Tangier

Tangier (Arabic: طنجة; Amazigh Tanja, ⵟⴰⵏⵊⴰ, Greco-Roman: Tingis) is a city in northern Morocco, in the Western Rif. It is the capital of the area of Tangier-Tetouan and Tangier-Asilah prefecture. Located at the northern end of the country, the city is the main gate of Morocco on Europe, All which it is separated by 14 km of the Strait of Gibraltar. Its population W


AS 669.685 Inhabitants in the census of 20.041, making it the fifth Largest city in Morocco. It Was dubbed "the city of strangers" Because Of icts Many settlements (Phoenicians, Romans, Vandals, Arabs, Portuguese, English, French and Spanish).


Tangier is located in the bay of the same name, opened on the western end of the Strait of Gibraltar, about 15 kilometers from the Spanish coast. First established on the hill of the Kasbah, the city gradually spread over the mountains bordering the west towards Cape Spartel (Marshan plateau, Old Mountain) and then along the beach towards Cape Malabata. Despite these reliefs, the site presents no significant river system.

The climate is Mediterranean, Tangier moderated by the oceanic influence and the breath of Chergui, with four distinct seasons: wet and mild winter, warm summer and dry, moderate rain inter-seasons. However, the city is often subject to severe weather such as strong winds and heavy rainfall (eg 200 mm of rain in one day, November 23, 2008). Rainfall ranges between 700 and 1000 mm per year. For temperatures, the record low is -4.2 ° C January 28, 2005 and for the record heat is 43.5 ° C on 1 August 2003

After a Phoenician presence, he remains two small cemeteries, the city was actually founded in the fourth century BC by the Carthaginians, who made ​​a counter (Tingi). In 146 BC, to the fall of Carthage, the city is connected to the Mauretania and became a Roman colony (Tingis) related to the province of Spain. Tangier takes such importance, it becomes, to the third century, the Mauritanian capital Tingitane. In the fifth century, Tangier was occupied by the Vandals. Released during the reign of Justinian in the early sixth century, it is attached to the Byzantine empire.

General Moussa Ibn Umayyad Noussaïr interested in Tangier for its strategic position and it is from there that 711, will begin the conquest of Spain by the troops of Tarik Ibn Ziad, who Gibraltar, among others, owes its name (Jebel Tarik Mount Tarik). During the five centuries after the dynasties of Morocco, Tunisia and Spain dispute the sovereignty of Tangier. The Idrisids masters of Volubilis, the Umayyads of Spain, compete on it for over a century. In the middle of the tenth century, the Fatimids of Tunisia to extend their authority. In 1075, in lesAlmoravides become masters until 1149, when the city fell to the Almohads. She enfeoffs Hafsides to Tunis before becoming Merinid en12743.

After three attempts to seize the Portuguese in 1471 and second to England in 1661 as dowry brought by Catherine of Braganza her husband Charles II of England. Back when Tangier was still a Portuguese city, it was the capital of the Algarve in Africa, we must not forget that there were two Algarve at the time, one in Europe and one in Africa [ref. needed] 4. Moulay Ismail in 1679 (chérifien Empire Alawi) laid siege to Tangier which is en1684 abandoned by decision of Charles II estimating its occupation by the British troops unnecessary and too costly.

As a result of the assistance provided by the Sultan Abd ar-Rahman ibn Hisham to the Algerian emir Abd El-Kader, the French launched a raid on Tangier retaliation led by the Prince de Joinville who bombed the city in 1844 and dismantles fortifications.

European rivalry for control of the city, door ajar on Morocco, began in the late nineteenth century. France, Spain, the United Kingdom and Germany increasing diplomatic and trade missions to place their pawns, putting the city at the center of international rivalries. In 1880, the Madrid Convention attempts to define the relations between the major powers over Morocco. Driven by Chancellor Bulow who hears Remember way sensational, that Germany will not let get away and that France can not change the political situation in Morocco without the authorization of a new international Conference Guillaume He arrived March 31, 1905 the imperial yacht Hohenzollern in Tangier for a few hours and denounces, after a meeting with the uncle of the sultan, the French and Spanish designs on Morocco, causing a diplomatic crisis: the crisis Tangier. In 1906 the Algeciras Conference redefines the positions of each in Africa recognizing the independence of the sultan and affirming the equality of the signatories in the economic field. In 1923 the negotiations resulted in making an international zone free from customs duties. On 24 July 1925, the final status of Tangier is signed by theKingdom Kingdom, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United States, Portugal, Soviet Union and France, which will join the Italy later.

The city now has its financial autonomy. It endows an international administration, especially in a legislature, composed of thirty international officials appointed by their respective consuls and nine Moroccans. The era of "International Status" is that of most international Tangier, both in culture and in the business, benefiting from the facilities offered to smuggling, espionage and counterfeiting.

In June 1940, after the French defeat, the Spanish Nationalist troops occupied Tangier and allow, in March 1941, the installation of the German consulate in mendoubia (Mendoub residence) where the Nazi flag fleet. In March 1944, Spain is from the German consulate mendoubia before removing, LE9 October 1945, troops from Tangier, which will regain its international status. Between 1939 and 1950, Tanger has seen its population triple to more than 150,000 residents.

April 10, 1947, Sultan Mohammed V, accompanied by Crown Prince Moulay Hassan (the future Hassan II), delivered the first speech in Tangier, which refers to a unified and independent Morocco attached to the Arab nation. In 1956, with the independence of Morocco, the conference Fedala (8 to 29 October) makes Tangier in Morocco. A Royal Charter maintains the freedom of exchange and trade until 1960, when the Moroccan government abolished the tax benefits and Tangier are left with is identical to that of other cities of the kingdom status. To avoid a significant capital flight, the port of Tangiers has a free zone.

The city known for ten years (2000) a spectacular development.