"Pictures of Moroccan soldiers c.1900" Topic

I did some research on the web about Morocco c.1900 (which I think could be an interesting context for some Pulp adventures) and I found a few pictures and texts about the "Mokhaznis" – the soldiers of the "Makhzen" (Moroccan authority).

Weisberger (a witness) writes that the caïd of Casablanca had about 30 cavalrymen; 50 gunners, whose job was to salute visiting ships with 18th century cannons; and an infantry "tabor" of theorically 200 men (but much less in reality, because officers kept some of the money).

Infantry uniform was a red fez (the Moroccan fez is shorter than others), a red vest, blue wide breeches which let the lower legs bare, and "babouches" lemon yellow.

Some were in rags; discipline appeared low to European observers (soldiers sitting on the ground as often as they could, etc); however some of these men attempted to resist the French attack in 1907, and the gunners fired their antique cannons against the attacking French warships!

Christian Houel (another witness) writes that in Casablanca in 1907, mokhaznis were armed with a Chassepot and a bayonet. Some times later, he describes mokhaznis of the army of Moulay Hafid (who was fighting against the French): they had Chassepot or Gras rifles, or flintlocks; some were given the same uniform, other stayed in rags; there were officers but no NCOs; the soldiers received no training.

I don't know suitable miniatures. Foundry "Belgian askaris" perhaps could do, with babouches added, but their rifle is wrong.

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing

Thanks so much for posting this, I had a small project in 10mm in mind, set in just such a context – that has yet to really see the light of day; I've collected a few images from around the 1907 conflict, and have one of the Mokhazni artillery after it was 'pacified' by a French bombardment (likely by the Cruiser Galilee):

Yes, very interesting …

Those crazy-ed marines killed them all off in The Wind and the Lion.:-)

Thanks SteelonSand, I have the same picture of the guns but very small, text says they were destroyed by cruiser Galilee, 5-6 August.

Historical sources say that this bombardment should never have happened; the local authorities had accepted that some French troops come in town, however the Navy young officers did not want to wait for the army and they came ashore with only 60 sailors; some mokhaznis wanted to resist, etc etc…

Modern pictures of this bastion (?) can be found on internet (the modern flags are for a restaurant called "Sqala"). But the ground level outside has certainly been changed, in 1907 it was a rocky seaside there was no road there:

Similar gun carriages can be seen on this other picture, but in Marrakech:

Wow! – Great follow up, Patrice – is that one of the original barrels poking out of the embrasure in the modern Sqala restaurant photo I wonder….?

I really must put some more of the photographic postcard views that I collected up on my Blog – certainly an interesting and colourful conflict to game.

The Raisuli will straighten them out.

Thanks guys I had never heard of this film "The Wind and the lion" so I didn't understand what some of you were talking about, but now I must watch it :-)

Interesting blog you have, SteelonSand I must visit it more often.
Yes on modern pictures it looks like the same gun barrels in this "Sqala"/"Skala"/"Scala", only the carriages have been changed.