Civil and military organization in the Muslim “Menurka”

Muslims called our island “Menurka”. The old Jammona (Citadel) was since then the capital of the island: the “Medina-Menurka”. The almojarife or governor lived in it, in a building that overlooked the port of Ciudadela, the same place where the governor’s palace was later and currently the Town Hall.

The Muslims divided the island into four districts, governed by two “sahibs” or prefects: Hasmaljuda (Torrellafuda), Bini-Saida, Binifabini and Alscaions. The “Medina-Minurka” and the current Mahón were fortified; but the main Muslim defense was the rocky castle of “Sent-Agáyz”, on the hill of Santa Águeda; it was governed by a “kaid” or warden.

The name of Ciudadella

In the Royal Chronicle of Jaume I, we see recorded for the first time, the name of Ciutadella. It seems that it does not have the meaning of “walled city (Citadel)” here, although it was already the old Muslim capital then; but Ciutadella is a diminutive of “Ciutat”, suggested in a certain way for being the City of the island and in parallel with the name of the capital of the sister island: “Ciutat de Mallorca, Ciutadella de Menorca.”