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Stays
In Marrakech > MARRAKECH |
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MARRAKECH
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Marrakech ; a few historical milestones
1070 ; Foundation by Youssef Ben Tachfine, first Amoravid Emir. A fortress and a few palaces were built near the Koutoubia mosque, ruins of which were found there by archeologists in 1950.
1106-1143
Rule of Ali Ben Youssef Ben Tachfine who enlarged the city and provided it with water in big quantity, (by means of khettarat that conveyed underground water from the Atlas mountains).
Building of the Ben Youssef madrasa-mosque (destroyed later et rebuilt in the 16th century, see below) and a nine-km long wall in sun-baked earth (pisé), surrounding the city.
Outstanding monument from this period are: Elboudiyyine dome.
1146-1249
Rule of the Almohads , Marrakech reaches its climax. The city was then the metropolis of the Islamic West with its 100 000 inhabitants.
Outstanding monuments from this period are: The Koutoubia-mosque, the Kasba-mosque, the monumental Bab-Agnaou gate, the huge pools of Agdal and the Menara….
Manuscripts in the Ben Youssef library testify to the very high cultural level reached during that period when about one hundred bookshops and calligraphers could be found in the Koutoubia neighbourhood (koutoub in Arabic means books).
1269-1521
Merinids’ then Wattassids’ rule. During this period, Marrakech is no more the empire’s capital (Fes took over). It was down graded to the role of southern Morocco’s capital (14th century), then to the even less important role of a regional principality’s main city (15th century).
In early 16th century, Marrakech was so a weak city that it became the target of attacks by the Portuguese established in the sea-port of Safi.
1521-1669
Rebirth of Marrakech under the Saadians who re-established their capital there. By late 16th century Marrakech is the capital of an African empire that stretched as far as Timbuktu.
Outstanding monuments of this period are: The Ben-Yussef madrasa, the Saadians’ necropolis, the Badi’ palace, the Mouassin fountain, the Bab-Doukkala fountain, the Mellah (Jewish quarter).
1669 –
When the Saadians handed the power over to the Alaouits, Marrakech lost its statute of Morocco’s capital. Sultan Moula Ismael (1672-1727), choose (for the first time) Meknes as his capital. But later, sultan Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah (1757-1790), rendered Marrakech its glory. He built there the Royal Palace along with the Mechouar squares for sullen ceremonies, he also adorned the city with inner gardens and had mausoleums build over the city patron saints’ tombs. From Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah’s rule until 1912, (Establishment of the French protectorate) Fes and Marrakech are alternative capitals of Morocco.
During the same period, Marrakech was regularly visited by foreign diplomats who came from Europe and the USA to negotiate partnership and friendship agreements with Morocco.
During the 19th century, was rehabilitated anew the Ben Youssef-madrasa and were planted again the Agdal and the Menara royal gardens. The Menara pool was adorned with the charming pavilion that can be seen by its edge; other charming pavilions were built like that of El Bahia and Dar Si Said.
At the same time attempts to modernize Morocco and its economy were made through the construction of plants to process gun-powder (saltpetre), cotton and sugar (cotton and sugar cane were then grown in the vicinity of Marrakech and in the Sous Valley).
In 1912, French troops commanded by col. Mangin occupied Marrakech after defeating El Hiba (proclaimed sultan in the Sous earlier) over a battle in Sidi Bu Othman 30 km north of Marrakech.
In the same year, Thami El Glaoui was appointed Pasha of Marrakech, kind of vice-king for southern Morocco. In fact El Glaoui was given thorough power over southern Morocco from the Jebilet southwards.
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Related Memos:
THE GLAOUIS
AGHMAT
BIRTH OF THE ALMORAVID EMPIRE
THE ALMOHADS' EPICS
ABDEL MUMEN IBN ALI
BEN YOUSSEF MADRASSA AND MOSQUE
MOUASSINE
THE KOUTOUBIA MOSQUE
QASBA OF MARRAKECH
MONUMENTS ALAOUITES
JAMAA ELFNA
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