Saints and Tombs of Fez

Moulay Idris II

The second ruler of the Idrîsid dynasty; he is reckoned the founder of the city of Fez and is there called Mawlây Idrîs . His full name was Abu'l-Qâsim Idrîs b. Idrîs b. 'Abdillâh b. al-Hasan . He was born after his father's death, on 3 Rajab of the year 177 (14 October 793); his mother was a concubine of the tribe of Nafza. His mother was pregnant when his father died; the rearing of the child was taken up by Râshid , his father's servant. Râshid was killed by the Aghlabids in 188 (804). On 1 Rabî' al-awwal of the year 188 (17 February 804), when he was eleven years old, the pledge was taken for him from the Berbers for a second time. When Walîla grew too small he made Fez the capital and built up the city: the Jâmi' al-Ashyâkh was built in 192 (808) and the Jâmi' al-Shurafâ in 193 (809). In 197 (813) he took the regions of Nafîs, Aghmât and Masmûda towards the Atlas, and to the east Nafra and Tlemcen. He died on 10 Jumâdâ al-âkhira of the year 213 (26 August 828), at the age of thirty-six. His Circle of Influence — He organised the state after the manner of an Arab-Islamic state: 'Amr b. Mus'ab became vizier, 'Âmir b. Muhammad judge, and Abu'l-Hasan b. 'Abd al-Malik secretary. The Arabs who came from Kairouan and Cordoba were settled in the quarters of 'Udwat al-Qarawiyyîn and 'Udwat al-Andalus ; the two banks of Fez were founded by this migration. After his death his nine sons divided the country into nine emirates. His Tomb and Complex — His shrine is at Fez.