Sidi al-Ayachi

Sidi M'Hamed al-Ayachi (; ), also el-Ayachi or al-Ayashi (died 1641), was a Moroccan marabout, military commander, and jihadist. The Sultan of Morocco, Mulay Zidan al-Nasir, had made him governor (qā′id) of Azmūr, but in 1627 he decided to secede and created his own state.

Since the death of Ahmad al-Mansur in 1603, Morocco had progressively fallen into a state of anarchy due to his sons fighting for the thrones, it caused a loss of central authority beheld by the Sultan. The Sultan's seeming inability to defend the country, infuriated Sidi al-Ayachi, and he began a counter-offensive against Spain, privateering against its shipping, and obtaining the help of the Moriscos and the English. The Dutch also strongly supported Sidi al-Ayachi, and supplied him with arms.

It was not until Sultan Mohammed esh Sheikh es Seghir came to the throne in 1636, that real efforts were made to restore Sidi al-Ayachi to the throne and of his territories. Sidi al-Ayachi was killed in battle in 1641.