Almoravid Empire: A Forgotten North African History

A long time ago, in the seventh century, Arab armies spread across North Africa, bringing Islam with them. Many Berber tribes accepted the new religion, but they were still ruled by Arab leaders. Even though the Berbers helped expand Islam into Spain, they never had full control over their own lands.

Jump ahead to the 11th century in the Sahara Desert, in what is now Mauritania. A man named Abdullah ibn Yasin, a strict Islamic scholar, started a movement to bring the Berbers back to what he believed was the true path of Islam. He preached a very strict version of Sunni Islam, and his followers had to obey strict religious laws. If they broke the rules, they faced harsh punishments. At first, not many people wanted to join him, but he gained the support of the Lamtuna Berber tribe. His small group of followers soon turned into a powerful military force.

By 1056, the Almoravids began spreading their rule across North Africa. They conquered different Berber tribes and made them follow their strict beliefs. However, not everyone welcomed them. In 1059, they fought against a rival Berber group called the Barghawata, and Abdullah ibn Yasin was killed in battle. His movement didn’t end, though. Two cousins, Yusuf ibn Tashfin and Abu Bakr, took over as leaders and continued to expand the Almoravid Empire.

Under Yusuf ibn Tashfin’s leadership, the Almoravids became an even more powerful force. In 1062, they established Marrakesh, a city that would later become their capital and a key center of power. Their influence quickly spread, reaching Fez by the late 1060s and extending into Algeria. By 1084, the Almoravids controlled all of Morocco, and by 1075, they had even expanded southward, exerting dominance over parts of the Ghana Empire. While consolidating their rule in North Africa, they kept a watchful eye on events unfolding in Spain. The Christian kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula were growing stronger, and Alfonso VI of Castile was exerting pressure on the Muslim-controlled cities of Seville and Granada, forcing them to pay heavy tributes. Desperate for protection, the Muslim rulers of Spain called upon the Almoravids for assistance.

In 1086, Yusuf ibn Tashfin answered the call. Leading his army across the Mediterranean, he met Alfonso VI at the Battle of Sagrajas and delivered a resounding defeat to the Christian forces. This victory marked the beginning of Almoravid dominance in Al-Andalus (Muslim Spain). Between 1090 and 1092, Yusuf ensured full Almoravid control over southern Spain, halting Christian advances for the time being. However, despite their military success, the Almoravids were not particularly invested in the cultural and intellectual flourishing that had defined earlier Muslim rule in Spain. Unlike the Umayyads, who had encouraged literature, music, and philosophy, the Almoravids viewed such pursuits with suspicion, believing them to be distractions from true faith. Their reign also saw a shift in religious tolerance. Where previous Islamic rulers had fostered relatively peaceful coexistence between Muslims, Christians, and Jews, the Almoravids adopted a harsher stance. Non-Muslims faced increased persecution, and the once-thriving cultural exchanges between different religious communities began to decline.

Yusuf ibn Tashfin died in 1106, and his son, Ali ibn Yusuf, took over. At first, the empire stayed strong, and Islamic scholars played an important role in the government. The Almoravids ruled independently but respected the authority of the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad. They also maintained good relations with the Fatimid Caliphate in Egypt. However, trouble was growing. Many Berbers were unhappy with Almoravid rule. One of the biggest critics was a man named Muhammad ibn Tumart, a Berber from the Atlas Mountains. He had traveled to Spain and the Middle East to study Islam and returned home convinced that the Almoravids had lost their way. He believed they were too lenient and relied too much on foreign soldiers. His ideas led to the rise of a new movement called the Almohads.

Ibn Tumart’s movement rapidly gained traction. He built schools and mosques, teaching his strict interpretation of Islam and even altering religious practices to ensure they were conducted in the Berber language rather than Arabic. Many Berbers, feeling a renewed sense of identity, flocked to his cause. Meanwhile, the Almoravids found themselves besieged on multiple fronts. In Spain, Christian forces continued their advance. Between 1138 and 1147, armies from Castile, France, and Portugal launched relentless attacks, capturing key cities such as Zaragoza and Lisbon. With their hold on Iberia slipping, the Almoravids were losing one of the most significant territories under their rule. At the same time, the Almohads were becoming an even greater menace in North Africa. Even after Ibn Tumart’s death in 1133, his successor, Abd al-Mu’min, carried on his mission with zeal. By the mid-1140s, Almohad forces were launching direct attacks against the Almoravids, weakening them further. The final, crushing blow came in 1147 when the Almohads stormed Marrakesh, the heart of Almoravid power. With the fall of their capital, the Almoravid Empire was no more.

hough their empire ultimately fell, the Almoravids left a lasting impact on North African and Iberian history. They reinforced the influence of Maliki Islamic jurisprudence, strengthened Islamic governance, and for a time, defended Muslim Spain from Christian expansion. However, their rigid religious views and reluctance to embrace cultural and intellectual advancements may have contributed to their downfall.