Basra ٱلْبَصْرَة | |
|---|---|
Temporary capital of theIdrisid dynasty | |
  Basra Historic location in Morocco | |
| Coordinates:34°48′24″N5°52′14″W / 34.80667°N 5.87056°W /34.80667; -5.87056 | |
| Country |  Morocco |
| Region | Rabat-Salé-Kénitra |
| Built byIdrisids | 833 |
| Founded by | Muhammad ibn Idris |
| Named after | Basra,Iraq |
Basra (Arabic:ٱلْبَصْرَة), nicknamedBasra al-Hamra (Arabic:ٱلْبَصْرَة الحَمْراءُ,lit. 'Basra the Red'), was a settlement and historic town in northwesternMorocco. It was founded in 833 by theIdrisid dynasty, under the reign of the EmirMuhammad ibn Idris II.[1] It was originally the summer capital of the Idrisid dynasty from the 8th to 10th centuries after they were driven out of Fes by theFatimids. It is currently located in theRabat-Salé-Kénitra region. It is situated on the road from Souq al-Arba toOuezzane, about 40 km from the Atlantic coast and 20 km south ofKsar el-Kebir.
It was named after the city ofBasra inIraq by the Idrisids in remembrance of it.[2] It experienced considerable development and quickly emerged from a simple village to the summer residence of the Idrisid emirs.[3] The geographer and travellerIbn Hawqal in the 9th century described it as a flourishing commercial centre and mentioned that it is of medium size and is surrounded by defensive walls. He also said that it was served by two river ports as a thriving center of commerce and an important area of cotton and grain production. Its main products were cereals, wheat, barley and cotton which it exported toIfriqiya.[4]
At the beginning of the 9th century, along withAsilah, Basra appeared to be a monetary minting workshop which producedIdrisid dirhams, the currency of the Idrisid Emirate.[4] In 979, the Fatimids led a military expedition toCeuta, and on the way they destroyed the walls and fortifications of Basra. The red earth fortifications which gave it its nickname were destroyed in 979 but the city lingered on. WhenLeo Africanus (1488–1548) explored it, it was in ruins.[3]
The excavations undertaken in this site since 1980 have allowed a better understanding of the spatial organization of the site, the discovery of a metallurgical workshop and lithic tools attesting to the archaeological importance of the city. The wall of the city of al-Basra, once pierced by ten gates, was largely destroyed. Its layout, of which only the foundations remain, marries the relief and extends over a length of 2.5 km circumscribing an area of 30 hectares. The wall, 2.20m thick, is built of rubble and reinforced by semi-circular towers. A cistern built of stone was also brought to light by the excavations. It is covered by a vault supported by transverse arches and is 4.25m wide and 6m long.[3]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)34°48′19″N5°52′11″W / 34.80528°N 5.86972°W /34.80528; -5.86972
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