The Saadian history of Borj Nord in Fez

Borj Nord, also known as Borj al-Shamal or Burj al-Shamal, is a fort in the city of Fez, Morocco. First established in 1582 by the Saadi sultan Ahmad al-Mansour, it was modeled after 16th-century Portuguese forts. It stands as one of the largest defense structures around the city and is among the few to incorporate European-style changes in military architecture from the gunpowder age.

The fort was built to defend the city from external attacks and to keep the restless population of the old city, Fes el-Bali, under control. It was constructed in a commanding position overlooking the city so that its cannons could easily bombard the city if needed. Saadian rulers built Borj Nord along with Borj Sud, Kasbah Tamdert, and the Borj Sheikh Ahmed to emulate the architecture of the Portuguese, whom they were seeking to oust from Morocco. The construction of these forts was likely aided by the labor and expertise of European prisoners captured in the Battle of the Three Kings in 1578.

Architecturally, Borj Nord reflects the adaptation of Fez's fortifications to artillery warfare. While the original fort was more compact and cubic, large corner bastions were likely added later during the Alaouite period to give it a star-like appearance from above. Today, the fort serves as the Museum of Arms. Founded in 1963, it was the first museum in Morocco specializing in the history of arms and armor, featuring a collection of up to 5,000 pieces from 35 countries.

The museum emphasizes Moroccan arms, including a large number manufactured in the Makina industrial arms factory established in 1886 next to the Royal Palace in Fez. One of the most notable artifacts is an enormous Saadian cannon from the Battle of Three Kings in 1578, which is nearly 5 meters long and weighs around 12 tons. The building, museum, and its collection were extensively restored in 2003.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons