Makhzen (Arabic: المخزن, Moroccan Arabic: لمخزن, Berber languages: ⵍⵎⴻⵅⵣⴰⵏ, romanized: Lmexzen) is the governing institution in Morocco and in pre-1957 Tunisia, centered on the monarch and consisting of royal notables, top-ranking military personnel, landowners, security service bosses, civil servants and other well-connected members of the establishment.
It is likely a metonymy related to taxes, which the makhzen used to collect; the term may also refer to the state or its actors, but this usage is increasingly rare and is primarily used by the older generation.
It is the origin of the Spanish and Portuguese almacén and armazém (with addition of the Arabic definite article), meaning warehouse.
It came into the English language from Middle French as magazine, originally referring to a storehouse for ammunition and later to publications.
[4] Hubert Lyautey, who served as resident-general of Morocco from 1912 until 1925 during the era of the protectorate, was a fervent proponent of indirect colonisation, especially in Berber-speaking areas.