Taiz

Taiz is a major city located in southwestern Yemen. It sits within the Yemeni highlands near the Red Sea. The city is close to the port of Mocha. Taiz serves as the capital of the Taiz Governorate. As of 2023, the city has about 940,600 residents. This makes it the third largest city in Yemen. The local climate is classified as hot and semi-arid.

The history of Taiz began in the first half of the 12th century CE. Abdullah bin Muhammad al-Sulayhi, the sultan of the Sulayhid dynasty, built Al-Qahira Castle. The city became an urbanized area under his brother, Ali bin Muhammad al-Sulayhi. Later, Prince Al-Mansur bin Al-Mufaddal bin Abi Al-Barakat sold many cities to the ruler of Aden. He kept only the fortresses of Taiz and Sabr. In 1173 CE, Turan-Shah conquered Yemen and ruled the city. He was the older brother of the famous leader Saladin. Turan-Shah built a citadel on a hill above the old city.

Taiz held great political importance for many centuries. In 1175 CE, it became the capital of Yemen under the Ayyubid dynasty. The city expanded quickly under the Rasulid dynasty from 1229 to 1454. The second Rasulid King, Almaddhafar, moved the capital from Sanaa to Taiz in 1288 CE. He did this because Taiz was close to Aden. This era was known as a golden age for the city. Sultans spent large amounts of money on mosques and palaces. The city became a famous center for studying the Shafi'i school of Islamic jurisprudence.

In 1332, the traveler Ibn Battutah visited the city. He described Taiz as one of the largest and most beautiful towns in Yemen. He noted that the city was divided into three distinct quarters. The first quarter was the residence for the king and his court. The second quarter, called ʽUdayna, served as a military station. The third quarter, al-Mahálib, was for common people and contained the main market. Later, the capital moved back to Sanaa in 1500. The Ottomans took control of Taiz in 1516. By 1918, the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen gained independence from the Ottomans.

Architecture in Taiz has a very specific look. Most houses are built using brown bricks. Many mosques are whitewashed to stand out. Some of the most famous landmarks include the Ashrafiya, the Mudhaffar, and the Mua'tabiya mosques.

The Cairo Citadel looms over the city from the south. The governor's palace sits on a mountain spur. Nearby, the mountain Jabal Saber offers wide views of the region. The city also has a zoo that once held Arabian leopards and African lions.

The economy of Taiz relies on both farming and industry. Historically, the city was famous for producing Mocha coffee. Farmers still grow coffee, mangoes, and pomegranates in the area. They also grow citrus, bananas, onions, and cereals. In rural areas like Araf and Hajda, people produce cheese. This cheese is sold in the Bab al-Kabeer and Bab Musa markets. The city also has industries for tanning, jewelry, and cotton-weaving. However, the civil war that began in 2015 has devastated these economic activities.

Conflict has deeply changed life in Taiz recently. During the Yemeni Civil War, the city became a site of intense fighting. In March 2015, Houthi forces and supporters of Ali Abdullah Saleh took control. This led to a military confrontation with forces loyal to Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. The city faced a siege that caused extreme food shortages. A frontline now runs through the city from east to west. Traveling across the city can take five hours due to this line. The war has also damaged the city's history. Airstrikes damaged the Cairo Citadel in 2015. In 2016, shelling destroyed many manuscripts at the Taiz Museum. Because of the fighting, the city is sometimes called the "city of snipers."