La Mámora

La Mamora, La Mámora, Mehedía or San Miguel de Ultramar, was the Spanish name given to the current Moroccan city of Mehdia during the 17th century. It is located in northern Morocco, at the mouth of the Sebou River, in its West bank. It was under Spanish sovereignty between 1614 and 1681, when it was conquered by the Alaouite ruler Moulay Ismaïl.According to the traditions, a statue of Jesus Christ was taken there, commissioned by the Bishop of Cadiz, since La Mamora belonged to the diocese of Cadiz. The statue was taken as loot by the Moroccans after the capture of the town and later rescued by paying a ransom and carried to Madrid, where it is nowadays venerated with the name of Cristo de Medinaceli.