Idris I

Idris I (or Idris ibn Abdullah) ( _ar. إدريس بن عبدالله) was the first ruler and founder of the Idrisid Dynasty, ruling from 788 to 791 AD. He is credited with founding the dynasty that was instrumental in the early Islamization of Morocco [A History of the Maghrib in the Islamic Period, Jamil M. Abun-Nasr, 1987, p. 52] and Spain.

History

Idris I was the great grandchild of Hassan, son of Ali the cousin of prophet Muhammad. He escaped from the rule of the Abbasids in 786 and took refuge to North Africa (nowadays Morocco) to establish the Idrisid dynasty.He first settled nearby the Roman site of Volubilis where he founded the town of Moulay Idriss near the hill of Zerhoun surrounding the native Berber tribes. Later on, he founded the city of Fes and his son Idris II made it the capital city of his dynasty.

At first he conquered a small territory in the north of Morocco, thus making him being recognized by Berber king of the tribe of Awraba. Idriss I married Kenza, daughter of Ishaq ben Mohammed the king of the tribe, together they had a son Idriss II. This event is considered a consolidation and the birth of both the Idrisid dynasty and the birth of Morocco, the second Muslim State after Al Andalus which cut off relationships and became independent from the Muslim Abbasid caliphate of Baghdad.

Idris I then captured Tlemcen (modern day Algeria) in 789 which became part of the kingdom. This succession of events prompted vengeance from the Abbasid caliph Harun Al-Rashid, who sent emissaries to attempt to kill him. Idris I died poisoned, he is buried in Moulay Idriss.

External links

* [http://www.hukam.net/ "Muslim rulers" at hukam.net]

ee also

*Idris II
*Idrisid dynasty
*History of North Africa

Notes

References

* Julien, Charles-André, "Histoire de l'Afrique du Nord, des origines à 1830", original edition in 1931, new edition by Payot, Paris, 1994
* Abum-Nasr, Jamil M. (1987). A History of the Maghrib in the Islamic Period.