During his state visit to Morocco, Emmanuel Macron delivered a speech to both Houses of the Moroccan Parliament, an event marking the continuity of historic relations between France and Morocco.
The French president paid tribute to the old ties and diplomatic exchanges between the two countries, mentioning in particular emblematic figures who helped to forge this privileged relationship. Among these figures, Macron cited Abdellah Ben Aicha, corsair from Salé and Moroccan ambassador, sent to Versailles for an extraordinary diplomatic mission.
Abdellah Ben Aicha: an ambassador with a singular destiny
Abdellah Ben Aicha, corsair of Salé in the 17th century, is a significant figure in Moroccan diplomatic history. His mission to Versailles, under the reign of Louis XIV, symbolizes the quest for alliance and dialogue between Morocco and France.
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Charged by the Sultan of Morocco to meet the Sun King, Ben Aicha’s mission was to plead agreements, particularly in the field of trade and maritime security. According to historical accounts, he was even commissioned to ask for the hand of the daughter of Louis XIV, a highly symbolic act demonstrating the ambition for rapprochement between the two countries.
A bridge between two cultures
Macron’s mention of Ben Aicha recalls the opening of the Moroccan and French kingdoms to diplomatic and cultural exchange since the Renaissance. Abdellah Ben Aicha is an example of an atypical ambassador who, while being a privateer, served the interests of his country beyond the borders. His mission illustrates Morocco’s efforts to position itself as an influential actor in the Mediterranean basin, by establishing dialogues even with the great powers of the time. By referring to Ben Aicha, Emmanuel Macron highlights this historic aspect of Franco-Moroccan relations, built on centuries of diplomacy and mutual respect.
A common history illuminated by exceptional figures
In his speech, Emmanuel Macron also cited other symbolic figures, such as the scholar Idriss Al Amraoui, who traveled to France in 1860, reporting his testimony to Sultan Mohammed IV. The French president also spoke of the many French artists, such as Delacroix, Matisse, and Majorelle, who were inspired by Morocco, seeing in this country an inexhaustible source of beauty and admiration. The tribute to these figures underlines the richness of this shared memory, made up of moments of collaboration, but also of diplomatic challenges.
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Thus, through Abdellah Ben Aicha, Macron celebrates the heritage of Franco-Moroccan relations, emphasizing that, despite the eras and cultural differences, France and Morocco have been able to maintain a dialogue which transcends time and which continues to inspire the ties between the two nations.
