| 1912 Fez riots | |
|---|---|
| Part ofFrench conquest of Morocco | |
 Damage to theMellah after French artillery fire in the Intifada of Fes | |
| Date | 17 April 1912 |
| Location | 34°2′36″N5°0′12″W / 34.04333°N 5.00333°W /34.04333; -5.00333 |
| Caused by | Treaty of Fes |
| Methods | Mutiny,riot |
| Resulted in | French suppression |
| Casualties | |
| Deaths | 600 Moroccan Muslims, 66 Europeans, 42 Moroccan Jews |
  1912 Fez riots Location within Morocco | |
TheFes Riots, also known as theFes Uprising orMutiny (fromArabic:انتفاضة فاس,Intifadat Fes), theTritl (Hebrew:התריתל, among theJewish community) and theBloody Days of Fes (fromFrench:Les Journées Sanglantes de Fès) were riots which started on April 17, 1912, inFes, the then-capital ofMorocco, whenFrench officers announced the measures of theTreaty of Fes, which created theFrench protectorate in Morocco.[1]
The riots broke out shortly after the population of Fes learnt about the treaty, which they generally viewed as a betrayal bySultanAbd al-Hafid, who had left Fes forRabat to ensure his safety. After the riots, he was forced to abdicate in favour of his brotherYusuf.[2]
Despite warnings of an uprising, most French troops left Fes, leaving behind 1,500 French troops and 5,000 Moroccanaskars (local colonial infantrymen) commanded by French officers. On the morning of 17 April, the French officers announced the new measures to theiraskars. Many units immediately mutinied, causing a total loss of control.
According to the report on the front page ofLe Matin on April 19, 1912, the riots broke out in Fes at about 11:00 am Wednesday morning, April 17, 1912.[3] The rebels killed threewireless telegraphy workers and injured a fourth to cut connections with the outside world.[3] The sultan,Abdulhafid, was besieged by rebels at his palace.[3]
The soldiers attacked their French commanders, then left their barracks and attacked the European andJewish quarters of the city. According to the Moroccan historian Mohammed Kenbib, "the French commander, General Brulard, thinking that the Jews were supporting the insurgents, ordered his artillery to shell themallāḥ, causing great devastation, and wounding and killing many people, both Jews and Muslims."[4] The rebels surrendered after two days. The death toll included approximately 600 Moroccan Muslims, 66 Europeans, and 42 Moroccan Jews.[5]
The first account of the riot was written by Hubert Jacques, a journalist atLe Matin, and a personal friend ofHubert Lyautey. The report was strongly critical ofEugène Regnault.[6] The same newspaper listed both Regnault and Lyautey among four candidates likely to be considered for the position of France'sresident-general in Morocco.[7]
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