Baghdad Founded by Caliph Al-Mansur

Caliph al-Mansur founded Baghdad on the west bank of the Tigris in 762 CE. Most sources give 30 July 762 as the date construction began. The first phase was a round city called Madinat al-Salam, with walls, gates and palaces at its center. Workers came from across the empire, and the round city was largely complete by about 766 CE. The caliph's palace stood at the center of the plan.