Built on the ruins of Chellah, which was prosperous during the 8th century, Rabat was made the military barracks of the Zenetes, a Berber tribe in the 10th century. What remains of the site today is the Kasbah des Oudaias. In the 12th century, Rabat became the capital city of Almohades. It was Yacoub El Mansour who gave the name to the city as Ribat El Fath, which means the ‘Victory Fortress’. It was during the time of Yacoub El Mansour when many architectural wonders were built, including the famous Hassan Mosque, which would have been one of the grandest and biggest mosques in the Arab world at that time if it had been completed. The great gate of the Kasbah des Oudaias was also constructed during his time alongside many other noteworthy architectural gems. Under the reign of Moulay Rachid, Rabat was ripe with prosperity. He ordered more walls to be built to protect the city and finished the construction of the Kasbah and the port. Rabat has long been linked to Sale, its twin sister. In the 17th century, Rabat and Sale were renowned for their pirates. During that time, the Republic of the Bou Regreg was the base of the world’s piracy and pirates from Morocco were believed to have travelled as far as Ireland. Mausoleum of Mohammed V was built in 1962 as one of the significant landmarks of Rabat. The mausoleum stands tall, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the Bou Regreg river. Many historical attractions can still be found today in Rabat. The citadel of Chellah is worth visiting, especially if you want to imagine what Rabat was like during its prosperous days. | 
