الرباط: حكاية مدينة بين أمواج التاريخ والهوية الملكية

Rabat: The story of a city between the waves of history and a royal capital

Rabat, this enchanting city nestled on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, is not just Morocco's modern capital; it is an open book recounting pages of ancient history. Away from the dryness of academic books, let us embark together on an enjoyable journey through the most important milestones that shaped this ancient city, uncovering the secrets of its origins and the motives that made it a center of royal decision-making.

Birth of a city on the estuary of the Bouregreg River

In its early days, Rabat was merely a strategic location at the mouth of the Bouregreg River, where the Atlantic Ocean mingled with the river's freshwater. Thanks to its fortified location and fertile landscape, the region has attracted numerous peoples and civilizations throughout the ages. Phoenician and Roman presences have also influenced the area, but the true origins of Rabat as it stands today date back to the Almoravid period in the 12th century AD.

The ribat, or "Ribat al-Fath," as it was later called, was a launching point and a bastion for the Almoravid armies crossing into Andalusia to spread or defend Islam. It was not merely a military barracks; it was also a bastion for the righteous and devout, seeking closeness to God and jihad in His cause.

After the Almoravids, came the Almohads, and during the reign of Sultan Yaqub al-Mansur al-Muwahidi In the twelfth century, Rabat also began its golden age. Al-Mansur aspired to build the largest city in the Islamic world, and he embarked on the construction of massive walls, monumental gates such as Bab Rouah and Bab Oudaya, and a grand mosque that was supposed to be the largest of its time. However, it was never completed, and only the towering Hassan Tower, which has become a symbol of the city, remains. Al-Mansur viewed Rabat as a launching pad for his conquests, the seat of his rule, and a thriving commercial and scholarly center.

Pirates and an Independent State: The Republic of Bouregreg

After the fall of the Almohad dynasty, Rabat went through periods of decline and decline, but it regained some of its importance in the 17th century with the influx of Moriscos (Muslims and Jews expelled from Andalusia). They settled in Rabat and Salé, forming what became known as the independent “Bouregreg Republic.” This republic was a unique entity, relying heavily on piracy to finance itself and becoming a thorn in the side of European shipping. This era gave Rabat an adventurous and daring character, making it a center of maritime trade (albeit illicit by today’s standards).

Rabat, the capital of Morocco: A decisive royal decision

Throughout its history, Morocco has had various capitals, such as Fez, Marrakesh, and Meknes. However, the greatest transformation in Rabat's status came with the Sharifian Alaouite dynasty.

In the early twentieth century, with international tensions rising and Morocco entering the French protectorate, a new capital had to be chosen for the kingdom. Fez and Marrakesh, the two ancient cities, were under internal and external pressure and threatened by unrest. In this context, Sultan Moulay Youssef He is the one who made the historic decision to make Rabat the capital of Morocco in the year 1912.

This decision was not a coincidence, but was driven by several strategic motives:

Geographical location: Rabat enjoys a strategic location on the Atlantic coast, facilitating access to the outside world by sea and providing a more open and sophisticated environment than inland cities.

Security and stability: Rabat, due to its location and walls, enjoyed a greater degree of security stability, far from the tribal tensions and unrest that other cities were experiencing at that time.

Symbolism of openness and renewal: The choice of Rabat, a city with a military and maritime history, reflected the Alawite dynasty's desire for renewal and openness to modernity, far removed from the traditional constraints of cities like Fez. Rabat was also a relatively "neutral" city, free from the burden of ancient inter-city conflicts.

Future vision: The vision was to build a modern capital, with contemporary urban planning, that would be a showcase for the Kingdom of Morocco, looking towards the future.

Since then, Rabat has grown and evolved into the beating heart of Morocco, a city that combines ancient history with modernity. Its towering towers blend seamlessly with its ancient walls, and its modern streets embrace archaeological treasures that tell stories from centuries past. Thanks to the rule of the noble Alaouite kings, Rabat continues its journey of development and prosperity, preserving its unique identity as a royal capital and a testament to a great history.