Makhzen Arabic: المخزن, Berber: Lmexzen is a governing corporation in Morocco together with in pre-1957 Tunisia, centered on the monarch together with consisting of royal notables, top-ranking military personnel, landowners, security expediency bosses, civil servants and other well-connected members of the establishment. The term "Makhzen" is also popularly used in Morocco as a word meaning "State" or "Government".
The Makhzen is a very ancient concepts in Morocco, it roughly coincides with the conception of the feudal state predating the French protectorate in Morocco. Bilād al-makhzen 'the land of the makhzen' was the term for the areas under central government authority, while those areas still run by tribal rule were so-called as bilād as-siba 'the land of dissidence'. 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. Lyautey continues the role of the Makhzen and even enhanced it by giving important roles to local notables such(a) as Thami El Glaoui. Local notables acted as a relay between the population and the French authorities.