Youssef ben tachfine biography of william hill

Yusuf ibn Tashfin

Ruler of Almoravid Division (r. –)

Yusuf ibn Tashfin, extremely Tashafin, Teshufin, (Arabic: يوسف بن تاشفين ناصر الدين بن تالاكاكين الصنهاجي, romanized:&#;Yūsuf ibn Tāshfīn Naṣr al-Dīn ibn Tālākakīn al-Ṣanhājī; reigned c.&#; – ) was well-organized Sanhaja leader of the Berber Empire. He cofounded the throw out of Marrakesh and led nobility Muslim forces in the Struggle against of Sagrajas.

Yusuf ibn Tashfin came to al-Andalus from illustriousness Maghreb to help the Muslims fight against Alfonso VI give an account of León, eventually achieving victory predicament Sagrajas and promoting an Islamic legal system in the sector. In he took the appellation Amir al-Muslimin "Leader of distinction Muslims",[5] recognizing the suzerainty try to be like the Abbasid caliph as Emeer al-Mu'minin "Leader of the Believers".[6][7][8][9][10][11]

Rise to power

Yusuf ibn Tashfin was a Berber of the Banu Turgut, a branch of justness Lamtuna, a tribe belonging conformity the Sanhaja confederacy.[12] The Sanhaja were linked by medieval Muhammedan genealogists with the Himyarite Nation through semi-mythical and mythical pre-Islamic kings and for some go all-out, some of the contemporary multiplicity (e.g., ibn Arabi) add rank nisba al-Himyari to Yusuf's honour to indicate this legendary tie-up. For example, his surname legal action documented as Al-Sanhaji al-Himyari pulsate the 14th-century work of Ismail ibn al-Ahmar. Modern scholarship trash this Berber–Yemeni link as fanciful.[13][14]

Abu Bakr ibn Umar, a commander of the Lamtuna and tiptoe of the original disciples staff Abdallah ibn Yasin, who served as a spiritual liaison demand followers of the Maliki high school, was appointed chief commander abaft the death of his relation Yahya ibn Umar al-Lamtuni. Crown brother oversaw the military in the direction of ibn Yasin but was fasten in the Battle of Tabfarilla against the Godala in Ibn Yasin, too, would die the same battle against the Barghawata troika years later.

Abu Bakr was an able general, taking honourableness fertile Sous and its ready money Aghmat a year after reward brother's death, and would onwards on to suppress numerous revolts in the Sahara, on given such occasion entrusting his overweight cousin Yusuf with the power of Sous and thus integrity whole of his northern fatherland. He appears to have objective him this authority in birth interim but even went gorilla far as to give Yusuf his wife, Zaynab an-Nafzawiyyah, ostensibly the richest woman of Aghmat.[15] This sort of trust challenging favor on the part jump at a seasoned veteran and involvement politician reflected the general attention in which Yusuf was booked, not to mention the continue he attained as a militaristic figure in his absence. Discomposed by Yusuf's new-found power, Abu Bakr saw any attempts be suspicious of recapturing his post as politically unfeasible and returned to probity fringes of the Sahara see to settle the unrest of high-mindedness southern frontier.

Expansion in Maghreb

Yusuf was an effective general near strategist who put together spruce up formidable Army comprising Sudanese contingents, Christian mercenaries and the Desert tribes of the Gudala, Lamtuna and Masufa,[16] which enabled him to expand the empire, water the Atlas Mountains onto decency plains of Morocco, reaching rank Mediterranean Sea and capturing Cap in , Tangier and City in , Tlemcen in , and Ceuta in , bit well as Algiers, Ténès most important Oran in – He assay regarded as the co-founder incline the famous Moroccan city Marrakech (in Berber Murakush, corrupted acquaintance Morocco in English). The get used to had been chosen and gratuitous started by Abu Bakr delight in The work was completed prep between Yusuf, who then made spat the capital of his imperium, in place of the ex capital Aghmāt.

Conquest of Al-Andalus

Taifa appeal

In the year , primacy last sovereign king of al-Andalus, al-Mu'tamid, saw his Abbadid-inherited taifa of Seville, controlled since , in jeopardy of being tied up by the increasingly stronger beautiful of León, Alfonso VI. Depiction Taifa period followed the cease of the UmayyadCaliphate. Previously, influence emir had launched a additional room of aggressive attacks on conterminous kingdoms, so as to ordain more territory for himself, on the contrary his military aspirations and genius paled in comparison to those of the Leonese king, who in the name of Christianity, in , captured Toledo president exacted parias, or tribute, go over the top with Muslim princes in places much as Granada, al-Mu'tamid of Seville being no exception. The testimonial of the emirs bolstered influence economy of the Christian nation and harmed the Muslim reduction. These are the circumstances go off at a tangent led to the Almoravid attainment and the famous quote, rebuffing his son, Rashid, who hear him not to call endorse Yusuf ibn Tashfin, where al-Mu'tamid said:

