- Fes el Bali
-
Medina of Fez * UNESCO World Heritage Site
Country Morocco Type Cultural Criteria ii, v Reference 170 Region ** Arab States Inscription history Inscription 1981 (5th Session) * Name as inscribed on World Heritage List
** Region as classified by UNESCO- Fes el Bali is not to be confused with the newer and smaller medina, Fes Jdid, which was founded by the Marinid dynasty in 1276.
Fes el Bali (Arabic: فاس البالي) (English: Old fes ) is the oldest and walled part of Fes, Morocco. Fes el Bali was originally founded as the capital of the Idrisid Dynasty in between 789 and 808 AD [1]. Besides being famous for having the oldest university in the world [2] Fes el Bali, with a total population of 156 000, is also believed to be the biggest car-free urban area in the world [3].
Fes el Bali was listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site in 1981 under the name Medina of Fes. The world heritage site includes Fes el Bali's urban fabric and walls and a buffer zone around Fes el Bali [4].
Fes el Bali is, along with Fes Jdid and the French-created Ville nouvelle, one out the 3 main districts in Fes.
Contents
- 1 History
- 2 Tourism
- 3 Threats
- 4 References
- 5 External links
History
Early history
Idrisid Dynasty 789-986
As the capital for his newly acquired empire chose to build a new town on the right bank of the Fes river in 789 a.d. Initially a big proportion of the population were refugees who were fleeing from a uprising in Cordoba (modern-day Spain) [5] However in 809 a.d. his son, |, decided to found a capital of his own on the opposite bank of the Fes River. There were many refugees who decided to settle in the new city this time too, however this time they fle from a uprising in Kairouan (located in modern Tunisia)[6]
Even though they were only separated by a relatively small river the cities developed separately and became two individual cities until they were unified in the 11th century.
One good example of how the refugees contributed to making Fes flourish during the early years is the University of Al-Karaouine that was built by a Tunisian refugee in 859 AD and it is considered the oldest university in the world [7].
The leather tanneries in Fes.
Maghrawa 985-1069
Under the Berber Maghrawa rule Fes el Bali was flourishing and it was the capital of their kingdom in modern day Morocco.
Almoravid and Almohad dynasty 1069–1244
Under the [[Almoravid dynasty|Almoravids], Fes lost its status as a capital when the Almoravids created Marrakech, which they made their capital.
The Almoravids destroyed large parts of Fes el Bali but managed to create modern-day Fes el Bali when they united the twin cities by tearing down that separated them and by building bridges across the Fes river.
During Almohad rule, Fes was a thriving merchant city with approximately 120,000 even though it was not a capital, much thanks to a large number of Andalusian immigrants.[8]
Marinid dynasty 1244–1472
After defeating the Almoravids in Morocco, the Marinids moved the capital from Marrakech to Fes [9]. This marked the beginning of the greatest period of the history for Fes el Bali [10]. When the Marinids moved the capital to Fes in 1276 they started building a new town outside the old city walls. At first it was called the white city [11] but after a while it got a new name; Fes Jdid, or new Fes. This is when Fes el Bali, or the old Fes, got its name too. Before Fes Jdid was founded it was simply called Fes.
Most of the principal monuments in Fes el Bali was built during the Marinids. In the 14th century a mellah was added to the urban fabric.
Marinid Rulers of Fes [12]
- Muhammad I (1240–1244)
- Abu Yahya ibn Abd al-Haqq (1244–1258)
- Umar (1258–1259)
- Abu Yusuf Yaqub (1259–1286)
- Abu Yaqub Yusuf (1286–1306)
- Abu Thabit Amir (1307–1308)
- Abu al-Rabi Sulayman (1308–1310)
- Abu Said Uthman II (1310–1331)
- Abu al-Hasan 'Ali (1331–1348)
- Abu Inan Faris (1348–1358)
- Muhammad II as Said (1359)
- Abu Salim Ali II (1359–1361)
- Abu Umar Taschufin (1361)
- Abu Zayyan Muhammad III (1362–1366)
- Abu l-Fariz Abdul Aziz I (1366–1372)
- Abu l-Abbas Ahmad (1372–1374)
- Abu Zayyan Muhammad IV (1384–1386)
- Muhammad V (1386–1387)
- Abu l-Abbas Ahmad (1387–1393)
- Abdul Aziz II (1393–1398)
- Abdullah (1398–1399)
- Abu Said Uthman III (1399–1420)
- Abdalhaqq II (1420–1465)
Wattasid Dynasty 1472 - 1550 a.d.
