LONDON: Morocco’s ambassador to the UK has come face to face with his predecessor — from 400 years ago.
During a visit to the Barber Institute of Fine Arts at the University of Birmingham this week, Hakim Hajoui took time to reflect on how the job he does has changed over the centuries when he viewed a historic portrait of the Moroccan ambassador Abd El-Ouahed ben Messaoud ben Mohammed Anoun. The masterpiece is thought to be the earliest known surviving British painting of a Muslim.
The ambassador led a diplomatic mission to London in 1600, to the court of Queen Elizabeth I, with the aim of enhancing trade and diplomatic ties between Britain and Morocco. He also hoped to forge an alliance against Spain, which had launched a failed attempt to invade Britain with the Spanish Armada in 1588.
The subject of the painting is believed by some historians to have been the inspiration for Shakespeare’s “Othello,” which the playwright began working on within a year of the ambassador’s arrival in Britain.
“This portrait is a powerful symbol of the deep historical ties between Morocco and the United Kingdom, dating back over eight centuries,” Hajoui said.
“Seeing it here at the Barber Institute at the University of Birmingham underscores the vital role academic and cultural institutions play in preserving and celebrating our shared history.”
The portrait was painted by an unknown artist during the ambassador’s stay in London, which lasted almost a year. He was sent by the ruler of Morocco, Ahmad Al-Mansur, who was also keen to garner support for an invasion of Algerian territories held by the Ottoman Empire.
Historians say that despite his efforts and the attention his party attracted in London, the ambassador failed to secure the British support his country sought. Both the Moroccan and British rulers died just a few years later, in 1603.
Still, the portrait presents a powerful image of the ambassador, with his stern gaze, flowing robes, turban and ornamental sword, from a time when relations between Britain and Muslim regions were growing.
“Abd El-Ouahed’s visit to the court of Queen Elizabeth I represented a major event in the history of diplomatic and cultural exchanges between Europe and the Islamic world,” said Clare Mullett, Birmingham University’s head of research and cultural collections.
“His arrival highlighted a shift in foreign policy and demonstrated England’s willingness to engage with nations outside Europe.”
She described the paining as one of the most vivid souvenirs of British history at the turn of the 17th Century.
Hajoui viewed the painting on Tuesday during a visit to the university to learn about its connections with Morocco and the wider Middle East and North Africa region. It opened a campus in Dubai in 2018.
