Ouled Mimoun
Country: Algeria
Region: Africa
Period: ~ 300-700CE
Location: 34.886389°N, -1.024722°E
Description
Al-Askar was a garrison city established in 750 CE as the administrative capital of Egypt under the early Abbasid Caliphate. During the Tulunid Emirate (868–905 CE), founded by Ahmad ibn Tulun, Al-Askar remained a key administrative and military center until it was gradually overshadowed by the newly built city of Al-Qata’i, which served as the Tulunid capital.
Modern Remains
No distinct ruins of Al-Askar survive today, as the city was eventually absorbed into the growing urban landscape of medieval Cairo. However, its historical footprint is preserved in the city’s layered urban evolution. Archaeological remains from nearby areas and early Islamic structures, such as parts of Ibn Tulun’s mosque in Al-Qata’i, offer indirect insights into the period when Al-Askar played a crucial role in Egypt’s governance.