Conquest of the Touat (1583)

The Conquest of the Touat in 1583 refers to the military campaign led by the Saadian Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur of Morocco to subjugate the Touat region, a collection of oases located in present-day Algeria, along the northern edge of the Sahara Desert.

The Touat, a wealthy area due to its strategic position along trans-Saharan trade routes, was not directly controlled by any major power at the time, though it often paid tribute to various surrounding polities. The Saadians, consolidating their power in Morocco and seeking to control the lucrative gold trade, viewed the Touat as a key prize.

The campaign was led by Ali b. Abdallah al-Ghris. The Saadian forces, well-equipped and disciplined, encountered resistance from the local populations and established powers, but ultimately prevailed. The Saadian victory allowed them to control the flow of gold from West Africa to Morocco and beyond, significantly boosting the Saadian treasury and contributing to their Golden Age. The conquest also expanded Saadian influence further into the Sahara.

The consequences of the conquest were multifaceted. The Touat became integrated into the Saadian Sultanate, subject to its administration and taxation. While trade continued, the balance of power shifted, and the Touat lost some of its previous autonomy. Furthermore, the Saadian presence in the Sahara brought them into closer contact and eventual conflict with other regional powers, including the Songhai Empire further south. The conquest of the Touat thus played a significant role in reshaping the political landscape of the Sahara during the late 16th century.