RAKEN Travel  >  Morocco  > The Imperial Cities

The Imperial Cities  :   Fez   Marrakesh   Rabat   Meknes

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Four Moroccan cities bear the title "imperial", an allegiance to the "Sharifian Empire", the name the Sultanate of Morocco had during most of its history. These cities all have in common their deep roots in Moroccan history and the fact that they were, each in turn (some for several turns), the political capitals of the Sultanate and Empire.

A tour of the Imperial Cities is the best way to discover the rich and colourful culture of Morocco, the land which is known in the Arab World as "El Maghreb" - the land of the sunset, the most Western part of the Islamic Arab culture. 

To help you better understand the role these cities played in Morocco's history, you may orient yourself using the following timetable of the different dynasties that succeeded each other at the helm of the Moroccan kingdom :
 

Beginning of the Arab conquest of Morocco and introduction of Islam

 
Reign of Youssef Ben Tachfine (founder of Marrakesh)

Reign of Yacoub El Mansour  (building of the Hassan Tower in Rabat, the Koutoubia in Marrakesh and the Giralda in Seville)

Reign of Abu Youssef Yacoub (building of Fez El Jedid)
Reign of Abu Hassan (building of the Chellah necropolis at Rabat)

Battle of the Three Kings ends Portuguese rule
Reign of Ahmed El Mansour (Saadian tombs at Marrakesh)

Reign of Moulay Ismail (the builder of Meknes)