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The Maimran family originated in Spain, but settled in Meknes after the expulsion in 1492. Joseph Maimran and his son Abraham both served as adviser to the Alawid sultan Moulay Ismāʿīl (r. 1672–1727) and shaykh-al-yahūd (government-recognized head of the Jewish community; see nagid). The few sources that mention Joseph Maimran confirm that he had influence with the sultan, as can be seen from Germain Mouette’s Histoire des conquestes de Moulay Archy (Paris, 1683), or from a letter sent by Baron de Saint-Amans to Louis XIV on June 26, 1682. On behalf of the sultan, Joseph rees…

The Cansino family originally came from Seville, found refuge in Tlemcen, and eventually settled inOran by order of King Ferdinand II “the Catholic.” In 1509, along with the Satorra, Ben Zmiro, and Sasportas families, the Cansinos represented “the natural families of Oran” and the Jewish circle closest to Spanish power until the expulsion of the whole community to Leghorn (Livorno) and Nice in 1669. In 1510, Isaac Cansino  was ambassador of the Zayyanid kingdom of Tlemcen to the new Christian rulers of the Spanish presidio of Melilla; he owned a house in both cities.Between 1509 and 16…