Ksar-el-Kebir
Encyclopedia
Ksar el Kebir is a city
in northwest of Morocco
with 110,000 inhabitants, about 160 km from Rabat, 32 km from Larache and 110 km from Tangier.
The name of the city is also known as Alcazarquivir in Spanish
or Alcácer-Quibir in Portuguese
. The name means "the big castle".
The city is located nearby the Loukous river that makes Ksar-el-Kebir one of Morocco's richest agricultural regions. Ksar El Kebir provides almost 20% of the needed sugar of Morocco.
Neighbouring cities and towns include Larache, Chefchaouen, Arbawa, Tateft.
Recently, the city was developed in many directions with the upcoming of the new party at the municipality "Al Adala wa Attanmia", they have worked on improving the infrastructure of the old Medina.
The city was conquered under Afonso V of Portugal
in 1458 and was held until 1550.
In 1578, King Sebastian of Portugal
suffered a crushing defeat in the Battle of Alcácer Quibir
at the hands of the King Abd al-Malik
of Morocco
, which ended Portugal's ambitions to invade and Christianize the Maghreb
. Both kings died during the battle. The death of King Sebastião started the events which led to the temporary union of the crowns
of Portugal
and Spain
under Philip II of Spain
. King Abd al-Malik's victory gave Morocco substantial strength and international prestige.
The city experienced a substantial growth with the settling of an important Spanish garrison in 1911 as a part of the Spanish Morocco
Protectorate
in Morocco. After Morocco's independence and the building of the Oued el Makhazine reservoir by King Hassan II
to manage the Loukkos' river regime, the city has become an important regional agricultural distribution center.
In sports, Legendary football player Abdeslam Laghrissi
still keeps his record as the best marksman in the Moroccan championship with 26 goals in 1986.
In music, there is Abdessalam Amer (died 1979) who is well-known in the Arab world as a unique music composer. He left such eternal songs as: Red Moon, Beach, Leaving, The Last Oh!...
In poetry, Mohamed El Khammar El Guennouni (died 1979) is pioneer in modern Moroccan poetry and is regarded as master of free poetry in Morocco. there is also poetess Ouafae El Amrani as a brilliant figure in the new poetic generation.
In novel-writing, There are such great novelists as Mohamed Aslim, Mohamed Harradi, Mohamed Tetouani, Mohamed Sibari and Moustafa Jebari.
In short-story writing, there is the phenomenal Mohamed Said Raihani
who is a trilingual writer (he writes in Arabic, French and English) and who has finished his fortieth manuscript before reaching the age of forty!
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in northwest of Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
with 110,000 inhabitants, about 160 km from Rabat, 32 km from Larache and 110 km from Tangier.
The name of the city is also known as Alcazarquivir in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
or Alcácer-Quibir in Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
. The name means "the big castle".
The city is located nearby the Loukous river that makes Ksar-el-Kebir one of Morocco's richest agricultural regions. Ksar El Kebir provides almost 20% of the needed sugar of Morocco.
Neighbouring cities and towns include Larache, Chefchaouen, Arbawa, Tateft.
Recently, the city was developed in many directions with the upcoming of the new party at the municipality "Al Adala wa Attanmia", they have worked on improving the infrastructure of the old Medina.
History
1st millennium BCE: Established as a Carthaginian colony; after the Punic Wars it came under Roman control with the name Oppidum Novum.The city was conquered under Afonso V of Portugal
Afonso V of Portugal
Afonso V KG , called the African , was the twelfth King of Portugal and the Algarves. His sobriquet refers to his conquests in Northern Africa.-Early life:...
in 1458 and was held until 1550.
