Qasba al-Mahdiyya
Mehdia, Morocco

The first fortress on the rocky hill at the mouth of the Sebou River was started by the Portuguese during a very brief occupation in 1515/921 AH.  The Spanish occupied the city in 1614/1022 AH and completed a fortress.  Forces loyal to the Moroccan Sultan Moulay Ismail recaptured the city in 1681/1091 AH.  The southern walls of the city were reinforced, and a monumental gateway, Bab Jdid, was constructed.  Inside the walls were the governors palace, gardens, a hamam, mosque, and munitions storage.  

Between 2010 and 2012 the Casbah was partially restored under the auspices of the Moroccan Institute for Archaeological Sciences and Heritage (ALINSAP) with support from the U.S. "Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation" and a supplementary budget from the Cultural Heritage Department at the Moroccan Culture Ministry.

SOURCES: 

Coindreau, Roger. Roger Coindreau. La Casbah De Mehdia. Rabat: Les Éditions La Porte (impr. De F. Moncho), 1946.

DarnaTelevision. "La Kasbah De Mehdia (Palais De Dar El Makhzen) De Kénitra Restauré." YouTube. April 19, 2012. Accessed October 12, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VwvDub95T8.

Lakhdar, Kamal. "Mahdiyya Kasbah." Discover Islamic Art - Virtual Museum - Monument_ISL_ma_Mon01_31_en. Accessed October 01, 2016. http://www.discoverislamicart.org/database_item.php?id=monument%3BISL%3Bma%3BMon01%3B31%3Ben.

Marcais, G. "L'Architecture Militaire." In Manuel D'art Musulman. Vol. 2, 732-38. Paris, 1927.

"MOROCCO: International Cooperation Helps Restore Crumbling Ancient Moroccan 'kasbah' Fortress." ITNSource. April 23, 2012. Accessed October 12, 2016. http://www.itnsource.com/shotlist/RTV/2012/04/23/RTV1243212/?v=2.

"MOROCCO: International Cooperation Helps Restore Crumbling Ancient Moroccan 'kasbah' Fortress." ITNSource. N.p., 23 Apr. 2012. Web. 12 Oct. 2016. http://www.itnsource.com/shotlist/RTV/2012/04/23/RTV1243212/?v=1

"Qasaba of Mahdiyya." Qantara. Accessed October 01, 2016. http://www.qantara-med.org/qantara4/public/show_document.php?do_id=1184&lang=en.

Location

Mehdia, Morocco

Images & Videos

Associated Names

Events

17th c./11th c. AH

Style Periods

1130-1269
1631

Dimensions

10 h.

Variant Names

Mahdiyya Kasbah
Translated
Casbah de Mehdia
Translated

Site Types

military
palatial

Materials/Techniques