The Ribat of Madrid was a small fortified community built between 860-880 AD by order of Emir Muhammad I. It consisted of a 2 km walled enclosure that housed a castle-fortress, civilian medina, and mosque, home to between 2,000-3,000 people. The Ribat was strategically located on the Manzanares River to defend against Christian conquest. After reconquest, it was expanded and renamed the Royal Alcazar of Madrid, which now occupies the site of the original Ribat as the modern-day Royal Palace of Madrid.

1. The Ribat of Madrid By: Raquel Martínez and Tania Rodríguez

2. What is a Ribat? A ribat is a small fortified enclosure where a religious and military community live together. It is inhabited by monks and merchants.

3. The Ribat of Madrid was built on a unknown date placed between the years 860 and 880. The Emir Muhammad I, ordered it to be built The city that was inside of the enclosure was called Mayrit, which means, “land rich in water”.

4. This is the castle-fortress of the Ribat

5. Mayrit was a castle-fortress with a small fortified enclosure of 2 km. Thanks to its position, the Muslims could watch the Manzanares waterway, that was their defence to avoid being conquered by the Christians.

6. Mayrit had three areas. In the north part was the castle-fortress, with a big patio. In the south part was the medina,with the civil population. And in the east part was the mosque. The populationwas between 2,000 and 3,000 people.

7. The Ribat was located where currently is The Royal Palace of Madrid. After the Christian reconquest, The Ribat changed its name into The Real Alcazar of Madrid, and the building expanded until it became The Royal Palace of Madrid.

8. In this photo the Christians had reconquered the land and they had extended the building, that instead of calling it The Ribat, they called it The Royal Alcazar.

9. Nowadays, in The Royal Palace of Madrid we can find some paintings and drawings, that most probably belonged to the Muslims that lived in the Ribat.

10. Sources: www.google.com/paseoporelmadridmusulman http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribat http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palacio_real_de_madrid#Historia