The Moroccan monarchy, one of the oldest in the world, embodies a deep and historic bond between the king and his people.
Every year, the Feast of the Throne celebrates this bond, symbolised by the Bayâa, a pact of allegiance that transcends centuries and trials, consolidating the stability and durability of the Moroccan kingdom.
Every year, the Alaouite monarchy reaffirms its power in Morocco through the ceremony of allegiance to the king. This Wednesday, on the 25th anniversary of the reign of Mohamed VI, the ceremony will take place in Tetouan, one of his summer residences.
Morocco’s official press agency, MAP, describes the tradition as an opportunity for representatives of the kingdom’s twelve regions to renew their loyalty to the sovereign. It emphasises that this ritual symbolises the historic and indestructible bond between the throne and the people, the foundation of the Moroccan nation’s solidity and durability.
The Moroccan monarchy, with its fourteen centuries of history, is one of the oldest in the world, preceded only by that of Japan. Every year, the Feast of the Throne symbolises the deep attachment of the Moroccan people to their sovereign, an act of loyalty embodied in the Bayâa, or Pact of Allegiance.
This pact, rooted in Morocco’s history, goes beyond simple loyalty to the king to represent a moral and voluntary commitment between the king, Amir al-Mouminine, and his people.
This solemn act, in keeping with the principles of Islam, confers on the king a power exercised with responsibility and solicitude. Far from being arbitrary, the Bayâa prescribes reciprocal loyalty between the sovereign and his subjects, reinforcing the religious and indisputable dimension of this bond.
Bayâa, the pact of allegiance
The practice of monarchical power in Morocco rests on this foundation of mutual loyalty, which guarantees the people’s commitment to the king and, in turn, the sovereign’s duty to protect and guide the nation.
This material and spiritual relationship has enabled Morocco to overcome the trials of its history, from the founding of the state by Idriss I in 789 to the present day.
Successive dynasties, especially the twenty-nine Alaouite kings, have ruled the kingdom with a strong sense of patriotism, confronting imperialism and colonialism. The late Hassan II emphasised the singularity of Morocco, colonised by two European powers, France and Spain, and the complexity of dealing with these two nations to achieve independence.
The Moroccan monarchical power, in the continuity of successive reigns, has been able to evolve while remaining faithful to its fundamental objectives. This uniqueness arouses both admiration and frustration abroad, as the Moroccan monarchy remains a unique model of stability and loyalty.
The example of King Mohammed V, who defied the colonial authorities in 1934, illustrates the birth of Moroccan nationalism and the people’s unwavering attachment to their sovereign. This act of courage reverberated beyond Morocco’s borders and confirmed the king’s historical and political legitimacy.
Since liberation in 1956, Morocco has become a constitutional monarchy, consolidating the relationship between the king and his people.
The Bayâa, as a pact of allegiance, remains a pillar of this institution, guaranteeing the permanence and stability of the kingdom.
MN/Sf/te/lb/as/APA