Akasbah (/ˈkæzbɑː/,alsoUS:/ˈkɑːz-/;Arabic:قصبة,romanized: qaṣaba,lit. 'fortress',Arabic pronunciation:[qasˤaba],Maghrebi Arabic:[qasˤba]), also spelledqasbah,qasba,qasaba, orcasbah, is afortress, most commonly thecitadel or fortified quarter of a city.[1][2][3][4] It is also equivalent to the termalcazaba inSpanish (Spanish:[alkaˈθaβa]), which is derived from the same Arabic word.[5][6] By extension, the term can also refer to amedina quarter, particularly inAlgeria. In various languages, the Arabic word, or local wordsborrowed from the Arabic word, can also refer to a settlement, a fort, awatchtower, or ablockhouse.
The termqasaba was historically flexible but it essentially denotes a fortress, commonly a citadel that protects a city or settlement area, or that serves as the administrative center.[7]: 228 [8]: 122 [9]: 282 [4] A kasbah citadel typically housed the military garrison and other privileged buildings such as a palace, along with other amenities such as amosque and ahammam (bathhouse).[8]: 147 [9]: 135 Some kasbahs are built in a strategic elevated position overlooking the city, like theKasbah of the Oudayas inRabat,Morocco, or theAlcazaba of Málaga inSpain.[9]: 135 [7] It could also be a large purpose-built royal quarter, protected by its own set of walls, that housed the palace of the ruler and the administration of the state. Examples of this include theKasbah of Marrakesh and the Kasbah ofTunis, both founded by theAlmohads, who built or redeveloped similar palace enclosures in many important cities of their empire.[9]: 141 [10][8]: 195–197 In some cases, kasbahs could be simple fortified enclosures around a city that housed military garrisons, without being the main citadel. InFez, for example, there were up to 13 kasbahs built throughout the city in different periods, including theKasbah an-Nouar and theKasbah Cherarda.[11][12]
According to architect and restorerLeopoldo Torres Balbás, theAlcazaba of Málaga is the prototype of military architecture in theTaifa period inAl-Andalus, with its double wall and many fortifications. Its only parallel is the castle ofKrak des Chevaliers inSyria.[13] Examples of otheralcazabas in Spain include theAlcazaba of Almería, the Alcazaba ofAntequera, theAlcazaba of Badajoz, the Alcazaba ofGuadix, theAlcazaba of Mérida, theCastle of Molina de Aragón, the Alcazaba ofAlcalá la Real and in theAlcazaba of the Alhambra inGranada.
In Morocco, the term "kasbah" is also used in predominantlyAmazigh regions to denote a fortified residence (tighremt inAmazigh languages), often built ofmudbrick, such as theKasbah of Telouet or theKasbah Amridil.[14][15] In southernTunisia, the term is sometimes applied to a type offortified granaries (also known asksour).[16]
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The wordkasbah may also be used to describe the old part of a city, in which case it has the same meaning as amedina quarter. InAlgiers, the nameqasaba originally referred to the upper part of the city which contained the citadel and residence of the rulers.[17] Following theFrench conquest of the country in 1830, most of the historic lower town of Algiers was demolished and remodeled alongEuropean lines. The only part of the old city that remained relatively untouched was the upper town, thus known as the"Casbah" of Algiers.[17][9]: 237 TheCasbah of Dellys is another example of the term being used for an old city.
TheEncyclopædia Britannica article onAsir (southwestern province of Saudi Arabia), mentions that "ancientqasaba ("towers") found in the province were used aslookouts orgranaries."[18] Another book describes these towers as follows: "Apparently unique to Asir architecture are the qasaba towers. Controversy surrounds their function – some argue that they were built as lookouts, and others that they werekeeps, or even granaries. Perhaps it is a combination, although the right position of awatchtower, on a hill top, is the wrong place for a keep orgranary."[19] Archaeologists have found images of similar towers in the ruins ofQaryat al-Fāw, in theRub' al Khali of Saudi Arabia, that date from between the 3rd century BCE to the 4th century CE. "Homes rose two stories, supported by stone walls nearly two meters (6') thick and boasting such amenities as water-supply systems and second-floor latrines. One eye-catching mural faintly depicts a multi-story tower house with figures in the windows: Its design resembles similar dwellings today inYemen and southernSaudi Arabia."[20]
"Most of the qasabas have a circular plan, although some are square. Sometimes they have a band ofquartz stones just below the windows or framing the windows – one well preserved example is at the top of Wadi Ain. The remains of amartello tower-like stone structure are just off the dirt track north of Al-Masnah. It appears to be an interesting antecedent of theAsir farmhouse and perhaps closely related to the qasaba. It is in ruins now, but was once a dwelling and is strongly defensive."[19] One account says about a traditional village in Al-Bahah, Saudi Arabia: "Even the road that leads to the village is impressive, and several historical stone and slate towers dot the way. Al-Bahah Province is known as the region of 1001 towers, once built to protect villages, roads and plantations from rivalling tribes. Today, these towers are abandoned, and many of them are partially or completely in ruins."[21]
Central part of a town or citadel.
qaṣba: alsoqaṣaba, casbah, kasba(h); fortress
Sing. burdj, hisn, qal'a, qulay'a, qarya, qasaba. These Arabic terms for the highly varied forms of fortified settlement with or without an administrative centre can be found in Spanish placenames even now, most frequently al-qal'a and its diminutive alqual'aya: Alcala de Henares, Alcala la Real, Calahorra, Alcolea del Cinca. (...) Alcazaba: Spanish, from the Arabical-quasaba [sic], fortress, fortified, fortified town, also administrative centre.
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