Rabat is the modern capital of Morocco and home to the king. It is located on the Atlantic Ocean and has wide boulevards, gardens and light colored buildings. The city is conservative and a far cry from the hectic pace of the other Imperial cities of Marrakech and Fez, although local color can be found in its medina and kasbah. Rabat's origins go back to the 7th century. In 1146, the Almohad ruler, Abd al-Mu'min, turned Rabat’s ribat (monastic fortress) into a full-scale fortress to launch attacks on Spain. In 1170, due to its military importance, Rabat acquired the title “Ribatu l-Fath,” meaning "stronghold of victory," from which Rabat got its name. Another Almohad 12th century ruler, Yaqub al-Mansur, moved the capital of his empire to Rabat. He built Rabat's city walls, the Kasbah of the Udayas and began construction on the world's largest mosque, but construction stopped due to his death. The ruins of the unfinished mosque, including the Hassan Tower, still stand today. The French invaded Morocco in 1912 and established it as a protectorate. The French administrator, General Hubert Lyautey, relocated the capital from Fez to Rabat, since, among other reasons, rebellious Berbers (native Moroccans) made Fez unstable. When Morocco achieved independence in 1956, King Mohammed V kept the country's capital in Rabat.