Fatimids Medieval Muslim Algeria

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.