In the seveteenth century, sultan Moulay Ismail grouped Christian slaves in Meknes to build him a palace that would outshine «Louis XIV’s at Versailles». Trying to escape hard labor, these slaves paid smugglers to flee the powerful Alaouite sultan.
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.