Idris I (or Idris ibn Abdullah) (Arabic: إدريس بن عبدالله Idrīs ibn ‘Abdallāh) 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[1].
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Idris I was the great grandchild of Hasan, son of Ali and grandson of Prophet Muhammad. He escaped from Syria after the defeat of the Alids by the Abbasids at the battle of Fakhkh in 787 and took refuge in North Africa (nowadays Morocco). There he established the Idrisid dynasty.
In 789 arrived in Walīla, the site of the Roman Volubilis where he founded the town of Moulay Idriss near the hill of Zerhoun surrounding the native Berber tribes. It was then occupied by the Berber tribe of the Awraba, under Ishaq ibn Mohammd. He married Kanza, daughter of Ishaq ben Mohammed the king of the tribe, fathering a son, Idris 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 to cut off relationships and became independent from the Muslim Abbasid caliphate of Baghdad.
Idris I conquered large parts of northern Morocco, and founded the city of Fes, which his son Idris II would make capital city of the Idrisid dynasty. In 789 A.D., he captured Tlemcen (modern day Algeria) which became part of the kingdom. This succession of events prompted vengeance from the Abbasid caliph Harun Al-Rashid, who sent emissaries to kill him. Idris I was poisoned and died in 791. His son, Idris II, was brought up by the Awraba, and left Walīla for Fes in 808. Idris is buried in Moulay Idriss.
Preceded by New creation |
Idrisid dynasty 788–791 |
Succeeded by Idris II |
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