About Tunisia History Arab Moslem Era
Almohads (al-Muwahiddin) |
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The Almohad movement [Arabic al-Muwahhidun, "the Unitarians"] ruled
variously in the Maghrib starting about 1130 until 1269. This movement
had been founded by Ibn Tumart (1077-1130), a Masmuda Berber from the
Atlas mountains of Morocco, who became the mahdi. After a pilgrimage to
Mecca followed by study, he had returned inspired by the teachings of
al-Ash'ari and al-Ghazali. A charismatic leader, he preached an
interior awareness of the Unity of God. As a reformer, he gathered a
following among the Berbers in the Atlas, founded a radical community,
and eventually began challenging the current rulers, the Almoravids
(1056-1147). These Almoravids [Arabic al-Murabitum, from Ribat, e.g.,
"defenders"] had also been a Berber Islamic movement of the Maghrib,
which had run its course and since become decadent and weak. Although
the Almoravids had once ruled from Mauritania (south of Morocco) to
al-Andalus (southern Spain), Almoravid rule had not reached to
Infriqiya.
Ibn Tumart the Almohad founder left writings in which his theological ideas mix with the political. Therein he claimed that the leader, the mahdi, is infallable. Ibn Tumart created a hierarchy from among his followers which persisted long after the Almohad era (e.g., in Tunisia under the Hafsids), based not only on a specie of ethnic loyalty, such as the "Council of Fifty", but more significantly based on a formal structure for an inner circle of governance, namely, (a) his ahl al-dar or "people of the house", a sort of privy council, (b) the "Ten", originally composed of his first ten forminable followers, and (c) a variety of offices. There is lack of certainty about the details, but general agreement that Ibn Tumart sought to reduce the "influence of the traditional tribal framework." Later historical developments "were greatly facilitated by his original reorganization because it made possible collaboration among tribes" not likely to otherwise coalesce. Following Ibn Tumart's death, Abd al-Mu'min (c.1090-1163) became the Almohad caliph, cerca 1130. Abd al-Mu'min had been one of the original "Ten" followers of Ibn Tumart. He immediately had attacked the ruling Almoravids and had wrestled Morocco away from them by 1147, suppressing subsequent revolts there. Then he crossed the straits, occupying al-Andalus (in Spain). In 1152 he successfully invaded the Hammadids of Bougie (in Algeria). His armies intervened in Zirid Ifriqiya, removing the Normans by 1160. "Abd al-Mu'min briefly presided over a unified North African empire--the first and last in its history under indigenous rule". Yet the revolt in the Balearic Islands by the Banu Ghaniya had spread to Ifriqiya (Tunisia) by 1184, causing problems for the Almohad regime during the next fifty years.
"Ibn Rushd of Córdoba in detail from fresco "The School of Athens" by Raphael"
The Muslim philosophers Ibn Tufayl (Abubacer to the Latins) of Granada (d.1185), and Ibn Rushd (Averroës) of Córdoba (1126-1198), who was appointed a Maliki judge, were known to the Almohad court, which became fixed in Marrakech. The sufi master theologian Ibn 'Arabi was born in Murcia in 1165. Under the Almohads architechture flourished, the Giralda being built in Sevilla and the pointed arch being introduced.
"There is no better indication of the importance of the Almohad empire than the fascination it has exerted on all subsequent rulers in the Magrib." It was an empire Berber in its inspiration, and whose imperial fortunes were under the direction of Berber leaders. The unitarian Almohads had gradually modified the original ambition of strictly implementing their founder's designs; in this way the Almohads were similar to the preceding Almoravids (also Berber). Yet their movement probably worked to deepen the religious awareness of the Muslim people across the Maghrib. Nonetheless, it could not suppress other traditions and teachings, and alternative expressions of Islam, including the popular cult of saints, the sufis, and the Malikis, survived. The Almohad empire (like its predecessor the Almoravid) eventually dissolved, in Morroco (followed by the Merinids), and in Ifriqiya or Tunisia (by the Hafsids).
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Anarchy in Ifriqiya (Tunisia) made it a target for the Norman kingdom in Sicily, which between 1134 and 1148 seized Mahdia, Gabes, Sfax, and the island of Jerba. The only strong Muslim power then in the Maghreb was that of the newly emerging Almohads, led by their caliph a Berber Abd al-Mu'min. He responded with several military counters which by 1160 forced the Normans to retreat.
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