Larache in Barbarien von Spanischen eingenomen

Title

Larache in Barbarien von Spanischen eingenomen

Description

Bird's eye view of the city of Larache in Morocco with its capture by the Spanish in November 1611.

ca. 1612

Artist

Keller (1576-1640)

Georg Keller (born 1576 in Frankfurt on Main; died c. 1640 in Nuremberg). He was a German engraver, etcher, draughtsman and painter.

Historical Description

Morocco: Since the foundation of the first Moroccan state by Idris I in 788 AD, the country has been ruled by a series of independent dynasties, reaching its zenith under Almoravid and Almohad rule, when it spanned parts of Iberia and northwestern Africa. The Marinid and Saadi dynasties resisted foreign domination into the 17th century, allowing Morocco to remain the only northwest African country to avoid Ottoman occupation. The Alaouite dynasty, which rules to this day, seized power in 1631. The country's strategic location near the mouth of the Mediterranean attracted the interest of Europe, and in 1912, Morocco was divided into French and Spanish protectorates, with an international zone in Tangier. It regained its independence in 1956, and has since remained comparatively stable and prosperous by regional standards, with the fifth largest economy in Africa.