The history of Meknes is partly the history of Moulay Ismail. This great-grandfather of present day King Mohamed VI, reigned over Morocco with a strong hand.
He made expeditions as far south as Timbouctou and regained lost Moroccan possesions in every direction.
The Sultan and Meknes were however most famous for their role in the international slave trade.
Moroccan pirates caught European vessels every now and then and the Sultan had the europeans brought to his capital to work for him. Several attempts were done by European powers to get them back. The image of Moulay Ismail in the west is still very much tainted by this episode. In Morocco however he is still widely seen as a Sultan, who may have had his rough edge, but was good for the Empire and got Morocco back on the map.
present day King Mohamed VI, reigned over Morocco with a strong hand. 