[8][1] The historical guich system took shape primarily under the reign of the 'Alawid sultan Mawlay Isma'il, although variations of similar military organisations were used by prior rulers and dynasties.

The Almoravids, Almohads, and Marinids, for example, each originated from, and were largely supported by, particular Amazigh (Berber) tribal confederations, such as the Lamtuna, Masmuda, and Zenata (respectively).

[8]: 230  Some of the sultans recruited the Cheraga along with their own supporting tribes from the Sous (known as the Ahl Sus) and garrisoned them in important centers like Marrakesh and Fez.

[8]: 230  Under Ahmad al-Mansur, Black slaves from the western Sudan were once again recruited as contingents, as were numerous Andalusis who had fled to North Africa after the fall of Granada at the end of the 15th century.

[8][1][10] Mawlay al-Rashid, the effective founder of the later 'Alawid Sultanate of Morocco, also combined his personal recruits from supportive Arab and Berber tribes with the existing remnants of the Cheraga as well, garrisoning them in forts like the Kasbah Cherarda in Fez.

He was motivated to do so by a desire to create a strong central government which was not hampered by reliance on any particular ethnic or regional group, conceiving his own authority as absolute and above all else.

The most important of these groups was commonly known as the Udayas (also spelled Wadaya, Oudaya, or Oudaia), after one of the Arab tribes that lived on the Haouz plains near Marrakesh and made up a significant part of their ranks.

The 'Abid were initially based in Meknes and the Udayas were for many years garrisoned in Fez, but both groups were moved or expelled to different locations after certain episodes of political rivalry and conflict within the sultanate.

[1] He also counteracted the power of the Sherarda in the region of Tadla and Marrakesh by recruiting fresh local tribes from the area into the guich system, such as the Mnabeha, Rḥamna, 'Abda, Aḥmar and Harbil.

[3]: 63  Abd al-Hafid attempted to impose regular taxes on the guich tribes, especially the ones around Fes, despite them traditionally being exempt from taxation in exchange for military service.

[1] As with the Saadian army regiments, the 'Alawid guich tribes were given lands on which to settle, usually between 5 and 18 hectares per warrior,[16] and were exempt from taxation, but expected to remain in military service.