Sultan Moulay Ismail inherited the Alaouite kingdom from his brother in 1672. He became known as the Warrior King and is one of Morocco's most important historical figures. He made Meknes the capital of his kingdom and in the course of his 55-year reign built over 50 palaces in the city and surrounded it with over 45 km of city walls. The mausoleum was built at the Sultan's direction and is seen as a place of pilgrimage by many Moroccans.