Preface

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This is the first instalment of a multi-part series on historical events or figures that I believe are remarkable. I first developed this idea after writing my first thesis where I had to draw from numerous historical sources and events to support my contextualisation of a historical period. Naturally, I was overwhelmed by the extraordinary events that I uncovered as anthropological research can be quite niche or people and events can be forgotten over the years. Without further ado: From Slave to Empress , Helen Gloag the Moroccan Empress

Helen Gloag's ascension to Empress of Morocco seems to be an interesting piece of forgotten history. It is difficult to discern what impact this woman had on history. However, her tale is still a very interesting footnote and provides insight into the affairs of the Moorish sultanate of the 18th century. Additionally, I believe her story highlights the influence of the Barbary Corsairs of Morocco and I am certain some psychoanalytical extrapolations can be made. I have heard her life described in a cynical matter, that is, she either developed Stockholm Syndrome or manipulated her way to power as a femme fatale. Conversely, informal theories have emerged that she was a genuine victim of the slave trade who was bestowed salvation by a powerful monarch whom she adored. Ex hypothesi, she is either the archetypical femme fatale, a woman who had to survive tragic circumstances or a genuine lover of the Sultan (with the confides of understanding romantic relationships during the 18th century).

Context

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Helen Gloag was a peasant born in the small village of Wester Pett in Perthshire, Scottland around the year 1750. Her father was a blacksmith and she lost her biological mother at a young age. Moreover, her father remarried and it is said that her relationship with her stepmother was fraught with mutual discontent, which culminated when Helen became romantically involved with a farmer. Helen was described as a pulchritudinous woman with draping red hair and bright green eyes.

Life

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Waves of Scottish emigration permeated throughout the 18th century, with many hoping to start a life in the British Colonies of the New World, soon to be the United States of America. it is during this time that Helen decided to embark on a journey to South Carolina with the companionship of some of her local kinsmen. The historical consensus holds that after only two weeks into the voyage to South Carolina a fleet of Barbary Corsairs captured her ship in the Atlantic and took her as a slave. Supposedly, the men aboard her ship were slain, whilst the women were shackled and sent to Algiers to be sold within the regional slave trade.

Painting of a Barbary Corsair
by Pier Francesco Mola c. 1650

Helen was purchased by a local Moroccan (probably a wealthy merchant or local aristocrat), who is believed to have bestowed the Scotswoman as a gift to Sultan Mohammad ben Abdallah, 40 years her senior. Helen became the newest addition to the Sultan's harem. It is assumed that due to Helen's beauty the Sultan was allured to her. Soon thereafter, the Sultan made Helen his fourth wife. Helen produced two sons for the Sultan and was declared his favourite wife, embroidering Helen with the ceremonial title, Empress.

The Pasha in His Harem
by Francois Boucher c. 1735-1739

The extent to the role which Helen played in Moroccan politics is unknown due to the fact that British and French pressure towards the Moroccans exacerbated and greatly inhibited their slave trade and domestic policies. The gradual dissolution of the slave trade has ambiguously been attributed to Helen, however, the aforementioned factors provide a more realistic pressure than Helen's political influence given the contextual period and the typical roles of females in Moorish politics, even the Sultan's favourite wife.

Later Life & Demise

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Helen Gloag largely enjoyed a lavish and comfortable life in Morocco and was allowed to write letters and communicate freely with her family, even going as far as receiving visitation from her brother. However, her life took a dark turn as political discontent rose within the country. As was customary amongst Sultanates, a succession crisis arose towards the end of the reign of Mohammed ben Abdallah, concluding with one of his earlier wive's son ascension to power. In order to consolidate his Sultanate, Yazid, the successor of Mohammed, ordered the deaths of his male siblings, including Helen's children. Unfortunately, Helen is believed to have been killed on orders of the new Sultan during this period of consolidation. She died at approximately 40 years of age.

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Notes:

• Spelling of the names of the Sultans may vary
• Difficult to find historical paintings of Islamic history due to its traditional blasphemy within the religion. Therefore, paintings are western interpretations.

Follow @constantinep for more history, politics and economics.
Please comment any feedback below!

Special thanks to @zest for the inspiration to do this series

Links:

Elizabeth Ewan, Sue Innes, Siân Reynolds, Rose Pipes (2006). The biographical dictionary of Scottish women