Almohads Medieval Muslim Algeria

almohad empire 1121-1269

like almoravids, almohads found initial inspiration in islamic reform. spiritual leader, moroccan muhammad ibn abdallah ibn tumart, sought reform almoravid decadence. rejected in marrakech , other cities, turned masmuda tribe in atlas mountains support. because of emphasis on unity of god, followers known al muwahhidun (unitarians, or almohads).

although declaring himself mahdi, imam, , masum (infallible leader sent god), muhammad ibn abdallah ibn tumart consulted council of ten of oldest disciples. influenced berber tradition of representative government, later added assembly composed of fifty leaders various tribes. almohad rebellion began in 1125 attacks on moroccan cities, including sus , marrakech.

upon muhammad ibn abdallah ibn tumart s death in 1130, successor abd al mumin took title of caliph , placed members of own family in power, converting system traditional monarchy. almohads entered spain @ invitation of andalusian amirs, had risen against almoravids there. abd al mumin forced submission of amirs , reestablished caliphate of córdoba, giving almohad sultan supreme religious political authority within domains. almohads took control of morocco in 1146, captured algiers around 1151, , 1160 had completed conquest of central maghrib , advanced tripolitania. nonetheless, pockets of almoravid resistance continued hold out in kabylie @ least fifty years.

after abd al mumin s death in 1163, son abu yaqub yusuf (r. 1163–84) , grandson yaqub al mansur (r. 1184–99) presided on zenith of almohad power. first time, maghrib united under local regime, , although empire troubled conflict on fringes, handcrafts , agriculture flourished @ center , efficient bureaucracy filled tax coffers. in 1229, almohad court renounced teachings of ibn tumart, opting instead greater tolerance of opposing views. evidence of change, almohads hosted 2 of greatest thinkers of andalus: abu bakr ibn tufayl , ibn rushd (averroes).

the almohads shared crusading instincts of castilian adversaries, continuing wars in spain overtaxed resources. in maghrib, almohad position compromised factional strife , challenged renewal of tribal warfare. bani merin (zenata berbers) took advantage of declining almohad power establish tribal state in morocco, initiating sixty years of warfare there concluded capture of marrakech, last almohad stronghold, in 1271. despite repeated efforts subjugate central maghrib, however, marinids never able restore frontiers of almohad empire.