The Fortress of Al-Ukhaidir () or Abbasid palace of Ukhaider is located roughly 50 km south of

Karbala Karbala is a major city in central Iraq. It is the capital of Karbala Governorate. With an estimated population of 691,100 people in 2024, Karbala is the second largest city in central Iraq, after Baghdad. The city is located about southwest ...

Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...

. It is a large, rectangular fortress erected in 775 AD with a unique defensive style. Constructed by the

Abbasid The Abbasid Caliphate or Abbasid Empire (; ) was the third caliphate to succeed the prophets and messengers in Islam, Islamic prophet Muhammad. It was founded by a dynasty descended from Muhammad's uncle, Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib (566–653 C ...

caliph

As-Saffah Abu al-ʿAbbās Abd Allāh ibn Muḥammad ibn ʿAlī ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-ʿAbbās (‎; 721/722 – 8 June 754), known by his ''laqab'' al-Saffah (), was the first caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate, one of the longest and most important c ...

's nephew

Isa ibn Musa ʿĪsā ibn Mūsā ibn Muḥammad ibn ʿAlī ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿal-ʿAbbās (; –783/4) was a nephew of the first two Abbasid caliphs, al-Saffah () and al-Mansur (). He served as governor of Kufa in Iraq for fifteen years and led the suppress ...

, Ukhaidir represents Abbasid architectural innovation in the structures of its courtyards, residences and mosque. Excavations at Ukhaidir were conducted in the early 20th century by

Gertrude Bell Gertrude Margaret Lowthian Bell (14 July 1868 – 12 July 1926) was an English writer, traveller, political officer, administrator, and archaeologist. She spent much of her life exploring and mapping the Middle East, and became highly inf ...

, who wrote the first major report on the remains. Ukhaidir was an important stop on regional trade routes, similar to Atshan and Mujdah.The Fortress of Al-Ukhaidar - UNESCO World Heritage Centre
/ref> The complex comprises a primary hall, a large

Iwan An iwan (, , also as ''ivan'' or ''ivān''/''īvān'', , ) is a rectangular hall or space, usually vaulted, walled on three sides, with one end entirely open. The formal gateway to the iwan is called , a Persian term for a portal projecting ...

, a reception hall and servants quarters. The fortress exemplifies Abbasid architecture in

by demonstrating the "despotic and the pleasure-loving character of the dynasty" in its grand size but cramped living quarters. The current name could be related to ''Isma'il ibn Yusuf al-Ukhaidhir'' from

Banu Ukhaidhir The Banu 'l-Ukhaidhir (), informally as Ukhaydhirites, was an Arab dynasty that ruled in al-Yamama (central Arabia) from 867 to at least the mid-eleventh century. An Alid dynasty, they were descendants of Muhammad through his daughter Fatima a ...

who launched a rebellion against the

, then later he became the governor of

Kufa Kufa ( ), also spelled Kufah, is a city in Iraq, about south of Baghdad, and northeast of Najaf. It is located on the banks of the Euphrates, Euphrates River. The estimated population in 2003 was 110,000. Along with Samarra, Karbala, Kadhimiya ...

with the support of

Qarmatians The Qarmatians (; ) were a militant Isma'ili Shia movement centred in Al-Ahsa in Eastern Arabia, where they established a religious state in 899 CE. Its members were part of a movement that adhered to a syncretic branch of Sevener Ismaili ...

World Heritage Status

This site was added to the

UNESCO World Heritage World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an international treaty A treaty is a formal, legally binding written agreement between sovereign states and/or international organizations that is governed by int ...

Tentative List on July 7, 2000, in the Cultural category.

Gallery

File:حصن الاخيضر.jpg , Al-Ukhaidir Fortress File:حصن الاخيضر 8.jpg , Al-Ukhaidir Fortress 8 File:حصن الاخيضر في كربلاء.jpg , Al-Ukhaidir Fortress in Karbala File:حصن الاخيضر بشكل جديد.jpg , Al-Ukhaidir Fortress New File:حصن الاخيضر (5).jpg , Al-Ukhaidir Fortress 5 File:Al-Ukhaidir Fortess.jpg , Al-Ukhaidir Fortress File:Al-Ukhaidir Fortess 1.jpg , Al-Ukhaidir Fortress 1 File:USMC-041229-M-0095Z-123.jpg , Al-Ukhaidir Fortress File:Al Ukhaidir Fortress Iraq عراق.jpg , Al-Ukhaidir Fortress Iraq File:حصن الاخيضر (2).jpg , Al-Ukhaidir Fortress 2

Notes

References

Ukhaidir (Iraq) - About.com
Accessed 2009-09-25. * Hillenbrand, R (1999), ''Islamic Art and Architecture'', Thames and Hudson, 1999. 775 establishments World Heritage Sites in Iraq History of Karbala Governorate Military history of the Abbasid Caliphate Abbasid architecture Abbasid palaces Castles in Iraq Palaces in Iraq Lakhmids 8th-century fortifications {{Palace-stub