Rattibha

The Metalsa tribe of the Rif 🇲🇦 🧵

1️⃣. Origin of the name Metalsa
2️⃣. Connection with Ait Bouyahyi
3️⃣. Medieval theory of origins
4️⃣. The Almohads and Metalsa
5️⃣. 19th century

1️⃣. The tribe has/had varieties in its naming: Amthales, Abthares, Abdars, Metalsa, Mtalsa, M'talsa Lemt'alca. This all while keeping the same root.

The origin of the name of the tribe has 4 possible explanations:
- From the Greek word Ptolemy
- From Ptolemy of Mauritania son of King Juba II and Cleopatra Selene
- An Arabic word that means hidden
- A word that’s used as synonym for being fierce (Lion of the war)

1) “The Kings of Egypt, some of the Levant as well as the Maghreb/Morocco are the Btalsa, each one of them is called “Batlimous” (Ptolemy), it’s a martial term that means “Lion”. And there were 13 Btalsa that ruled after the death of Alexander the Great."

2) Batlimous (Ptolemaîos/Πτολεμαῖος) the son of King Juba II and Cleopatra Selene II

3) The word Mtalsa is a “Berberization” of the Arabic word “Matlasa” which means to conceal. In Algerian Arabic Matlsa means “Hidden”

4) Lastly is that the word come from "Lion of the war"

So in summary these are the meanings of the word. It either comes from Greek, the Arabic or even from Farsi which the source didn’t touch up much on, but Greek seems to be more prevalently used.

2️⃣. Ait Bouyahyi the tribe in modern days neighbouring Metalsa in the past was part of the Metalsa tribe. The Metalsa tribe also had presence and influence in: Guercif, Nador and Taza.

Metalsa and Ait Bouyahyi were also the only one with horses and horsemen during the Rif war.

3️⃣. According to Ibn Khaldun the Metalsa are Zenata. And they are the 'brothers' of the Meknessa the tribe that founded the city Meknes.
According to him their family is as follows:
Betalsa (Metalsa) > Zenata > Djena > Yahya > Soelat > Warmak > Dariy > Zahik > Madghis

According to historian Sofyan El Kandoussi we have to be careful with interpreting this and it shouldn't be taken literally as directly from father to son as we don't know how many generations there is between each name and what ancestor means in this regard.

El Kandoussi also lays the connection of Zenate tribes that went to the Chaouia area, during the Merinid period, the Metalsa and the Merinid as Zenata brethren referencing also a genetics study. With a critical note that it is possible the Chaoia Zenata were already there before.

4️⃣. Ibn Khaldun mentions the Metalsa having taken part in the conquering of Marrakech and Morocco as a whole helping the Almohad. In 1142 Abdul Mu'min went from the Atlas mountains to the north to get the Zenata Imazighen behind him. The Ghomara joined him then he went to the rif

Then to Boutouya, then to Metalsa en then to Beni Znassen. After that he went to Mediouna, then to Koumiya and their neighbors Walhasa. This large army, including the Metalsa, set siege to Marrakech and conquered it in 1146

5️⃣. In the 19th century Auguste Moliéras described the Metalsa as fearless horsemen and that never seperata from their horse as they never seperate from their gun. They are covered in their Burnoes. According to him they had 20 000 armed horsemen and a population of 100 000

In 1845/1846 Emir Abdelkader moved his headquarters to Metalsa and stayed for a year. He was protected here by the Metalsa and many joined him in his battle against the French in Algeria. He attacked from there and used to area to resupply.
(Article: Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant)