Almohad Caliphate

The Almohad Caliphate or Almohad Empire was a North African empire ruled by a Berber Muslim dynasty in the 12th and 13th centuries. At its height, it controlled much of the Maghreb and the Iberian Peninsula (Al-Andalus).

The Almohad movement was founded by Ibn Tumart among the Berber Masmuda tribes, but the Almohad caliphate and its ruling dynasty, known as the Mu'minid dynasty, were founded after his death by Abd al-Mu'min. Under Abd al-Mu'min (r. 1130–1163), they succeeded in overthrowing the ruling Almoravid dynasty governing the western Maghreb in 1147, when he conquered Marrakesh and declared himself caliph.

The turning point of their presence in the Iberian Peninsula came in 1212, when Almohad Caliph Muhammad al-Nasir (1199–1214) was defeated at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in the Sierra Morena by an alliance of the Christian forces from Castile, Aragon and Navarre. Much of the remaining territories of al-Andalus were lost in the ensuing decades, with the cities of Córdoba and Seville falling to the Christians in 1236 and 1248 respectively.

The Almohads continued to rule in Africa until the piecemeal loss of territory through the revolt of tribes and districts enabled the rise of their most effective enemies, the Marinids in 1215. The last representative of the line, Idris al-Wathiq, was reduced to the possession of Marrakesh, where he was murdered by a slave in 1269; the Marinids seized Marrakesh, ending the Almohad domination of the Western Maghreb.

History

Origins

The Almohad movement started with Ibn Tumart, a member of the Masmuda tribe in the Atlas Mountains of southern Morocco. At the time, Morocco, Mauritania, western Algeria, and parts of Spain and Portugal were ruled by the Almoravids, a Berber dynasty. Ibn Tumart traveled to Spain and then Baghdad for his studies. In Baghdad, he was influenced by the teachings of al-Ash'ari and al-Ghazali. He developed his own ideas, focusing on strict belief in one God and rejecting what he saw as incorrect practices.

After returning to the Maghreb around 1117, Ibn Tumart preached and gathered followers. He challenged the Almoravid rulers, accusing them of improper behavior and supporting a different school of Islamic law. His teachings attracted many, and he eventually declared himself a divinely guided leader. He gathered his followers in the High Atlas Mountains, where they prepared for a larger movement.

Caliphate and expansion

Ibn Tumart died in 1130, but the movement continued under his successor, Abd al-Mu'min. Abd al-Mu'min expanded the Almohad control across North Africa and into Spain. He organized the state carefully, ensuring his family would continue to lead. The Almohads faced challenges from other tribes and leaders but managed to grow their power.

The Almohads also expanded into Spain, taking control from the Almoravids. They moved the center of Muslim rule in Spain from Córdoba to Seville and built important buildings there. Later leaders continued to govern but faced increasing challenges from Christian kingdoms.

Expansion into al-Andalus

The Almohads took over Muslim areas in Spain from the Almoravids between 1146 and 1173. They made Seville the new capital and built a great mosque there. Later leaders protected scholars and built up the kingdom, though they sometimes faced difficulties with their subjects.

Holding years

In 1212, the Almohad leader Muhammad 'al-Nasir' was defeated by Christian kings at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa. This weakened the Almohads, and they entered a period of weaker leadership. After the death of a young caliph, a new leader was quickly chosen, but this caused disagreements among the Almohad family.

Decline in al-Andalus

In 1225, rebels and Christian forces began attacking Almohad cities in Spain. The Almohad leaders struggled to defend their lands, and many cities fell to Christian rulers. By 1248, most of Spain had been taken over, and only the area around Granada remained under Muslim control.

Collapse in the Maghreb

In North Africa, the Almohads faced revolts from tribes and lost control of their lands. The Marinids, a new dynasty, took over many areas. The last Almohad leader was killed in Marrakesh in 1269, ending the Almohad Caliphate.

Government

The Council of Ten was a group of close followers of Ibn Tumart. They were important leaders in the early days of the Almohad movement.

Military

The Almohad army was made up of Berber tribesmen who followed a tribal hierarchy. Tribal leaders acted as military commanders and were important in deciding military matters. These leaders formed the elite of the empire.

The army also included Arab helpers from the Banu Hilal tribe who moved into the Maghreb in the 12th century. Smaller groups of Christian mercenaries, black soldiers, and soldiers known as "Ghuzz" also joined the army. These groups added to the strength and diversity of the Almohad forces.

Abd al-Mu'min created new military groups called the huffāẓ from Berber tribes. The Arab tribes were treated kindly and joined the army after their defeat at the Battle of Sétif. They were important in battles, especially as cavalry.

The Arab soldiers were paid more than others. For example, fully-equipped Arab horsemen received 25 dinars, while ordinary fully-equipped infantrymen received only 8 dinars.

