Awlad Muhammad

Awlad Muhammad (or Ouled Muhammed) was a tribe that ruled over the Fezzan region from 1550 to 1812.^[1][2] At their height, their domain extended from Sokna in the north to Murzuq in the south.^[3]

1829 Lapie Map of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Barbary states - David Rumsey Historical Map Collection - Barbarie-lapie-1829

The Muhammad al-Wad dynasty was a ruling family that governed the Fezzan region, located in present-day southwestern Libya, from the late 15th century until the early 19th century. Emerging amid the decline of previous tribal confederations, the dynasty established control over key oases and trade routes that connected sub-Saharan Africa to the Mediterranean.

Starting in 1577, the sultanate had to fend off against various attacks by the Ottoman and the Karamanli dynasty which often resulted in the looting, capture or vassilization of Fezzan. In 1574 the Ottomans invaded and occupied Fezzan and the Oasis. Fezzan had been vassailized since 1574,^[4] but only in the 1580s did the rulers of Fezzan give their allegiance to the sultan, but the Turks refrained from trying to exercise any influence there^[5][6]. It was occupied fully from times to time like in 1679-1682, 1690, 1716, 1718 and 1811/1812.^[7][1][2]. However, there's an alternate view suggesting nominal control was only established around 1842.^[8] The Ottoman Army usually maintained a garrison there^[9]

See also

• Banu Khattab
• Kanem–Bornu Empire
• Ottoman Tripolitania