High Middle Ages · Africa · Politics

1269

Merenid dynasty captures Marrakesh

1269

The Marinid Berbers, having fought the Almohads for decades, finally seized Marrakesh and ended the last pretense of Almohad power. Morocco entered a new era under the Marinids, who built spectacular madrasas in Fez, patronized Maliki scholarship, and launched occasional futile jihads across the Strait of Gibraltar. Their rule stabilized Morocco and attracted scholars and artisans from al-Andalus who enriched the kingdom's intellectual and artistic life.