The Golden Alliance That Could Have Changed the World: Elizabeth I & Sultan Ahmed al-Mansour's Failed Power Shift

Video Credits: Kurimeo Ahau

The Golden Alliance That Could Have Changed the World

A New Axis of Power

In the late 16th century, as the flames of empire blazed across the globe, two powerful monarchs—Queen Elizabeth I of England and Sultan Ahmed al-Mansour of Morocco—stood at the crossroads of opportunity and ambition. Their worlds were vastly different, yet their goals were strikingly aligned: curb Spain’s domination, expand overseas empires, and control the wealth of the New World.

At this point in history, Spain was the unrivaled superpower. Its conquest of the Americas had enriched the Spanish Crown beyond imagination. Gold, silver, and other treasures flowed from South America to Madrid, financing wars and global expansion. But not everyone admired Spain’s success—some wanted to dismantle it.

Unlikely Allies: Elizabeth and Al-Mansour

Sultan Ahmed al-Mansour ruled Morocco during its golden age. A savvy statesman and master of diplomacy, he dreamed of building an Islamic empire that stretched far beyond North Africa. At the same time, Elizabeth I, England’s "Virgin Queen," was locked in a bitter conflict with Catholic Spain, led by King Philip II. The two monarchs saw in each other a rare chance to challenge Spain from both the north and the south.

Their alliance wasn’t just theoretical. There were real diplomatic exchanges between London and Marrakesh. Ambassadors were sent. Letters were exchanged. Gifts crossed the Mediterranean. Both sides recognized each other’s strength—military, economic, and ideological. But what really sealed their interest was a shared plan to strike at Spain’s most valuable resource: its American colonies.

Secret Letters and Grand Schemes

The Sultan’s Bold Vision

Ahmed al-Mansour wasn’t just a local ruler with regional ambitions—he saw himself as a global player. After his stunning victory over the Songhai Empire at the Battle of Tondibi in 1591, which gave him control over the trans-Saharan gold trade, he set his sights even higher. The Sultan dreamed of challenging Spain not just in Europe, but in the Americas, where unimaginable wealth awaited.

In his view, Spain’s colonies in South America, particularly Peru and New Granada, were ripe for the taking. The Spanish were stretched thin, managing vast territories, fighting wars in Europe, and defending against pirates and Protestant rebels. Al-Mansour proposed an audacious plan: a joint English-Moroccan expedition to invade Spanish America, cut off its gold supply, and weaken the Spanish Crown at its core.

Letters to the Queen

Diplomatic correspondence between Al-Mansour and Queen Elizabeth I confirms these ambitions. In one letter, the Sultan hinted at a desire to cooperate militarily against “the common enemy.” He even floated the idea of a combined English-Muslim army landing in the New World, launching attacks on Spanish strongholds in the Caribbean and South America.

Elizabeth was cautious but intrigued. The idea of forming an alliance with a Muslim ruler to fight a fellow Christian monarch was radical—even scandalous—but England’s survival and expansion mattered more than ideology. After all, Elizabeth had already been supporting privateers like Francis Drake to raid Spanish ships in the Atlantic. An official alliance with Morocco could provide new ports, ships, and manpower.

The Economics of Empire

The plan wasn’t purely military—it was also deeply economic. Morocco had gold but needed arms. England had firepower and technology but wanted access to Moroccan sugar, gold, and trade routes. Their shared interest in controlling global trade networks—from Africa to the Americas—was a key part of their partnership.

If they succeeded in striking Spanish America, they wouldn’t just gain territory—they’d also divert the treasure fleets, cripple Spain’s economy, and shift the balance of power in Europe and the Atlantic forever.

Why the Plan Failed—and What Could Have Been

The Clock Runs Out

Despite the dazzling vision and mutual interest, the Anglo-Moroccan plan to seize South America never materialized. Why?

The short answer: time and politics.

In 1603, Queen Elizabeth I died. Her passing marked the end of an era in English foreign policy. Her successor, King James I, quickly sought peace with Spain, abandoning many of her more daring ventures, including the Moroccan alliance.

Meanwhile, Sultan Ahmed al-Mansour also died in 1603. His death triggered a power struggle among his sons, plunging Morocco into internal conflict and weakening its ability to act on any overseas ambitions. Without strong leadership on either side, the plan to challenge Spain overseas fizzled.

What If It Had Happened?

Had the plan gone forward—imagine it: English warships sailing alongside Moroccan galleys, attacking Spanish ports in the Caribbean, raiding silver mines in Peru, and liberating (or conquering) indigenous territories under Spanish control.

A successful campaign could have:

• Cut off Spain’s gold supply, dramatically weakening its military and political power in Europe.

• Accelerated the decline of Spanish hegemony, changing the outcome of wars in the Netherlands and Italy.

• Redefined colonization, introducing a Muslim-European power bloc in the Americas.

• Created a new power dynamic where England and Morocco controlled Atlantic trade routes, pushing France and Portugal to the sidelines.

It’s a powerful what-if: an alternate history where a Muslim sultan and a Protestant queen rewrite the map of the world.

A Legacy in Shadows

Although the grand plan never came to life, the diplomatic ties between Morocco and England left a lasting impact. Their correspondence challenged assumptions about East-West relations, proving that religion didn’t always override strategic interests. These two powers—one European, one North African—found common ground in pragmatism, not dogma.

Some historians even argue that this alliance laid the groundwork for future colonial competitions and East-West partnerships. It remains one of the most fascinating "what could have been" stories in early modern history.