The Wattasid Dynasty, or sometimes called the Kingdom of Fez, were, like the Marinids, of Berber Zenata descent and the families were related. Having powerful enemies both in the south, Saadi Dynasty, and the north, Spain and Portugal it is quite impressive that this small sultanate managed to stay in power for as long as it did. Eventually it lost the power of Fes to the Saadi Dynasty in 1554.
Wattasid Sultans of Fes[13]
- Abu Abd Allah al-Sheikh Muhammad ibn Yahya 1472-1504
- Abu Abd Allah al-Burtuqali Muhammad ibn Muhammad 1504-1526
- Abu al-Hasan Abu Hasan Ali ibn Muhammad 1526-1526
- Abu al-Abbas Ahmad ibn Muhammad 1526-1545
- Nasir ad-Din al-Qasri Muhammad ibn Ahmad 1545-1547
- Abu al-Abbas Ahmad ibn Muhammad 1547-1549
- Abu al-Hasan Abu Hasun Ali ibn Muhammad 1554-1554
Saadi Dynasty 1554 - 1659
Once again Fes was under an empire that preferred Marrakech as their capital. The Saadis were originally from the south and they managed to outlive and defeat the Wattasids. During their reign they managed to keep both the Ottoman Empire and Portugal out of Fes el Bali. Between 1603 - 1627 a.d. the Saadis appointed a local ruler in Fes, however the ruler had only local power.
- Mohammed esh Sheikh el Mamun (born 1560), (r.1604-1613)
- Abdallah II (r.1613-1623)
- Abd el Malek (r.1623-1627)
Alaouite dynasty 1659 - today
Under Alaouite rule 1669 - 1912 a.d.
Fes was the capital of the Alouite dynasty during this time.
French protectorate 1912 - 1956
The French decides to move the capital from Fes to Rabat where it remains today. However Fes maintains its status as a very important city. The French also built the Ville Nouvelle of Fes in 1916.
Independence 1956 - today
Fes has become a increasingly important tourist and economic city of Morocco
Tourism
- For further reading on tourism in Fes el Bali see this article
Mules are used to transport goods in the car-free Medina.Fes el Bali is the main tourist attraction of Fes and for the past few years Fes el Bali has seen a boom in the number of visitors that come here.
The main sight is the Medina in itself, how people go on living their daily life as they have done for centuries, the local markets and the architecture.
However in comparison to cities like Marrakech tourism in Fes el Bali is still very modest.
Threats
According to Unesco there are two main problems and threats to this World heritage site
- A ever-increasing population in an already dangerously overpopulated area and the uncontrolled urban development which is a result of that.[14]
- The deterioration of the buildings [15]
Because of the vulnerability of the site the State has adopted a special plan to care for this world heritage site and every building and monument it contain.[16] The aim is to prevent houses from collapsing, increase sustainable tourism and to safeguard everything.
References
- ^ http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/170
- ^ http://collegestats.org/articles/2009/12/top-10-oldest-universities-in-the-world-ancient-colleges/
- ^ http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/transportation/photos/7-car-free-cities/the-medina-of-fes-al-bali-morocco-pop-156000
- ^ http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/170/multiple=1&unique_number=188
- ^ http://www.macalester.edu/courses/geog261/Vargo_Fes/History.html
- ^ http://www.macalester.edu/courses/geog261/Vargo_Fes/History.html
- ^ http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/170
- ^ http://www.lat34north.com/cities/CitiesFes.cfm
- ^ http://www.lat34north.com/cities/CitiesFes.cfm
- ^ http://www.lat34north.com/cities/CitiesFes.cfm
- ^ http://www.lat34north.com/cities/CitiesFes.cfm
- ^ http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsAfrica/AfricaMorocco.htm#Alawi
- ^ http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsAfrica/AfricaMorocco.htm#Alawi
- ^ http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/170
- ^ http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/170
- ^ http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/170
External links
World Heritage Sites in Morocco Northern 
Central Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador) · Medina of Marrakech · Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida)
Southern Coordinates: 34°03′40″N 04°58′40″W / 34.06111°N 4.97778°W
File:Leather tanning, Fes.jpg.jpg
Categories:- World Heritage Sites in Morocco
- Fes
- Idrisid dynasty
- Archaeological sites in Morocco
- Moroccan Zaydis
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