A son of
Sultan Moulay Ismail and
Ma'azuza Malika, Moulay Abdalmalik was earmarked as his father's successor until he fell from favour and was replaced as heir by his two years younger half-brother
Moulay Ahmad al-Dhahbi in 1727.
Moulay Ahmad al-Dhahbi proved quite ineffective as a ruler, and when it became public that he was a drunkard, he was overthrown in a
coup instigated by his own wives. Moulay Abdelmalik was proclaimed Sultan in March 1729, but failed to prevent his brother's escape and made the mistake of criticising the fiercely loyal
bukhari (the imperial black bodyguards). The
bukhari then threw their support behind the ousted Ahmad ed Dhahbi, thus throwing Morocco into yet another civil war. A compromise was reached between the brothers after bloody fighting, splitting Morocco into two kingdoms. Ahmed ed Dehebi was to have
Meknes for his capital while Abdelmalik was to rule from
Fez. Not content with this however, Abdelmalik arranged a face-to-face meeting with his brother with the intention of assassinating him. The attempt failed and Abdelmalik was sent off under guard in
Meknes, imprisoned in the house of bacha Msâhel where he was later strangled during the night March 2, 1729, three days before
Moulay Ahmad al-Dhahbi died. == References ==