EnglishCastles of Laqbibat and of Lalqáliq
El Araich [Larache, Alarache, Laraish], North Africa, Marocco
Military Architecture
In the second half of the 16th century, the political dispute between the Spaniards, Ottomans and Dutch also extended to North Africa and it is known that one of the main purposes of King Sebastião was the conquest of El Araich. This must have been one of the main reasons that led the king to North Africa and to the disaster of 4th August 1578, with the subsequent defeat of the Portuguese army and the imprisonment of thousands of men.
This was supposedly the year in which the Saadian Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur al-Dahabi, who controlled El Araich, ordered the construction of two fortifications: the Castle of Laqbibat (of the Small Cupolas) and the Castle of Laqáliq (of the Storks). According to what accounts indicate and the proof offered by the forms and techniques of construction, not only were these forts designed by an Italian engineer who worked for the Portuguese king and was held prisoner in Ksar el-Kebir, but the majority of the labour force was supplied by Portuguese prisoners of the battle of 1578, and these must have been the first inhabitants as well. Nowadays, many visitors and even the locals still refer to the first of this group of fortifications as the Portuguese castle.
It is certain that this period has been very poorly researched and there has been much confusion about the origins and names of the existing structures. The Fort of Storks, a large walled triangular-shaped structure surrounded a tower that was in existence as early as the 15th century, the Jewish Tower or Tower of the Jew, square in shape and with evidence of works during the period of Spanish rule. On one side of this tower is the crest of the reigning house of Spain, in which one can still clearly recognize, at the centre, the shield of Portugal.
The Spanish presence is not surprising: between 1610 and 1689 the Spanish occupied the city of El Araich and returned there from 1912 to 1956. Its inclusion in this inventory lies in the constant connection of the Portuguese to that city, at least until the 17th century, as fortress builders. As evidence of this connection one of the oldest plans of El Araich dates back to the late 16th century and was drawn up by another Portuguese, João Mateo Benedetti.
It is to be noted that in the most recent systematic study of El Araich carried out by Spanish authorities, which support and fund the restoration project for a large part of the city, there are clear gaps in research and the works that should yet be promoted. Among these there are a few fortifications more connected to the Portuguese.