Lalla Tanaszart of Al-Mamlakati Al-Murnakus

A concept drawing for the Maghreb Woman Warrior from the Project: Blood and Steel, a part of Historically Wrong Sketch Series based on the 17th Century Era Warfare. She is loosely based on the historical Berber and Tuareg people, and she can be said to represents the Berber Dynasty that ruled North West Africa in the 17th century (Morocco?). Anyway, This is made as a gift for my dearest friend, who is leaving back to Morocco for good in the next few days

Inspired by the Music: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nY3KN… - Nedunya by Bustan Abraham

Historically speaking, North West Africa is home to some of the most powerful empires and kingdoms that ever sat their foot on. The earliest historical record of its inhabitants were the ancient semitic people called the phonecians who set up their trade networks along the north-west african coast. The area then became part of the Carthaginian Empire, before being subdued and integrated into the Roman Empire's territories. The Byzantine had their share as well, however, for most of the time throughout the ages, the Berber and the Tuareg people who inhabited the high mountain were left untouched.

With the arrival of Islam, the Berber people adopted its islamic principle, governance as well as the langauge used (arabic). Although, conversion to Islam was slow and was still ongoing even after the Arabs left, the Berber people were forever changed by the impact their neighbors. Under the Ummayads, the berber people invaded the iberian peninsula and established their rule of Al-Andalus, one of the most richest, advance and prosperous period recorded in the history of the Iberian peninsula. They also established a powerful and influential power base, first done by the Idrisid dynasty, which marked the start of Moroccan Sovereignty. With the fall of the Umayyads Caliphate, the turbulent period of the Abbasids, the rise of the Iberian Kingdoms as well as the Disunity between muslim rulers in Al-andalus, their influence over the Iberian peninsula slowly diminished over time. Although the berbers managed to held their foot as regional power in north-west africa, the expulsion of any Moorish influence in Iberia by the Reconquista as well as the growing expansionism of the Ottomans, meant that their rule and independence would be challenges by the other growing regional powers. Nevertheless, their legacy still stands today, as a testimony of what was once a powerful and influential people that changed the course of history.

Interestingly enough, while doing research on the history of Morocco, the Sultanate of Morocco under the Alaouite Dynasty (the current surviving dynasty), was the first nation to recognize United States of America as an Independent Nation, in 1777. It was on this period that the sultan declared it's full protection for any American merchant ships going through the Mediterranean from the Barbary pirates, as such, the first Moroccan-American Treaty of Friendship was signed in 1786, the longest non-broken friendship treaty in the History of United States of America. It was the first nation in the whole world, and the first Muslim nation to do so, something that really surprises me. Maybe perhaps we can learn something from this?


In anycase, Lalla Tanaszart bint Zayar mn Itberin, is depicted here in a stylized, typical Berber clothing and armed with the oriental turkish style musket, as well as malinese dagger and generic scimitar. Much to my surprise when looking at what many artist draw for middle-eastern women warriors, the amount of clothing (if any, at all) and armors that looks more like a belly dancer, would really make this drawing looked very boring. Nevertheless, as a Noble lady and a princess, she would certainly have her modesty from the high upbringing, and her clothing would suit the arid and unforgiving climate of her homeland, while providing adequate protection from her enemies and the weathers.

Her ancestry can be traced back the berber dynasty of Lalla Taljat from the previous series , which, technically speaking, would make her a loosely related to another character, a Woman Barbary Pirate from another historically wrong sketch project . Given the precarious position and the turbulent time period of the series, The Sultanate of Murnakus would face some serious threat from the grpwing european power like the Iberian , and the Orhans




The name Al-Marnakus, is derrived from the Berber word of Mar'Nakus, which to my understanding, "means Land of God". The Flag symbol is a stylized mosaic, with pentagram star as well as the name of the dynasty, written in Tifinagh....mixed and match of anachronism stew.

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With this, i think i can start to work on the request. comissions, and any corrspondences that i must reply that has been long overdue....my deep apologies guys




Compare to another Oriental Woman Warrior of the previous series.:


 




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