AlMansuriyya

AlMansuriyya, also known as Al-Mansuriya, was a major city and the capital of the Fatimid Caliphate in North Africa. Founded in 946 CE by the Fatimid Caliph al-Mansur bi-Allah, it was strategically located near Kairouan in modern-day Tunisia. The city was designed as a grand imperial capital, boasting impressive architecture and infrastructure. Its construction marked a significant period of Fatimid expansion and consolidation of power in the region.

The layout of AlMansuriyya was characterized by its circular plan, a feature that became characteristic of later Islamic capitals such as Samarra and Baghdad. The city housed the Caliphal palace, administrative buildings, mosques, and residential areas. It served as the center of political, economic, and cultural life for the Fatimids for several decades. Its establishment reflected the Fatimids' ambition to create a powerful and centralized state.

However, AlMansuriyya's prominence was relatively short-lived. In 973 CE, the Fatimids moved their capital to the newly founded city of Cairo in Egypt, following their conquest of that territory. This shift in focus led to the gradual decline of AlMansuriyya. While it remained inhabited for some time, it eventually lost its status as the primary seat of Fatimid power and gradually fell into disrepair, becoming largely a ruin. Today, remnants of AlMansuriyya can be found, offering insights into the architectural and urban planning achievements of the early Fatimid period.