Idris I (or
Idris ibn Abdullah) () 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 and Spain.
History
Idriss I was the great grandchild of
Hassan, son of
Ali the cousin 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 Morocco.
The Tomb of Idris I (green roofed structure, bottom left)
In 789 arrived in Walīla, the site of the
Roman Volubilis. It was then occupied by the Berber tribe of the Awraba, under Ishaq ibn Mohammd. He married Kanza, of the tribe, fathering a son, Idriss II. He then procedded to conquer large parts of northern
Morocco, and founded the city of
Fes, which his son
Idriss II would make capital city of the Idrissid dynasty. Morocco became the second Muslim State after
Al Andalus to cut off relationships and became independent from the
Muslim Abbasid caliphate of
Baghdad.
Idriss I then 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. Idriss I died poisoned in 791. His son, Idriss II, was brought up by the Awraba, and left Walīla for Fes in 808.
