Safi Moroccan/Portugese fortress cannons
 

I have visited this town a couple of times and thought others may be interested is seeing some pics of the fortress. Originally built by the Portugese in 1508 on the Moroccan coast and fell to the local population in 1541. It was later restored in the 1960's. My daughter and I were the only people in this fortress

more pics

Wow!!
 

Wow!!!

What a great fortress and those canons are incredible. Did not realize there size until the photo with your daughter that showed the scale of them. The cast bronze barrels with the Islamic signature were simply amazing.

Noticed there was one iron canon, would think that would be a later version. Also saw the red bronze disease in the closeup, just adds to the beauty of these guns....

Thanks for posting these,

rand

I hate to be redundant - but, Wow! That is a wonderful place, with a fine collection of artillery that most of us will never have a chance to see in person. I appreciate your taking the time to share the pics with us.
Berk

The many fortress along the coast are made of unadorned stone. The fortresses inland are huge stuckoed walled cities. If interested I can post some pics. You do not see cannons inland. In Essouria a much larger coastal city you see larger mainly european cannons

I love seeing the Arabic script on "European" looking cannons. Thank so much for sharing.

Hi Ward
Have you also been up north in Mazagan ( El Jadida ) ?
It was the last place that Portuguese had to abandon ( 1769 ). The citadel is impressive, its water cistern is famous.

Yes I have. Nice place I generally spend more time in the south around Tefrout. but I have been all over Magrib except the Mediterranean cost and the algerian border. I am allergic to land mines.
Fernando do you go over to North Africa ? maybe we will meet up

Hi Battara

You mean "real" European cannons. I have searched for that name engraved in one of the pieces pictured by Ward. ( Coenraed ) Wegawaert was a Dutch cannon maker, and apparently a famous one. His name was found in pieces made in 1649, equipping the Portuguese galleon Sacramento wrecked in Brazil in 1668.
But tell me, do you like old cannons ? When you have the time, take a quick trip to the Portuguese Military Museum. There you will find one the greatest collections around. Also a real huge piece with an Arabic inscription. In fact, such inscription saved its life, as it was close to be melted for the casting of a monument to King Dom José, when suddenly the text was translated and it was decided to preserve such magnificent piece.
I hope Ward doesn't mind. Here are some pictures of the cannon yard, taken during my last visit there. One of the pieces is my wife :eek: .

I definatly do not mind excellent pics. I might have to take a look at those in person one day. Here is one of my wife on top of one the cannons in Mogadir

Long time i don't go there. I used to drive over during my hollidays, for very short periods. Crossing the car ferry in Algeciras, one hour to arrive in Ceuta. Then Tethuan, Tanger, Fez, Rabat and Casablanca ... never further. I know Mazagão by the books and chronicles. Maybe some day i go back there, and such time will be further south.

You are missing all the fun. Stay in some of the Berber areas. French and Arabic only but a lot more laid back

You mean Agadir?!
I have read that most of the cannons in that fort are Spanish, but one is left from the Portuguese.
I remember hearing about the earthquake, when i was a boy.

Sorry modern name is Essouria. Agadir was leveled by a earthquake back a few years ago as you mentioned. Modern town now of zero interest. Nothing of historic interest remains there

Right, Essouria. I also mixed the places. The story of the one only Portuguese cannon is precisely where you took the pictures.

I will take some closeups of cannons next time in Essouria. Here is a close of one of the cannons not a great photo

Spanish, no doubt

Here is the Portuguese cannon at Essouria.
I caught these pictures and i know of its existence, through a blog of a Biker that usually travels down there.

just for fun, here below the translation of Arabic script read on two canons
first, the pic of vertical canon
second, the horizontal pic

1- who gave order to manufacture Ibn El Walid Amir al-Mu'minin (أمير المؤمنينCommander of the Faithful or Leader of the Believers) ???? Amir al-Mu'minin

then a sign illegible :shrug:

the Commander of the Faithful Hassan God helping him to be the conquerant
year 1042 (Gregorian 1633)



2- God is The Most Great (Allahu Akbar)
who gave order to manufacture Abdallah El Walid Amir al-Mu'minin (أمير المؤمنين Commander of the Faithful or Leader of the Believers) Ibn Zeid Amir al-Mu'minin

then a sign illegible :shrug:

the Commander of the Faithful Hassan God helping him to be the conquerant
year 1044 (Gregorian 1635)

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Dom

That was great, Dom

الله أكبر

Allways a pleasure seeing somebody translating Arabic scripts.
For non Arabic speackers like me, this is not a writing system, but a puzzle.

Fernando

Hi Dom
I have sent you a private email with some pictures attached, but i ignore if you can open de said pictures.
Kindly tell about
Thanks
Fernando

Shukran Dom. What takes you a few minutes to translate takes me a 1/2 to 1 hour. Now arabic caligraphy that is a puzzle meant to drive me insane

Hi Fernando
not received yet any pic's :confused:
I checked my profil and my email address is valid :shrug:
any way here it is : domayeux@noos.fr

Rgds

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Dom

Dom, many many thanks for your wonderful translations! :D

Afuwane Ward ;)
to be honest :D
no glory for me, all privileges are due to the qualities of my sweet spouse ;)
as, Egyptian Lady she is the "Arabic Scribe" :p
I may speak, but absolutely ignorant for writing and reading unfortunately ... I'm just a Frenchie :shrug:

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Dom

Hi Dom,
I have sent you new email trough this adress.
Thank you
Merci bien
Shukran