The Almohad army was a mix of many groups, showing the power of the caliph to bring together people of different backgrounds.

Culture

Language

Further information: Berber languages

The use of Berber languages, especially those spoken by the Masmuda, was important in Almohad doctrine. The sermons at Friday prayer were given in both Arabic and Berber, with the Berber language called al-lisān al-gharbī or "the western tongue" by historians.

Romance

Further information: Andalusi Romance

When the Almohads took control of al-Andalus, many Andalusi Christians moved north, affecting the use of Romance in the area. After the Almohad period, the Muslim areas of the Iberian Peninsula were smaller, and the mix of Arabic and Romance languages that was common before mostly disappeared.

Arabic dialects

Further information: Andalusi Arabic and Maghrebi Arabic

The Almohads helped spread the Arabic language in central and far parts of North Africa by including Arab tribes in their army and encouraging Arab culture among leaders.

Literature

The Almohads wrote many books and poems, even though they made strict rules about religion. Famous writers and thinkers from this time included Averroes, Hafsa bint al-Hajj al-Rukuniyya, ibn Tufayl, ibn Zuhr, and ibn al-Abbar. Libraries and schools kept teaching knowledge from earlier times and from ancient Greek and Roman writers.

Theology and philosophy

The Almohads believed in a strict form of Islam called tawhid, meaning the "oneness of God." This idea was central to their movement and gave it its name. They also valued logic and reason in understanding their beliefs, which helped support philosophy and learning. Many later thinkers, both Muslim and non-Muslim, were influenced by these ideas.

Emblem

Most records show that the Almohads used white banners to show their purity of purpose. These white banners were important symbols and were used in battles and ceremonies.

Art

Calligraphy and manuscripts

The Almohads used beautiful writing styles in their books and documents. They decorated their manuscripts with gold and colorful designs. Books were often bound in leather and had intricate patterns.

Textiles

The Almohads made textiles with geometric and plant designs. One famous piece is the "Las Navas de Tolosa Banner," which has blue writing and white patterns on a red background.

Metalwork

Almohad metalwork included large chandeliers and decorative objects. One famous chandelier in al-Qarawiyyin is still considered one of the largest and most beautiful in the Islamic world.

Ceramics and tilework

The Almohads used tiles with white and green glaze on mosque minarets. These tiles were part of the earliest examples of a special tile technique called zellij.

Painted decoration

Some Almohad buildings had painted decorations with geometric and plant designs. These were found in mosques and homes.

Architecture

Along with the earlier Almoravid period, the Almohad time is important for the development of Moroccan and Moorish architecture. They built in rammed earth and brick, which were cheaper and easier to work with. Their buildings often had wide aisles leading to important areas and decorative arches.

Almohad mosques had large halls with rows of arches and special minarets. They also built strong city walls and many forts. The Almohads created beautiful gardens and palaces outside their cities, with large water basins and orchards.

Status of Non-Muslims

The Almohads took control of areas in North Africa and Spain by 1147. They did not follow the usual Islamic rules for people of other religions who lived in their lands.

Under Almohad rule, life changed a lot for Jews and Christians. Before this, Jews had a good time in Spain, where they could practice their religion freely. But the Almohad leaders forced many Jews and Christians in cities to change their religion. Some Jews chose to pretend to change just to stay safe. Others had to wear special clothes to show they had not truly changed their beliefs. Many Jews moved to other places where they could live more freely.

List of Almohad rulers

Here are the leaders of the Almohad Caliphate and the years they ruled:

Ibn Tumart 1121–1130
Abd al-Mu'min 1130–1163
Abu Ya'qub Yusuf I 1163–1184
Abu Yusuf Ya'qub 'al-Mansur' 1184–1199
Muhammad al-Nasir 1199–1213
Abu Ya'qub Yusuf II 'al-Mustansir' 1213–1224
Abu Muhammad Abd al-Wahid I 'al-Makhlu' 1224
Abdallah al-Adil 1224–1227
Yahya 'al-Mutasim' 1227–1229
Abu al-Ala Idris I al-Ma'mun, 1229–1232
Abu Muhammad Abd al-Wahid II 'al-Rashid' 1232–1242
Abu al-Hassan Ali 'al-Said' 1242–1248
Abu Hafs Umar 'al-Murtada', 1248–1266
Abu al-Ula (Abu Dabbus) Idris II 'al-Wathiq' 1266–1269

Almohad family tree

The Almohad Caliphate was a powerful empire led by a Berber Muslim family in North Africa during the 1100s and 1200s. It covered large parts of the region known as the Maghreb and parts of Spain called Al-Andalus. The movement began with a leader named Ibn Tumart, and later, another leader named Abd al-Mu'min established the ruling family known as the Mu'minid dynasty.