The Abbasids / Al-Raqqa: Caliph Harun al-Rashid’s Capital in Syria

‘Al-Rafiqa (al-Raqqa) became the summer resort of the Abbasid court of Baghdad.’

The twin Syrian cities of al-Raqqa and al-Rafiqa lie on the banks of the Euphrates on a strategic trade, postal and pilgrimage route that links the eastern and western parts of the Abbasid Empire. Although Raqqa’s history goes back to prehistoric times, it acquired importance in the early Abbasid period when in 154 / 770–1 the caliph Abu Ja‘far al-Mansur (r. 136–58 / 754–75) passed through it and fell in love with its location and pleasant air. He decided to build adjacent to it a fortified palace-city which he named al-Rafiqa. From then on al-Rafiqa (al-Raqqa) became the summer resort of the Abbasid court of Baghdad, as well as a refuge during periods of political unrest.

NameDynastyDetailsJustification
City walls of Rafiqa (Raqqa) and the Baghdad GateHegira 155–158 / AD 771–5; additions AH 180–92 / 796–809 and renovation some time during the 5th/11th centuryAbbasidRaqqa, SyriaAl-Raqqa was not only the formal residence of the caliph Mu'tasim it was also the garden city of the other Abbasid caliphs with several orchards and parks, a horseracing arena and hunting grounds.
NameDynastyDetailsJustification
City walls of Rafiqa (Raqqa) and the Baghdad GateHegira 155–158 / AD 771–5; additions AH 180–92 / 796–809 and renovation some time during the 5th/11th centuryAbbasidRaqqa, SyriaView of the exterior façade of al-Rafiqa (al-Raqqa) with its rounded towers.
City walls of Rafiqa (Raqqa) and the Baghdad GateHegira 155–158 / AD 771–5; additions AH 180–92 / 796–809 and renovation some time during the 5th/11th centuryAbbasidRaqqa, SyriaView of al-Rafiqa (al-Raqqa).
CapitalHegira 3rd century / AD 9th centuryAbbasidMuseum of Islamic Art at the Pergamon Museum
Berlin, Germany
The architecture of Al-Raqqa, like that in other Arab cities of the Abbasid period, was influenced by the local and regional styles of previous dynasties, especially those belonging to the Byzantines and Sassanids.
Fragment from a carved wooden pieceAround hegira 4th–5th century / AD 10th–11th centuryAbbasidNational Museum of Damascus
Damascus, Syria
An 11th-century fragment of carved wood that was discovered during excavations in the Abbasid palace complex at al-Raqqa. The partial inscription is 'commander of the faithful', written in foliated kufic script.
Fragment of a pottery bowlHegira 136–58 / AD 754–75AbbasidNational Museum of Damascus
Damascus, Syria
Made in southern Iraq and excavated at al-Raqqa, the inscription on this bowl reveals both the name of the maker and his patron: 'Made by Ibrahim the Christian, made at al-Hira for the prince Sulayman, son of the Prince of the Believers [the Caliph]'. Sulayman was one of the sons of the Abbasid caliph al-Mansur, who ruled between 136–58 / 754–75.