Tujjār as-Sultān (Arabic:تجّار السلطان, lit. "Merchants of the Sultan") were an elite group of officialJewish merchants in the service of thesultan of Morocco, responsible for much of the kingdom's long-distance trade.[1][2][3] The institution ofTujjār as-Sultān was established in theSaadi period (1510–1659).[1] Men such asJoseph Toledano,Meʾir Maqnīn,[4] andSamuel Pallache also served theMakhzen in diplomatic roles.[1]
A 1680 treaty withHolland facilitated byJoseph Toledano underSultan Ismail (1672–1727) of the'Alawi dynasty, opened prosperous trade to the benefit ofTujjār as-Sultān and the Makhzen.[1][5]
There were 20-30 royal merchants inEssaouira in the first half of the 19th century, virtually all of whom were Jewish.[3] The Makhzen gave them tax benefits, provided housing, and protected their commercial interests and property rights.[3] These merchants were of vital importance for their connections with Jewish trade networks in Europe, including inLondon,Amsterdam,Livorno,Marseilles, and other European ports, as well as with Jewish trade networks in southern Morocco, including inMarrakesh,Tafilalelt,Iligh,Ifrane Atlas-Saghir, andOued Noun.[3] They also worked with Muslims in the interior of Morocco, establishing business partnerships with them, loaning money to them, hiring them, and entrusting tribal chiefs with ensuring the safe passage of merchants and goods through remote areas in the south.[3]
