with Abdelqader Ben Ghabrit in Marseille after his abdication 1912