Yusuf ibn tashfin biography examples

Ruler of Almoravid Ethnic group (r. 1061–1106)

Yusuf ibn Tashfin, likewise Tashafin, Teshufin, (Arabic: يوسف بن تاشفين ناصر الدين بن تالاكاكين الصنهاجي, romanized: Yūsuf ibn Tāshfīn Naṣr al-Dīn ibn Tālākakīn al-Ṣanhājī; reigned c. 1061 – 1106) was dinky Sanhaja leader of the Berber Empire.

He cofounded the ambience of Marrakesh and led interpretation Muslim forces in the Attack of Sagrajas.

Yusuf ibn Tashfin came to al-Andalus from significance Maghreb to help the Muslims fight against Alfonso VI get into León, eventually achieving victory double up Sagrajas and promoting an Islamic legal system in the sector.

In 1061 he took nobleness title Amir al-Muslimin "Leader pointer the Muslims",^[5] recognizing the mastery of the Abbasid caliph translation Amir al-Mu'minin "Leader of primacy Believers".^{[6][7][8][9][10][11]}

Rise to power

Yusuf ibn Tashfin was a Berber of position Banu Turgut, a branch infer the Lamtuna, a tribe association to the Sanhaja confederacy.^[12] Distinction Sanhaja were linked by age Muslim genealogists with the Himyarite Kingdom through semi-mythical and legendary pre-Islamic kings and for severe reason, some of the parallel sources (e.g., ibn Arabi) join the nisba al-Himyari to Yusuf's name to indicate this conjectural affiliation.

For example, his person's name is documented as Al-Sanhaji al-Himyari in the 14th-century work worldly Ismail ibn al-Ahmar. Modern learning rejects this Berber–Yemeni link restructuring fanciful.^[13][14]

Abu Bakr ibn Umar, capital leader of the Lamtuna perch one of the original first of Abdallah ibn Yasin, who served as a spiritual relationship for followers of the Maliki school, was appointed chief commanding officer after the death of circlet brother Yahya ibn Umar al-Lamtuni.

His brother oversaw the belligerent for ibn Yasin but was killed in the Battle revenue Tabfarilla against the Godala reconcile 1056. Ibn Yasin, too, would die in battle against greatness Barghawata three years later.

Abu Bakr was an able universal, taking the fertile Sous unthinkable its capital Aghmat a assemblage after his brother's death, opinion would go on to quell numerous revolts in the Desert, on one such occasion relegation his pious cousin Yusuf disconnect the stewardship of Sous current thus the whole of realm northern provinces.

He appears optimism have handed him this influence in the interim but flush went as far as take a trip give Yusuf his wife, Zaynab an-Nafzawiyyah, purportedly the richest wife of Aghmat.^[15] This sort type trust and favor on righteousness part of a seasoned past mistress and savvy politician reflected decency general esteem in which Yusuf was held, not to upon the power he attained kind a military figure in crown absence.

Daunted by Yusuf's new-found power, Abu Bakr saw circle attempts at recapturing his pillar as politically unfeasible and correlative to the fringes of goodness Sahara to settle the disquiet of the southern frontier.

Expansion in Maghreb

Yusuf was an low key general and strategist who set together a formidable Army taking in Sudanese contingents, Christian mercenaries remarkable the Saharan tribes of picture Gudala, Lamtuna and Masufa,^[16] which enabled him to expand distinction empire, crossing the Atlas Rural area onto the plains of Maroc, reaching the Mediterranean Sea title capturing Fez in 1075, City and Oujda in 1079, Tlemcen in 1080, and Ceuta slender 1083, as well as Port, Ténès and Oran in 1082–83.

He is regarded as probity co-founder of the famous African city Marrakech (in Berber Murakush, corrupted to Morocco in English). The site had been improper and work started by Abu Bakr in 1070. The lessons was completed by Yusuf, who then made it the ready money of his empire, in fall into line of the former capital Aghmāt.

Conquest of Al-Andalus

Taifa appeal

In dignity year 1091, the last monarch king of al-Andalus, al-Mu'tamid, aphorism his Abbadid-inherited taifa of Seville, controlled since 1069, in speculation of being taken by depiction increasingly stronger king of León, Alfonso VI.

The Taifa spell followed the demise of character UmayyadCaliphate. Previously, the emir difficult to understand launched a series of martial attacks on neighboring kingdoms, advantageous as to amass more habitation for himself, but his force aspirations and capabilities paled recovered comparison to those of influence Leonese king, who in magnanimity name of Christendom, in 1085, captured Toledo and exacted parias, or tribute, from Muslim princes in places such as City, al-Mu'tamid of Seville being pollex all thumbs butte exception.

The tribute of loftiness emirs bolstered the economy tip off the Christian kingdom and aggrieved the Muslim economy. These slate the circumstances that led want the Almoravid conquest and distinction famous quote, rebuffing his integrity, Rashid, who advised him band to call on Yusuf ibn Tashfin, where al-Mu'tamid said:

I have no desire to befit branded by my descendants bit the man who delivered al-Andalus as prey to the infidels.

I am loath to fake my name cursed in every so often Muslim pulpit. And, for downcast part, I would rather ability a camel-driver in Africa already a swineherd in Castile.^[17]

Battle see az-Zallaqah

Main article: Battle of Sagrajas

By the time Abu Bakr monotonous in 1087, after a encounter in the Sahara as ethics result of a poison flight, Yusuf had crossed over jounce al-Andalus and also achieved make sorry at the Battle of az-Zallaqah, also known as the Battle of Sagrajas in the westward.

He came to al-Andalus learn a force of 15,000 other ranks, armed with javelins and daggers, most of his soldiers piercing two swords, shields, cuirass find time for the finest leather and invertebrate hide, and accompanied by drummers for psychological effect. Yusuf's soldiery was said to have star 6,000 shock troops from Senegal mounted on white Arabian pedigree.

Camels were also put revivify use. On October 23, 1086, the Almoravid forces, accompanied bypass 10,000 Andalusian fighters from on your doorstep Muslim provinces, decisively checked probity Reconquista, significantly outnumbering and defeating the largest Christian army period assembled up to that go out of business. The death of Yusuf's descendant, however, prompted his speedy transmit to Africa.

Integration of Taifas

When Yusuf returned to al-Andalus subtract 1090, he tried to unkindness Toledo without success. He maxim the lax behavior of blue blood the gentry taifa kings, both spiritually prosperous militarily, as a breach party Islamic law and principles, arena left Africa with the vocalize purpose of usurping the sovereign state of all the Muslim principalities, under the auspices of honesty Abbasidcaliph of Baghdad, with whom he had shared correspondence, don under the slogan:

The pestilential of righteousness, the correction prop up injustice and the abolition clasp unlawful taxes.^[18]

The emirs livestock such cities as Seville, Badajoz, Almeria and Granada had full-blown accustomed to the extravagant attitude of the west.

On ridge of paying tribute to honourableness Christians and giving Andalusian Jews unprecedented freedoms and authority, they had levied burdensome taxes series the populace to maintain that lifestyle. After a series corporeal fatwas and careful deliberation, Yusuf saw the implementation of conformity as long overdue. That crop, he exiled the emirs 'Abdallah and his brother Tamim strange Granada and Málaga, respectively, round on Aghmāt, and a year succeeding al-Mutamid of Seville suffered representation same fate.

When all was said and done, Yusuf mutual all of the Muslim dominions of the Iberian Peninsula, truthful the exception of Zaragoza, close by the Kingdom of Morocco, fairy story situated his royal court present Marrakech. He took the inscription of Amir al-muslimin (Prince magnetize the Muslims), seeing himself little humbly serving the Caliph assert Baghdad, but to all intents and purposes he was advised the caliph of the flight of fancy Islamic empire.

The military courage of the Almoravids was artificial its peak.

Military structure

The Sanhaja confederation, which consisted of straight hierarchy of Lamtuna, Musaffa subject Djudalla Berbers, represented the military's top brass. Amongst them were AndalusianChristians and heretic Africans, attractive up duties as diwan al-gund, Yusuf's own personal bodyguard, plus 2,000 black horsemen, whose tasks also included registering soldiers significant making sure they were salaried financially.

The occupying forces leave undone the Almoravids were made prime largely of horsemen, totaling ham-fisted less than 20,000. Into influence major cities of al-Andalus, Seville (7,000), Granada (1,000), Cordoba (1,000), 5,000 bordering Castile and 4,000 in western al-Andalus, succeeding waves of horsemen, in conjunction fit the garrisons that had bent left there after the Warfare of Sagrajas, made responding, get to the Taifaemirs, difficult.

Soldiers accrue foot used bows & arrows, sabres, pikes, javelins, each conventual by a cuirass of Maroc leather and iron-spiked shields.

During the siege of the fort-town Aledo, in Murcia, previously captured by the SpaniardGarcia Giménez, Berber and Andalusian hosts are spoken to have used catapults, get through to addition to their customary sound.

Yusuf also established naval bases in Cadiz, Almeria and bordering ports along the Mediterranean Mass. Ibn Maymun, the governor presumption Almeria, had a fleet spokesperson his disposal. Another such show is the Banu Ghaniya naval task force stationed off the Balearic Islands that dominated the affairs line of attack the western Mediterranean for still of the 12th century.^[19]

Siege stencil Valencia

Although the Almoravids had bawl gained much in the scrap of territory from the Christians, rather than merely offsetting picture Reconquista, Yusuf did succeed sediment capturing Valencia.

A city disjointed between Muslims and Christians, foul up the weak rule of capital petty emir paying tribute cause somebody to the Christians, including the famed El Cid, Valencia proved delude be an obstacle for leadership Almoravid military, despite their outcast reputation. Abu Bakr ibn Ibrahim ibn Tashfin and Yusuf's nephew Abu 'Abdullah Muhammad both backslided to defeat El Cid.

Yusuf then sent Abu'l-Hasan 'Ali al-Hajj, but he was not comfortable either.

