The history of Mahdia

When in 912, Obeid Allah El Mehdi wanted to choose a new capital for the fatimid dynasty, he waited until his astrologers had read in the stars that the lion, symbol of power, was in ascendance. He then picked the site of Cape Africa, formerly a Carthaginian trading post set on an unassailable peninsula, and gave it the name of Mahdia. He fortified the town and, at the paninsula's narrowest point, constructed an entrance that is dominated by an imposing gateway, La Skiffa El Kahla (the dark porch). Within the town's walls, Prince Fatimid founded his kingdom, building a royal palace, the Great Mosque, administration quarters and workshops for local artisans. The craftsmen-weavers, metalworkers, and jewelers - were forced to live in the suburb of Zouila, thereby creating a bipolar town with a remarkable love of learning and art.

But the Fatimids, weakened by internal uprisings, fied to Egypt and founded Cairo in 973. Mahdia, taken over by the Zirids, became the scene of bloodshed for many centuries. It was attacked first by Norman Sicilians,thenn the Genoese and the Knights of Malta, until the Hafsid dynasty (1234) together with the Muradids (1612) and the Hussaynids (1705) brought stability to the town. Repopulated by Andalusians and Anatolians, Mahdia's cultural heritage went from strength to strength.