Isaac de Razilly, when a member of the French navy blockaded Rabat and Salé

In 1629, French navy member Isaac de Razilly sailed to Morocco to free Christian subjects, enslaved by Rabat and Salé’s corsairs. Razilly blockaded the two cities, leading to a civil war that weakened the country’s pirates.

History : When Thami El Glaoui was turned away during Queen Elizabeth II's coronation

In June, 1953, Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation took place in London. Pasha Thami El Glaoui was one of the figures who attended the ceremony, during which he was humiliated and turned away.

History : When a foreign merchant described the atrocities of the 1799 plague in Mogador

In his 1820 account, a foreign merchant in Mogador described the fear, calamities and deaths that accompanied the 1799 plague. James G. Jackson's detailed letteres addressed the rise, progress and decrease of the epidemy that killed thousands of people in Morocco.

History : When Morocco’s communist party backed the creation of Israel

After David Ben-Gurion, the head of the Jewish Agency, proclaimed the establishment of the state of Israel, the Soviet Union was quick to recognize the entity as a new nation. This decision influenced communist parties in the Arab world, including the Moroccan communist party.

History : When beauties competed under the Moroccan flag in international beauty pageants

In the 50s, 60s and 70s, several beauties competed under the Moroccan flag in international beauty pageants. Jacqueline Dorella Bonilla was the first Miss Morocco to end as one of the semifinalists in Miss Universe.

Robert Adams, the account of the first American man to visit Timbuktu as a Moroccan slave

Captured and enslaved in Morocco, Robert Adams is the first American man to visit Timbuktu. His account was told in a narrative, published in 1816 in London.

History : When Muammar Gaddafi angered king Mohammed VI by calling him «my son»

At the beginning of the 21st century, Morocco and Libya worked on strengthening their bilateral ties. In 2001, King Mohammed VI visited Tripoli, where he met Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. The latter, however, was rude to the Moroccan monarch whom he called «my son».

William Willshire, the British vice consul who redeemed Western sailors enslaved in Morocco

Sent to Morocco to serve as a British vice consul to Mogador, William Willshire was known for redeeming Western Sailors captured by Moroccans and enslaved in the Kingdom. His kindness was mentioned in several historical accounts.

Ahmed El Inglizi, the 18th century English renegade who built parts of Essaouira

In the 18th century, English convert Ahmed El Inglizi was hired by Sultan Mohammed ben Abdellah to build parts of Essaouira. The architect, who left Christianity for Islam, was known for refurbishing Rabat’s ancient Medina and joining corsairs in Salé.

The macabre portrait of Marrakech by George Orwell

Also known as George Orwell, Eric Arthur Blair has depicted a macabre portrait of the city of Marrakech. In reality, it is more about colonialism than about Morocco.