The history of the Imperial Cities of Morocco

 

Morocco Imperial Cities

Marrakech, Fez, Meknes, Rabat, the imperial cities of Morocco are linked to the great dynasties which built the country. Three thousand years of an exciting history rich in twists and turns!

At the crossroads of the East, Europe, and Africa.

It is by visiting the imperial cities of Morocco that the history of the many Berber, Arab and Christian dynasties that have succeeded one another is told to us, alternating times of anarchy and of peace. 

Two seas, a mountain barrier, and the vastness of the Sahara isolate this land that was once called the extreme Maghreb. But it is, at the same time, the country closest to Europe, the easiest to access. The country that was, over a three-thousand-year history, the most permeable to currents from the north and south, from Guinea or Andalusia.

The Phoenicians and the Carthaginians 1000 BC

It is a thousand years BC. J.C. that square sailboats from Phenicia landed on the Atlantic coast of Africa to found the first colonies. Then come the Carthaginians who live alongside the Moorish population (mahour in Phoenician). They bring the work of iron, the cultivation of the vine, the pomegranate, the olive tree.

The Romans at Volubilis 146 BC

With the capture of Carthage in 146 BC. BC, the Romans held the ports of the Mediterranean and founded the first cities including Volubilis which still stands its ruins near Meknes. Beyond extends the domain of barbaric, Berbers, nomads, artisans, or sedentary peasants.

In the early years of our era, Volubilis was one of the capitals of Juba II, king of Mauretania, whose exceptionally beautiful bronze was discovered in Volubilis. Raised in Rome in the entourage of Augustus, this young Numidian married the daughter of Antony and Cleopatra of Alexandria, traveled the world to the East, and then surrounded himself with scholars, artists, and poets in his palace. of Volubilis. He was assassinated by Caligula who ordered the invasion of Mauretania. The Roman, until then well-tolerated, becomes an enemy. After three centuries of occupation, Rome abandoned its colonies and the Berbers regained their independence. Romanized and Christians, some converted to Judaism.

The Berbers, the Arabs and Islam 8th century

In the 8th century, the Berbers embraced the new doctrine preached by the Arab invaders and converted to Islam. Arabic replaces Latin as the official language while the people continue to speak Berber. Morocco as a state has existed since the year 788 when Idriss I was proclaimed king by the Berber tribes in the north of the country. He is a foreigner and an Arab but his heir Idriss II will be the son of a Berber.

Fez, capital of the 9th-century Idrissids

Idriss I lays the first stones of Fez, the new capital. Located in a fertile valley, at the foot of the Middle Atlas Mountains and the Rif Mountains, Fez is the mandatory stopover for caravans coming from Sudan and Guinea across the Sahara to supply gold to the courses of Europe. It is also the land of welcome for Arabs from Kairouan, the holy city of Tunisia, and for Muslims from Andalusia driven out by Christians. They will bring with them science, commerce, fine arts, and various refinements. The city built its first Koranic university in 859 near the Karaouiyine mosque. It is the oldest in Morocco.

Marrakech, capital of the 11th-century Almoravids

Knights of Islam, veiled Berber nomads who left the Sahara in 1055 set up fortresses, monasteries, the ribats. These are the Almoravids. They founded Marrakech which became their capital. Youssef ben Tachfin is their leader. He conquered Fez then the Rif and the shores of Andalusia. The Christians are resuming the offensive. Andalusian gentleness gets the better of Saharan asceticism and the reign dark in decadence. An illuminated person who calls himself the envoy of God in turn preaches the purity and oneness of God. His disciples will be the Almohads who will take Marrakech in 1147.

Rabat, capital of the 12th-century Almohads

The leader of the Almohads, Abd el-Moumem takes the title of caliph and unites the whole of North Africa for the first time. Rabat is a military base that serves as a base for expeditions carried out in Andalusia. One of his successors, Yacoub el-Mansour will make Rabat his capital. In a pacified, fertile and prosperous Morocco, the Almohads are great builders. In this 12th century, which is that of Christian cathedrals, Islam builds the Koutoubia of Marrakech, the walls and gates of Rabat as well as the Hassan Mosque and the Oudaïas kasbah.

Fes el-Jedid, 13th-century Merinid dynasty

Insubordinate nomads occupied Meknes and Fez in the 13th century. In front of Fes el-Bali, the old city, they build a capital, Fes el-Jedid, the new city. A very pious ruler, Abu al-Hassan for a time restored the unity of the Maghreb. He built in Fes many religious buildings, mosques and madrasahs, Koranic schools where students were trained in theology, science, and history.

Marrakech, the Saadian dynasty 16th century

Following the presence of the Portuguese along the Atlantic coast, the Arab tribe of the Saadians preaches Jihad, the holy war against the invader. The capture of Marrakech formalizes their power. They maintain Marrakech as the capital and embellish it with buildings that we still admire. At the end of the 16th century, the reign of Ahmed el-Mansour marked a glorious and prosperous period for Morocco. Gold, slaves, sugar, cotton, and amber are the object of important markets.

Meknes, capital of the 17th-century Alaouites

Independent sultans south of the Atlas as far as Timbuktu, the Alawites make history in the 17th century with a line of chiefs of exceptional quality. They pride themselves on being the direct descendants of Prophet Muhammad, through Fatimah, the daughter of the Prophet who married Ali, his cousin. An outstanding monarch, Moulay Ismaïl will reign for 55 years, from 1672 to 1727, almost as long as Louis XIV who took power in France around the same time. He exercises absolute power and makes Meknes his capital. He embellished it with palaces, ramparts and monumental gates.

Rabat, from the protectorate to the 20th-century monarchy

While the Western world operates its industrial revolution, Morocco is inexorably deteriorating. The country knows in 1912 the French protectorate under the direction of Marshal Lyautey. It makes Rabat a modern capital and equips large cities like Casablanca with modern infrastructure. In 1956, Morocco has proclaimed a sovereign and independent state. It brings together Arabs and Berbers, city dwellers and mountain dwellers, nomads, people from Rif, Fes, and Souss. Today, Morocco is a constitutional monarchy. A descendant of the Prophet, King Mohammed VI is from the Alawite dynasty. He is also Commander of the Faithful, that is to say, the religious leader of Morocco.