Fatimid founding in the
maristan (hospital) of Sultan
Qalawun which incorporates remains from the
Fatimid Western Palace which previously stood here. The Fatimids
conquered Egypt in 969 under the command of
al-Siqilli, the general of
Caliph Al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah. In 970, Jawhar was responsible for planning, founding, and constructing a new city to serve as the residence and center of power for the Fatimid Caliphs. The city was located northeast of
Fustat, the existing capital and main city of Egypt. Jawhar, who served as al-Mu'izz's
Grand Vizier and was most likely an
Armenian slave, is recounted by 14th-century Egyptian Islamic historian,
Al-Maqrizi, to have made the conscious decision to move further north and build Cairo on a 340-acre complex instead of develop Fustat. Jawhar organized the city so that the
caliphal palace complex was at its center. The city was named ''al-Mu'izziyya al-Qahirah'', the "Victorious City of
al-Mu'izz", later simply called "al-Qahira", which gave us the modern name of
Cairo. Although Jawhar was indeed important to the layout of Cairo, the Great Eastern Palace of
Al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah was drawn and designed by the hand of Al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah, himself. Once the Lesser (Western) Palace of
Al-Aziz Billah and a smaller palace Qasr Al-Bahr were built on the west side of the street, the Meidan (also spelled "Maydan") or center
square completed the
Fatimid Great Palaces and centralized the parade ground. Bayn al-Qasrayn was the center of life throughout the centuries of Fatimid control in Egypt. This mosque became pivotal to teaching Shi'i Islamic religious concepts in the early twelfth century. Besides the royal, religious and state presentations on the parade grounds of Bayn Al-Qasrayn, the surrounding area had markets and businesses. ==Urban context: the Qasabah Street ==