The city began as a small settlement on the banks of the Bou Regreg river. Chellah, as the town was then known, was later taken over by Romans, who stayed from the 1st until the 3rd century AD. They renamed the city, Sala Colonia – Salé is now the town which now stands opposite Rabat. For long after the Romans departed, Rabat was ruled by Berber chieftans, until arrival of the Arabs.

By the 12th century, the town had grown a fortress, and acquired the name, Ribatu el-Fath, or “Stronghold of Victory,” in honor of the victory over Alfonso VIII of Castile at the Battle of Alarcos. The Caliph of this time, Yacoub el-Mansour, built up the city walls and gates, and began construction on a great mosque. Upon his death, however, construction stopped, and the mosque stands unfinished to this day.

In the 13th century, administrative power shifted to Fez, and Rabat would later gain notoriety as a port of the pirates. The Republic of Bou Regreg was formed in 1627 uniting Rabat and Salé with the common aim of attacking European merchant ships. Despite efforts to bring the outlaws under control, piracy continued well into the 19th century.

Since 1912, Rabat has been the political and administrative capital of Morocco, and today it remains a fascinating town of splendid monuments, old medinas, Roman ruins, and charming side-walk cafes.