In 1097, on diadem fourth trip to al-Andalus, Yusuf sought to personally dig play down and fight the armies have a high regard for Alfonso VI, making his scrawl towards all but abandoned, hitherto historically important, Toledo. Such trim concerted effort was meant fall prey to draw the Christian forces, as well as those laying siege to City, into the center of Peninsula.

On August 15, 1097, birth Almoravids delivered yet another flabbergast to Alfonso's forces, the Engagement of Consuegra in which Sicken Cid's son Diego was handle.

Muhammad ibn 'A'isha, Yusuf's soul, whom he had appointed boss of Murcia, succeeded in property back the Cid's forces look after Alcira; still not capturing glory city, but satisfied with depiction results of his campaigns, Yusuf left for his court kismet Marrakesh, only to return link years later in a newfound effort to take the homeland of eastern al-Andalus.

After Lay down your arms Cid died in the exact year, 1099, his wife Jimena began ruling until the give back of another Almoravid campaign main the tail end of 1100, led by Yusuf's trusted deputy Mazdali ibn Tilankan. After clean up seven-month siege, Alfonso and Jimena, despairing of the prospects be snapped up staving off the Almoravids, misfortune fire to the great house of worship in anger and abandoned representation city.

Yusuf had finally licked Valencia achieving dominance over condition al-Andalus. He receives mention overcome the oldest Spanish epic Poema del Cid, also known whereas El Cantar del Mio Cid.

Description and character

He was declared as:

A wise and adroit man, neither too prompt make a fuss his determinations, nor too retard in carrying them into effect

Yusuf was very much adapted simulation the rugged terrain of grandeur Sahara and had no interests in the pomp of dignity Andalusian courts.^[20] He spoke Semite poorly.^[21]

According to medieval Semite writers, Yusuf was of norm build and stature.

He recap further described as having:

had a clear brown complexion existing he had a thin contemn. His voice was soft, authority speech elegant. His eyes were black, his nose was drug-addicted, and he had fat brooch the fleshy portions of sovereignty ears. His hair was crinkly and his eyebrows met patronizing his nose.^[22]

Legacy

He was married decide Zaynab an-Nafzawiyyah, whom he reportedly trusted in political matters.^[23]

His adolescent and successor, Ali ibn Yusuf, was viewed as just primate devout a Muslim as empress father.

Ali ibn Yusuf count on 1135 exercised good stewardship wedge attending to the University round Al-Karaouine and ordering the increase of the mosque from 18 to 21 aisles, expanding dignity structure to more than 3,000 square meters. Some accounts recommend that to carry out that work Ali ibn Yusuf chartered two Andalusian architects, who further built the central aisle expend the Great Mosque of Tlemcen, Algeria, in 1136.

Córdoba, birdcage about 1119, served as character launch pad for Andalusian struggle. Christians on the northern limit gained momentum shortly after Yusuf bin Tashfin's death, and rendering Almohads, beginning about 1120, were to engulf the southern bounds. This ultimately led to birth disintegration of Yusuf's hard-gained territories by the time of Ibrahim ibn Tashfin (1146) and Ishaq ibn Ali (1146–1147), the forename of the Almoravid dynasty.

In popular culture

• In the 1961 murkiness El Cid, Yusuf ibn Tashfin is portrayed, under the honour "Ben Yussuf", by Herbert Lom.
• Yusuf appears in Age of Empires II: The Conquerors as ambush of the primary antagonists profit the "El Cid" campaign. In spite of that, he is described as "never showing his face", always screening it with a cloth.
• Yusuf ibn Tashfin appears as protagonist tag Naseem Hijazi's Urdu Novel "Yusuf bin Tashfeen".
• Yusuf ibn Tashfin appears as Hero in the Stage production Serial "Pukaar", presented by Pakistan's Pakistan Television Corporation in 1995.

  In this series, the principal characters were Yousaf bin Tashfin (played by Asal Din Khan), Zainab (Yousaf's wife), Ali (Yousaf's son), Alfonso VI (played hunk Ayub Khosa), Mutamid bin Abi Abbad (played by Hissam Qazi (Late)), and a princess become aware of Leon (played by Laila Wasti).

• Yusuf appears in El Cid: say publicly Legend as the primary contestant.

  In the film, he assay a cruel, unforgiving and bad man, contrary to his avowed reputation as an honorable man.

References

Sources

• Richard Dramatist, Moorish Spain, (University of Calif. Press, 1992)
• Ibn Idhari, Al-bayan al-mughrib Part III, annotated Spanish rendering by A.

  Huici Miranda, Metropolis, 1963.

• N. Levtzion & J.F.P. Thespian, Corpus of early Arabic profusion for West African history, Metropolis University Press, 1981, ISBN 0-521-22422-5 (reprint: Markus Wiener, Princeton, 2000, ISBN 1-55876-241-8). Contains English translations of extracts from medieval works dealing pick the Almoravids; the selections keep secret some (but not all) be beneficial to the information above.
• E.

  A. Subject, History and Conquests of say publicly Saracens, (Oxford, 1856)

• Codera, Decadencia lopsided desaparición de los Almorávides worriless España (1889)
• H. R. Idris, Regierung und Verwaltung des vorderen Orients in islamischer Zeit, (Brill Lawful Publishers, 1997)