Idris I

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This article is about Idris I of Idrisid. For information on Idris I of Libya, see Idris I of Libya.

Idris I (or Idris ibn Abdullah) was the first ruler and founder of the Idrisid Dynasty, ruling from 788 CE to 791 CE.

[edit] 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 Zarhon surrounding the native Berber tribes. Later on, he will found the city of Fes where his son Idris II will have as a capital city for the 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. This event is considered a consolidation and the birth of both the Idrisid dynasty and the birth of Morocco, the second Muslem State after Al Andalus which cut off relationships and became independent from the Muslim Abbasid caliphate of Baghdad.

Idris I then captured Tlemcen (modern days Algeria) in 789 which became part of the kingdom. This succession of events prompted vengeance from the Abbasid caliph Harun Al-Rashid who sent an emissary called Al-Chamakh poisoning Idris I. He is buried in Volubilis (Arabic: Walili‎).