On November 17, we celebrate the 170e anniversary of the birth of an emblematic figure of our colonial history and our deep links with Morocco. A brilliant strategist, humanist and modernizer, Hubert Lyautey, Marshal of France, distinguished himself with a vision of colonization which, in the army of his time, stood out. Combining respect for local cultures and the development of territories under French administration, it was able to embody a unique form of colonization, based on modernization and integration. But beyond being a military leader, Lyautey was also a thinker, a supporter of a peaceful civilizing mission and a critic of brutal methods.
An officer with innovative ideas
Born in Nancy in 1854, Hubert Lyautey came from a Franche-Comté and Catholic family. Counting several soldiers among his ancestors, he was early attracted to the profession of arms and joined the Special Military School of Saint-Cyr in 1873 within the Archduc Albert promotion. Lyautey begins a military career which takes him to the confines of the French colonies. In Indochina and Madagascar, he served under the orders of General Gallieni, a follower of “civilizing conquest”, Lyautey was deeply marked by this experience.
In 1907, Lyautey, general since 1903, was responsible for pacifying the region of Oujda, in Algeria, prey to frontal tensions with Morocco. This mission familiarizes him not only with the Maghreb but above all with the Moroccan reality, a country where central authority is contested by many local tribes. Lyautey then applied a pragmatic approach combining diplomacy and military firmness. By stabilizing the conquered areas while respecting local traditions, he laid the foundations of what would become his method of governance and the key to his success in Morocco in 1912.
The builder of modern Morocco
Appointed in 1912, general resident of France in Morocco, Lyautey embarked on an unprecedented work of pacification and modernization. Rather than destroying existing structures, he relies on local elites and respects the role of Sultan Moulay Youssef, while carrying out profound reforms. According to Lyautey, successful administration of a land considered almost as a colony must involve the education, health and economic development of local populations. With this objective, he develops roads to open up remote regions, builds schools to educate populations, hospitals to save lives and promotes agriculture and trade. Lyautey also seeks to promote Moroccan culture and insists that French administrators respect local customs. This approach has earned him the esteem of many Moroccans, although some nationalists want to see him as just another paternalistic colonizer. Despite criticism, his policies left a lasting imprint on Morocco, helping to make it a relatively stable protectorate. This situation also allows the establishment of deep links between our two countries, which have continued, despite the vicissitudes, until today with the recent state visit of Emmanuel Macron to Morocco.
A heritage based on respect for people
However, in 1916, World War I recalled Lyautey to France, where he was briefly appointed Minister of War. Indeed, four months after his appointment, he ended up resigning due to disagreements with the general staff, particularly regarding the next Chemin des Dames offensive, which he considered a bad idea. He then returned to Morocco and resumed his temporarily interrupted work. In 1921, he was elevated to the rank of Marshal of France in recognition of his services. In 1925, faced with an insurrection led by Abd el-Krim in the Rif, he advocated caution to avoid a destructive war. Deemed ineffective by the Left Cartel, he was finally replaced by Marshal Pétain. Exhausted, Lyautey decides to retire from public life. During his retirement, he became involved in scouting, an activity of which he became one of the pillars in France and which allowed him to undertake a return to the Catholic faith.
Lyautey died on July 27, 1934 in his property in Thorey in Lorraine, and, according to his wishes, he was buried on Moroccan soil until 1961. This was at the request of King Mohammed V, worried about a possible desecration of his his grave, that General de Gaulle had the remains of the marshal repatriated to France. Since then, he has rested in the church of the Dôme des Invalides, in a tomb decorated with inscriptions testifying to his dual attachment to Morocco and France. It reads in particular: “ To be of those in whom men believe; in the eyes from which thousands of eyes seek order; to the voice of which roads open, countries are populated, cities arise “. In Arabic, another quote from Lyautey expresses his admiration for Morocco: “ The more I live in Morocco, the more I am convinced of the greatness of this country ».
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