Hammadids Medieval Muslim Algeria

1 hammadids

1.1 fatimids
1.2 almoravids
1.3 almohads
1.4 zayyanids
1.5 marabouts

hammadids
fatimids

in closing decades of 9th century, missionaries of ismaili sect of shia islam converted kutama berbers of later known petite kabylie region , led them in battle against sunni rulers of ifriqiya. al qayrawan fell them in 909. ismaili imam, ubaydallah, declared himself caliph , established mahdia capital. ubaydallah initiated fatimid dynasty, named after fatima, daughter of muhammad , wife of ali, whom caliph claimed descent.

the fatimids turned westward in 911, destroying imamate of tahert , conquering sijilmasa in morocco. ibadi kharijite refugees tahert fled south oasis @ ouargla beyond atlas mountains, whence in 11th century moved southwest oued m zab. maintaining cohesion , beliefs on centuries, ibadi religious leaders have dominated public life in region day.

for many years, fatimids posed threat morocco, deepest ambition rule east, mashriq, included egypt , muslim lands beyond. 969, had conquered egypt , in 972, fatimid ruler al muizz established new city of cairo capital. fatimids left rule of ifriqiya , of algeria zirids (972–1148). berber dynasty, had founded towns of miliana, médéa, , algiers , centered significant local power in algeria first time, turned on domain west of ifriqiya banu hammad branch of family. hammadids ruled 1011 1151, during time bejaïa became important port in north africa.

this period marked constant conflict, political instability, , economic decline. hammadids, rejecting ismaili doctrine sunni orthodoxy , renouncing submission fatimids, initiated chronic conflict zirids. 2 great berber confederations – sanhaja , zenata – engaged in epic struggle. fiercely brave, camelborne nomads of western desert , steppe sedentary farmers of kabylie east swore allegiance sanhaja. traditional enemies, zenata, tough, resourceful horsemen cold plateau of northern interior of morocco , western tell in algeria.

in addition, raiders genoa, pisa, , norman sicily attacked ports , disrupted coastal trade. trans-saharan trade shifted fatimid egypt , routes in west leading spanish markets. countryside being overtaxed growing cities.

contributing these political , economic dislocations large incursion of arab beduin egypt starting in first half of 11th century. part of movement invasion banu hilal , banu sulaym tribes, apparently sent fatimids weaken zirids. these arab beduin overcame zirids , hammadids , in 1057 sacked al qayrawan. sent farmers fleeing fertile plains mountains , left cities , towns in ruin.

for first time, extensive use of arabic spread countryside. many sedentary berbers sought protection hilalians gradually arabized.

almoravids

the almoravid movement developed in 11th century among sanhaja confederation, control of trans-saharan trade routes under pressure zenata berbers in north , state of ghana in south. yahya ibn ibrahim, leader of godala tribe of sanhaja confederation, decided raise level of islamic knowledge , practice among people. accomplish this, on return hajj (muslim pilgrimage mecca) in 1048–1049, brought him abdallah ibn yasin, moroccan scholar. in years of movement, scholar concerned imposing moral discipline , strict adherence islamic principles among followers. abd allah ibn yasin became known 1 of marabouts, or holy persons (from al murabitun, have made religious retreat ).

the almoravid movement shifted promoting religious reform engaging in military conquest after 1054 , led lamtuna leaders: first yahya, brother abu bakr, , cousin yusuf ibn tashfin. marrakech capital, almoravids had conquered morocco, maghrib far east algiers, , spain ebro river 1106. under almoravids, maghrib , spain acknowledged spiritual authority of abbasid caliphate in baghdad, reuniting them temporarily islamic community in mashriq.

although not entirely peaceful time, north africa benefited economically , culturally during almoravid period, lasted until 1147. muslim spain (andalus in arabic) great source of artistic , intellectual inspiration. famous writers of andalus worked in almoravid court, , builders of grand mosque of tilimsan, completed in 1136, used model grand mosque of córdoba.

almohads

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.

zayyanids

from capital @ tunis, hafsid dynasty made claim legitimate successor of almohads in ifriqiya, while, in central maghrib, zayyanids founded dynasty ruled kingdom of tlemcen. based on zenata tribe, bani abd el wad, had been settled in region abd al mumin, zayyanids emphasized links almohads.

for more 300 years, until region came under ottoman suzerainty in 16th century, zayyanids kept tenuous hold in central maghrib. regime, depended on administrative skills of andalusians, plagued frequent rebellions learned survive vassal of marinids or hafsids or later ally of spain.

many coastal cities defied ruling dynasties , asserted autonomy municipal republics. governed merchant oligarchies, tribal chieftains surrounding countryside, or privateers operated out of ports.

tlemcen prospered commercial center , called pearl of maghrib. situated @ head of imperial road through strategic taza gap marrakech, city controlled caravan route sijilmasa, gateway gold , slave trade western sudan. aragon came control commerce between tlemcen s port, oran, , europe beginning 1250. outbreak of privateering out of aragon, however, severely disrupted trade after 1420.

marabouts

the successor dynasties in north africa—marinids, zayanids, , hasfids—did not base power on program of religious reform predecessors had done. of necessity, compromised rural cults had survived triumph of puritanical orthodoxy in 12th century despite efforts of almoravids , almohads stamp them out.

the aridity of official islam had little appeal outside mosques , schools of cities. in countryside, wandering marabouts, or holy people, drew large , devoted following. these men , women believed possess divine grace (baraka) or able channel others. in life, marabouts offered spiritual guidance, arbitrated disputes, , wielded political power. after death, cults—some local, others widespread—erected domed tombs became sites of pilgrimage.

many tribes claimed descent marabouts. in addition, small, autonomous republics led holy men became common form of government in maghrib. in algeria, influence of marabouts continued through of ottoman period, when authorities grant political , financial favors these leaders prevent tribal uprisings.