Fez, Morocco financing sharifian families as a way to legitimize their (in essence secular) rule: From the 14th century onwards hundreds of families throughout Morocco claimed descent from Idris I, especially in Fez and the Rif mountains. In this regard they can be seen as the enablers of the latter sharifian dynasties of Morocco. The 1465 Moroccan revolt in 1465 overthrew the last Maranid sultan. In 1474 the Marinids were replaced by their relatives of the Wattasid dynasty, who faithfully (but for a large part unsuccessfully) continued Marinid policies. After the fall of the Marinids, the city remained the capital of Morocco
Abdalmalik of Morocco fiercely loyal "bukhari" (the imperial black bodyguards). The bodyguard then threw their support behind the ousted Ahmed ed Dehebi, 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 Abdalmalik was to rule from Fez. Not content with this however, Abdalmalik arranged a face-to-face meeting with his brother with the intention of assassinating him. The attempt failed and Abdalmalik was sent off under guard to a remote prison, where he was later assassinated. Abdalmalik of Morocco