Marrakech, The capital of the
South of Morocco, has undergone tremendous changes throughout
its history of nine long centuries. An amalgam of splendid
moments and glory accompanied with long somber years. The
greatest kings as well as the dynasties of all eras that succeeded
one another fought for it. Marrakech was founded in 1070 by
the Almoravid Youssef Ibn Tachfine. Under the reign of the
Almoahad sovereigns, the city witnessed a new prosperity era.
The Koutoubia mosque was constructed by Abdelmoumen Almowahidi
on the ruins of the Almoravid foundations. The successors
of he Almowahads carried out the real renovations of the capital.
The decline of Marrakech was triggered by the conquest of
the city by the Marinids in 1269. The renaissance of the capital
under the Saadian sovereigns led to a new artistic boom witnessed
by the ruins of Albadii Palace and the Saadian Tombs. With
the arrival of the Alaouit and the great Moulay Hassan the
first, proclaimed king in 1879, the city regained all its
prestige with the restoration of the Kasbah the ramparts and
the construction of new mosques.
