Makhzen

Makhzen
Morocco

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Makhzen (Moroccan Arabic: مخزِن) is the governing elite in Morocco and in pre-1957 Tunisia, centered around the king and consisting of royal notables, businessmen, wealthy landowners, tribal leaders, top-ranking military personnel, security service bosses, and other well-connected members of the establishment.

Contents

Etymology

The word makhzen literally means "warehouse" (from ḵazana ‘store up.’[1]), where the king's civil servants used to receive their wages; but this usage of the word became in Moroccan Arabic synonymous with the elite. It is likely a metonymy related to taxes, which the makhzen used to collect; the term may also refer to the state, but this usage is increasingly rare and is primarily used by the older generation. Recently, the term is also being used to describe the police.

The word has also been adopted into Spanish, Portuguese with a different meaning, as almacén and armazem (with addition of the Arabic article al-), and into French and Italian as magasin (meaning "store") and magazzino. It came into the English language from Middle French as magazine, originally referring to a storehouse for ammunition and later to publications.

Makhzen in Morocco

The Makhzen is a very ancient notion in Morocco, it roughly coincides with the notion of the ancien feudalist state predating The French protectorate. Resident-General General Lyautey (in office 1912-25) a fervent proponent of indirect colonisation, especially in Berber-speaking areas, kept that role and even enhanced it by given an important role to local notables such as T'hami El Glaoui, to act as a relay between the population and the French authorities to govern the country.

References

  1. ^ NOAD

See also


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Makhzen — Makhzen, auch Makhzan, Machzan, arabisch ‏المخزن‎, DMG maḫzan, war seit der Herrschaft der Saadier im 16. Jahrhundert bis in die Kolonialzeit die Bezeichnung für die Regierung des Sultans in Marokko. Amtsträger am Herrscherhof gehörten… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • makhzen — ● makhzen ou maghzen nom masculin (arabe makhzan, trésor) Au Maroc, gouvernement du sultan. makhzen n. m. (Maghreb) Ensemble de l administration, du gouvernement; pouvoir, autorité. ⇒MAKHZEN, MAGHZEN, subst. masc. HISTOIRE A. Ensemble de l… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • MAKHZEN — (Maroc) Pour les articles homonymes, voir Makhzen. Le MAKHZEN est une expression dans le langage courant et familier au Maroc pour nommer l État Marocain et les institutions régaliennes marocaines (justice, administration, armées, polices,… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Makhzen — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. en arabe : مخزن makhzen : terme arabe désignant un entrepôt fortifié utilisé jadis dans le stockage des aliments, et qui a donné le mot magasin… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • makhzen — noun see makhzan * * * Makhzen, an see Maghzen …   Useful english dictionary

  • Makhzen (Maroc) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Makhzen. Histoire du Maroc …   Wikipédia en Français

  • makhzen — makh·zen …   English syllables

  • Dâr-al-Makhzen (Rabat) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Dâr al Makhzen. Dâr al Makhzen L entrée principale du palais royal …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Dar el-Makhzen — Porte principale du palais Le palais royal de Dar el Makhzen, ou Fès la Nouvelle, (ville du Maroc), s ouvre sur la place des Alaouites par d immenses portes ciselées dans le cuivre. Elles ont été réalisées par un artisan local vers 1970. Au… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Dar el Makhzen (Tangier) — The Dar el Makhzen (or Sultanate Palace) is a historical building in Tangier, Morocco, which was the seat of residence for the Sultans of Morocco when staying in the city. It was built by Moulay Ismail in the 17th century, in the Kasbah on one of …   Wikipedia

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