Dubbed The Pirate Queen, She Was The Last Queen To Rule Independently In Islamic History And Turned To Piracy To Protect Her Town
Sayyida al-Hurra was born in 1485 to a wealthy Muslim family. She was the daughter of Mulay Ali Ibn Rashid and Lalla Zohra Fernandez.
She was the last person in Islamic history to hold the title of “al-Hurra,” which means “free and independent noble woman.” During her rule, she came to be known as the “pirate queen.”
While Sayyida was just a young girl, her family was forced to flee her birthplace of Granada, a city that fell to Spain in 1492 during the Spanish Reconquista, which was a movement to push Moors (Muslims) out of the country.
Sayyida and her family settled in Chefchaouen, Morocco. Although they were living in exile, Sayyida managed to receive a proper education throughout her childhood.
She was taught by leading contemporary scholars and learned about various subjects, including theology, mathematics, and languages.
Around 1510, she married Sultan Muhammed al-Mandri. They moved to the ruined city of Tétouan and helped rebuild it.
Today, Tétouan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sayyida and the Sultan ruled together and had one daughter.
Upon her husband’s death, which occurred sometime between 1515 and 1529, Sayyida was granted the title of al-Hurra and assumed his place in power.
It was rare for a woman to be in charge in Islamic society, but she was well-respected and feared by Spain and Portugal. She would be the last queen to rule independently in Islamic history.
Photocreo Bednarek – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only
As queen, Sayyida turned to piracy to protect her town. The Iberians regularly conducted attacks on Morocco in an attempt to gain more control of the country’s maritime trade. She partnered with Oruc Reis, or Barbarossa of Algiers, to expand her reach in the Mediterranean.
Barbarossa was also known as “Redbeard.” He was the most feared pirate in the region. Between 1504 and 1510, he used his fleet to transport refugees from Spain to Africa as the persecution of religious minorities on the Iberian Peninsula grew more extreme.
In the partnership, Sayyida dominated the western half of the Mediterranean. She terrorized Spanish and Portuguese ships.
She became very wealthy from all the plundered booty and ransoms for prisoners. So, not only was she able to defend her home, but she also received retribution for her family’s exile.
Sayyida’s ransom negotiations with Europeans for the release of Christian prisoners largely contributed to her reputation as a pirate.
In 1541, she remarried to the King of Morocco, Ahmed al-Wattasi. He traveled to her for the marriage, marking the first and only time that a king married outside his capital city.
But in 1542, she was deposed by her son-in-law Muhammed al-Hassan. As a result, she lost her power and property.
Sayyida spent the rest of her days in Chefchaouen, Morocco, where she is now buried. She died at the age of 75.
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