In 1578, King Sebastian of Portugal
Sebastian of Portugal
Sebastian "the Desired" was the 16th king of Portugal and the Algarves. He was the son of Prince John of Portugal and his wife, Joan of Spain...
suffered a crushing defeat in the Battle of Alcácer Quibir
Battle of Alcácer Quibir
The Battle of Ksar El Kebir, also known as Battle of Three Kings, or "Battle of Oued El Makhazeen" in Morocco, and Battle of Alcácer Quibir in Portugal , was fought in northern Morocco, near the town of Ksar-el-Kebir and Larache, on 4 August 1578...
at the hands of the King Abd al-Malik
Abu Marwan Abd al-Malik I Saadi
Abu Marwan Abd al-Malik I , often simply Abd al-Malik or Mulay Abdelmalek, was the Saadi Sultan of Morocco from 1576 until his death right after the Battle of Ksar El Kebir against Portugal in 1578.-Saadi Prince:...
of Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, which ended Portugal's ambitions to invade and Christianize the Maghreb
Maghreb
The Maghreb is the region of Northwest Africa, west of Egypt. It includes five countries: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Mauritania and the disputed territory of Western Sahara...
. Both kings died during the battle. The death of King Sebastião started the events which led to the temporary union of the crowns
Iberian Union
The Iberian union was a political unit that governed all of the Iberian Peninsula south of the Pyrenees from 1580–1640, through a dynastic union between the monarchies of Portugal and Spain after the War of the Portuguese Succession...
of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
under Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
. King Abd al-Malik's victory gave Morocco substantial strength and international prestige.
The city experienced a substantial growth with the settling of an important Spanish garrison in 1911 as a part of the Spanish Morocco
Spanish Morocco
The Spanish protectorate of Morocco was the area of Morocco under colonial rule by the Spanish Empire, established by the Treaty of Fez in 1912 and ending in 1956, when both France and Spain recognized Moroccan independence.-Territorial borders:...
Protectorate
Protectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
in Morocco. After Morocco's independence and the building of the Oued el Makhazine reservoir by King Hassan II
Hassan II of Morocco
King Hassan II l-ḥasan aṯ-ṯānī, dial. el-ḥasan ettâni); July 9, 1929 – July 23, 1999) was King of Morocco from 1961 until his death in 1999...
to manage the Loukkos' river regime, the city has become an important regional agricultural distribution center.
- 12th century: City walls are built by the command of the Almohads.
- 1578: The Battle of the Three KingsBattle of Alcácer QuibirThe Battle of Ksar El Kebir, also known as Battle of Three Kings, or "Battle of Oued El Makhazeen" in Morocco, and Battle of Alcácer Quibir in Portugal , was fought in northern Morocco, near the town of Ksar-el-Kebir and Larache, on 4 August 1578...
is fought at the location of Ksar el-Kebir. - 17th century: Sultan Moulay Ismail destroys the city walls of Ksar el-Kebir, after being angered by a local chief.
- 1911: Spain conquers Northern Morocco, and the town is rebuilt, and given a Spanish name, Alcazarquivir.
- 1956: With Morocco's independence, Alcazarquivir is transferred from Spanish control, and renamed Ksar el-Kebir.
Culture
Ksar El Kebir is reputed for the leading artists, writers, poets and sportsmen on national plane.In sports, Legendary football player Abdeslam Laghrissi
Abdeslam Laghrissi
Abdeslam Laghrissi is a retired Moroccan footballer. He is also known as Abdeslam El-Ghrissi.-Club career:...
still keeps his record as the best marksman in the Moroccan championship with 26 goals in 1986.
In music, there is Abdessalam Amer (died 1979) who is well-known in the Arab world as a unique music composer. He left such eternal songs as: Red Moon, Beach, Leaving, The Last Oh!...
In poetry, Mohamed El Khammar El Guennouni (died 1979) is pioneer in modern Moroccan poetry and is regarded as master of free poetry in Morocco. there is also poetess Ouafae El Amrani as a brilliant figure in the new poetic generation.
In novel-writing, There are such great novelists as Mohamed Aslim, Mohamed Harradi, Mohamed Tetouani, Mohamed Sibari and Moustafa Jebari.
In short-story writing, there is the phenomenal Mohamed Said Raihani
Mohamed Said Raihani
Mohamed Saïd Raïhani is a Moroccan translator, novelist and short-story writer born on December 23, 1968 in Ksar el Kebir, north of Morocco...
who is a trilingual writer (he writes in Arabic, French and English) and who has finished his fortieth manuscript before reaching the age of forty!