A FINE, RARE PORTRAIT OF SULTAN SIDI MUHAMMAD IIIO

An extremely rare item of considerable historical significance. Tempera on a curved wooden panel depicting the Moroccan Sultan Sidi Muhammad III, commissioned by the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II Habsburg on the occasion of treaties and trade agreements made between the two monarchs, and so inscribed in Latin on the reverse, together with the royal monogram of Joseph II and the date 1783. Sidi Muhammad III bin 'Abd'allah al-Alawi c. 1709-1790, was one of Morocco's most highly regarded rulers both among European monarchs and his own people. He was proclaimed Sultan in 1757 and relocated the capital to Marrakesh, fortifying the coastal towns and conquering Mazagan in 1769. Interested primarily in promoting Moroccan economy, he entered into trade agreements with a number of European powers designed to suppress the Barbary pirates. He founded the coastal city of Essaouira along European lines and was the first foreign sovereign to extend formal recognition to the American flag in 1777. He further signed the first peace treaty between the United States and Morocco in 1778; this remains the oldest unbroken treaty with a foreign power in American history. He married both elite Moroccan and European wives, and died near Rabat in 1790 where his tomb survives to the present. He fathered approximately 25 children. Late 18th century. With minor worming and chip to lower left corner. 21.9 cm high. Condition II