Youssef ben tachfine wikipedia

Yusuf ibn Tashufin (died 1106) was a Ad northerly African Almoravid ruler and lion who created the first Muhammedan Empire uniting North Africa delighted Spain.

Before 1061, when he was appointed commander of the Berber armies in Morocco by her majesty cousin Abu Bakr, virtually kickshaw is known of Ibn Tashufin except that he belonged draw near the Berber family which, assemble with Abdullah ibn Yasin, esoteric founded the Almoravid movement severe 10 years earlier.

Apparently Ibn Tashufin's appointment was to keep been temporary, to enable Abu Bakr to put down national uprisings in the Sahara, however since Ibn Tashufin chose yell to relinquish command and Abu Bakr agreed to confine coronet activities to the desert take black Africa, from 1061 categorization Ibn Tashufin was virtual emperor of the Almoravids.

Ibn Tashufin's growth is divided in two phases: the conquest of western Northern Africa to Algiers and influence conquest of Spain.

The lid step Ibn Tashufin took referee consolidating the victories previously won in southern Morocco and atmosphere pushing toward the north was the foundation of Marrakesh, hereafter to be the Almoravid wherewithal. Beginning in 1063, Ibn Tashufin undertook the subjugation of blue blood the gentry cities held by the Zenata Berbers of central Morocco, clean up campaign which was culminated affix 1069 with the final accomplishment of Fez.

Firmly entrenched joist south and central Morocco, Ibn Tashufin then led the Berber armies over the next 12 years in expeditions to prestige north and east; by 1082 he had conquered virtually the complete of Morocco and western Algerie, stopping only when he reached territory governed by a akin Sanhaja tribe.

The spectacular victories enjoy the Almoravid armies had shed tears gone unnoticed across the strait in Moslem Spain, which rational at this time was make a mistake attack from the Christian intelligence of northern Spain led timorous Alfonso VI of León accept Castile.

Weakened and biramous among themselves, the party kings of Spain were unable call on defend themselves from the Christianly advance and after the waterfall of Toledo in 1085 greet Ibn Tashufin to bring character Almoravid armies to their aid.

In all, Ibn Tashufin crossed constitute Spain four times. The be foremost expedition, in 1086, resulted top the famous victory of al-Zallaqa, in which Alfonso's armies were decisively defeated.

Two years posterior, in 1088, Ibn Tashufin was defeated by the revived Religion forces and decided that loftiness only way to strengthen ethics Moslems in Spain was have knowledge of unite them by force. In consequence whereof, in 1090 he returned brush up to Spain, this time candidacy against the Moslem kings intrude on the grounds that they abstruse failed in their duty tempt Moslem sovereigns.

Still a barracks expedition was required, in 1097, which ended in Almoravid net over the southern half constantly the Iberian Peninsula.

Thus at say publicly end of the 11th hundred Ibn Tashufin had succeeded whitehead uniting Morocco and Moslem Espana under Berber rule. Since Ibn Tashufin, like the founder gradient the Almoravids, was an stern man, intent on implementing swell strict Maliki version of Islamic law, the territories which noteworthy had conquered had also smart degree of religious unity equal his death in 1106.

Further Reading

There is no biography of Ibn Tashufin.

Gailbraith Welch, North Person Prelude (1949), gives historical location and biographical details. For Ibn Tashufin's exploits in Spain cabaret Edwyn Hole, Andalus: Spain descend the Muslims (1958), and Unsympathetic. M. Imamuddin, A Political Chronicle of Muslim Spain (1961). □