Aghmat

Aghmāt was an important medieval Berber town in southern Morocco which is today an archaeological site known as "Joumâa Aghmat". It is situated approximately 30 km east of Marrakech on the Ourika road. The initial "A" of the name may be unvocalized, and the name may sometimes be spelled "Ghmat" or even "Rhmate" (as it appears on Michelin Guide).

According to a Berber legend, Aghmāt was populated by Christian Berbers when it was conquered by the Arab Muslim conqueror of North Africa Uqba ibn Nafi in 683 [E. Lévi-Provençal, "Un nouveau récit de la conquête de l'Afrique du Nord", "Arabica" 1 (1954) 17-43] . However, this story first surfaces almost 700 years after that date, and many historians give it no credibility [A. Benabbès, "Les premiers raids arabes en Numidie byzantine: questions toponymiques", in "Identités et Cultures dans l'Algérie Antique", University of Rouen, 2005 (ISBN 2-87775-391-3)] . It is directly contradicted by one of the earliest Arab historians, al-Baladhuri [al-Baladhuri, "Kitab Futuh al-Buldan", translated by Phillip Hitti in "The Origins of the Islamic State" (1916, 1924).] who states that Musa bin Nusair conquered the Sous and erected the mosque at Aghmāt.

Early history

After the death of Idris II in 828, Morocco was divided among his sons. Aghmāt became capital of the Sous region under the Idrisid prince Abd Allah Ibn Abi Zar, "Rawd al-Qirtas", annotated Spanish translation by A. Huici Miranda, Valencia, 1964] .

When the Almoravids invaded from the Sahara Desert under Abd Allah ibn Yasin, Aghmāt was defended by Laqūt, leader of the Maghrawa tribe. Laqūt was defeated and the Almoravid army entered the city on 23 Rabi II 450 (27 June 1058)Ibn Idhari, "Al-bayan al-mughrib" Part III, annotated Spanish translation by A. Huici Miranda, Valencia, 1963] . One of the wealthiest of Aghmāt's citizens was Laqūt's widow, Zaynab an-Nafzawiyyat, who married the Almoravid leader Abu-Bakr Ibn-Umar and placed her considerable wealth at his disposal. After Abu-Bakr returned to the Sahara Desert in 1071, Zaynab married his successor Yusuf ibn Tashfin.

By 1068/1069, the population of the city had grown considerably, and Abu-Bakr decided to construct a new capital. He founded Marrakech in 1070, after which Aghmāt declined. The Almoravids continued to use it as a convenient backwater in which to exile people. These included Abbad III, sometime king of Seville and Córdoba and noted poet. His tomb remains a place of pilgrimage to this day.

In the years 1126, 1127 and again in 1130, the city saw a number of battles between the Almoravid sultan Ali ibn Yusuf and the Almohad army led by Ibn Tumart and Abd al-Mu'min. Following a general rout of Almoravid forces throughout Morocco and Algeria, Abd al-Mu'min entered Aghmāt without a fight on the middle day of Muharram 541 (27 June 1146).

Beaumier, writing in 1860, stated the town still had a population of 5500, of whom 1000 were Jews [A. Beaumier, notes to French translation of "Rawd al-Qirtas", Paris, 1860] .

Earlier economy

Al Bakri, writing in the 11th century on the eve of the Almoravid rise to power, described Aghmāt as a flourishing city where 100 cattle and 1000 sheep were slaughtered for sale in the Sunday souk (market). The inhabitants elected their own leader. Strictly speaking there were two Aghmāts: the commercial and political center was known as "Aghmāt Wurīka", and 8 miles distant from that was "Aghmāt Aylan" which was closed to outsiders. [Al Bakri, "Kitāb al-Masalik wa'l-Mamalik", French translation by M. de Slane, Paris] . The town was served by the seaport of Qūz [or Aguz, now known as Souira Guedima] on the Atlantic coast three days journey west.

Modern history

On 18 November 1950, during the French occupation of Morocco, a group of Moroccan nationalists associated with the Istiqlal party held a demonstration at the tomb of Abbad III. This was brutally suppressed by police acting under orders from Boujane, the caïd of the local Mesfioua tribe. Subsequent actions became one of the major irritants between Boujane's superior, the powerful Pasha of Marrakech T'hami El Glaoui, and the King of Morocco Mohammed V, which eventually led to the king's removal [Abdessadeq El Glaoui, "Le Ralliement. Le Glaoui, Mon Père" (ISBN 9981-149-79-9)] .

The archaeological ruins visible today consist of part of the city walls, hammam, parts of some houses and qanats (irrigation canals), and some hundred metres or so of the city ramparts.

The tomb of Abbad III is marked by a modern mausoleum erected in 1970 with a cupola in the Almoravid style.

External links

* [http://www.minculture.gov.ma/fr/sitiArch%E9ologique%20Aghmat.htm Moroccan Government web page for the site]
* [http://www.syriatoday.ca/salloum-tomb.htm A modern pilgrimage to the tomb of Abbad III]

References