Fes history

Fès is the oldest of Morocco's imperial cities. Fès was founded in 789 and from its creation, has always been a city of tolerance. Emigrants from Andalucia and from Tunisia helped to give the city a definite Arab character. Subsequently, there were arrivals by Muslims from elsewhere in North Africa and the Middle East, as well as many Jews, who developed their own quarter in the city called Mellah. By the 11th century, it had a population of more than half a million inhabitants including Moors, Berbers, Jews, Turks and Christians.

Fès reached its zenith as a center of learning and commerce in 1269 when the Merenids make it their new capital. Many great buildings and monuments sprung up during the following two centuries. It was an important trading centre and its artistic and academic prestige became known throughout Europe.

By the16th century, the city had lost its capital status and suffered several changes of fortune, but in the 18th century -during the reign of Moulay Abdallah- it became the capital once more

In 1912, most of Morocco came under French control and the country became a protectorate, with Rabat chosen as the capital. It retained this status after 1956 when the country became independent.