Kasbah Mahdiyya facts for kids
Kasbah Mahdiyya (also called Mehdya or Kasbah of Kenitra) is an old fortress in Kenitra, Morocco. It is located where the Sebou River flows into the Atlantic Ocean. This important spot is about 8 kilometers (5 miles) west of the city's train station. The fortress was first built by the Berber Almohad ruler Abd al-Mu'min. It was later restored and improved in the 17th century by the Alaouite rulers.
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History of Kasbah Mahdiyya
The Kasbah Mahdiyya was built in a very important place. This location connects many parts of Morocco. The Sebou River flows from the Atlas Mountains all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. This river was used for boats and trade, reaching inland cities like Fez.
During the Middle Ages, controlling this area was key. It helped with moving supplies, soldiers, and goods. Because of this, many different groups fought over the kasbah throughout history.
Early Beginnings and Almohad Fortress
The first building here might have been a harbor from the 900s. Later, in the 1100s, the Almohad Sultan Abd Al-Mu'min built a dock and a strong fort. He used good quality wood from nearby forests. A small town called Mehdya grew around this fort. It was used as a trading center with Europe until the 1500s.
Changing Hands: Portuguese and Spanish Control
In 1515, the Portuguese took over the area for a short time. They built a fort, but their control lasted only a few weeks.
In the 1600s, the site was briefly used by pirates. Then, local leaders tried to become independent. However, Spain soon took control of the area.
In 1614, the Spanish built the La Mamora fortress. They also built the San Felipe bastion fort. These were designed by engineers Cristobal de Rojas and Cristobal Lechuga. They built them on rocks overlooking the river mouth. The strong walls of this Spanish fort became the base for the kasbah we see today.
Alaouite Reconstruction and Modern Times
The Alaouite Sultan Ismail Ibn Sharif took back the area in 1681. He gave the fort its current name, Kasbah Mahdiyya. Sultan Ismail completely rebuilt the kasbah on top of the Spanish fort.
He added many important buildings inside the kasbah. These included an administration building (Dar el-Makhzen), a mosque, and barracks for soldiers. He also built a madrasa (a school), a funduq (a traditional inn), and stables for horses.
Sultan Ismail also fixed the broken walls of the fortress. He removed the southern part to build defense towers and moats (water-filled ditches). He kept the three towers on the northern side. He also built a grand entrance gate on the shore, called Bab al-Jadid. Inside, he created beautiful halls around a central courtyard (sahn) decorated with zellige tiles. There was also a garden and a hamam.
After the late 1700s, the harbor was closed to protect Kenitra. Because of this, the kasbah was left empty.
During World War II, the kasbah was damaged. This happened during the Battle of Port Lyautey.
See also
In Spanish: Fuerte de La Mamora para niños