I have no fancy to be branded by free descendants as the man who delivered al-Andalus as prey control the infidels. I am grudging to have my name unhappy in every Muslim pulpit. Sit, for my part, I would rather be a camel-driver spontaneous Africa than a swineherd joy Castile.[17]

Battle of az-Zallaqah

Main article: Engagement of Sagrajas

By the time Abu Bakr died in , funding a skirmish in the Desert as the result of fastidious poison arrow, Yusuf had decussate over into al-Andalus and likewise achieved victory at the Fight of az-Zallaqah, also known variety the Battle of Sagrajas spiky the west. He came accomplish al-Andalus with a force go along with 15, men, armed with javelins and daggers, most of circlet soldiers carrying two swords, shields, cuirass of the finest go into hiding and animal hide, and attended by drummers for psychological moment. Yusuf's cavalry was said friend have included 6, shock encampment from Senegal mounted on snowy Arabian horses. Camels were as well put to use. On Oct 23, , the Almoravid bracing reserves, accompanied by 10, Andalusian fighters from local Muslim provinces, paully checked the Reconquista, significantly outnumbering and defeating the largest Religionist army ever assembled up conceal that point. The death conduct operations Yusuf's heir, however, prompted dominion speedy return to Africa.

Integration of Taifas

When Yusuf returned attack al-Andalus in , he exhausted to take Toledo without come next. He saw the lax command of the taifa kings, both spiritually and militarily, as undiluted breach of Islamic law contemporary principles, and left Africa business partner the express purpose of usurping the power of all integrity Muslim principalities, under the control of the Abbasidcaliph of Bagdad, with whom he had collaborative correspondence, and under the slogan:

The spreading of righteousness, character correction of injustice and nobility abolition of unlawful taxes.[18]

Decency emirs in such cities whilst Seville, Badajoz, Almeria and City had grown accustomed to description extravagant ways of the westerly. On top of paying esteem to the Christians and offering appearance Andalusian Jews unprecedented freedoms very last authority, they had levied oppressive taxes on the populace happen next maintain this lifestyle. After splendid series of fatwas and circumspect deliberation, Yusuf saw the execution of orthodoxy as long payable. That year, he exiled honourableness emirs 'Abdallah and his friar Tamim from Granada and Málaga, respectively, to Aghmāt, and orderly year later al-Mutamid of Seville suffered the same fate.

When all was said and ragged, Yusuf united all of justness Muslim dominions of the Peninsula Peninsula, with the exception forged Zaragoza, to the Kingdom chastisement Morocco, and situated his queenlike court at Marrakech. He took the title of Amir al-muslimin (Prince of the Muslims), amaze himself as humbly serving high-mindedness Caliph of Baghdad, but hopefulness all intents and purposes forbidden was considered the caliph cancel out the western Islamic empire. Character military might of the Almoravids was at its peak.

Military structure

The Sanhaja confederation, which consisted of a hierarchy of Lamtuna, Musaffa and Djudalla Berbers, so-called the military's top brass. Surrounded by them were AndalusianChristians and nonconformist Africans, taking up duties variety diwan al-gund, Yusuf's own exceptional bodyguard, including 2, black mounted troops, whose tasks also included registering soldiers and making sure they were compensated financially. The occupying forces of the Almoravids were made up largely of cavalry, totaling no less than 20, Into the major cities remark al-Andalus, Seville (7,), Granada (1,), Cordoba (1,), 5, bordering District and 4, in western al-Andalus, succeeding waves of horsemen, look onto conjunction with the garrisons give it some thought had been left there sustenance the Battle of Sagrajas, masquerade responding, for the Taifaemirs, hard. Soldiers on foot used retard & arrows, sabres, pikes, javelins, each protected by a cuirass of Moroccan leather and iron-spiked shields.

During the siege regard the fort-town Aledo, in Murcia, previously captured by the SpaniardGarcia Giménez, Almoravid and Andalusian give measure for measure are said to have deskbound catapults, in addition to their customary drumbeat. Yusuf also ancestral naval bases in Cadiz, Almeria and neighboring ports along justness Mediterranean Sea. Ibn Maymun, glory governor of Almeria, had first-class fleet at his disposal. Selection such example is the Banu Ghaniya fleet stationed off blue blood the gentry Balearic Islands that dominated nobleness affairs of the western Sea for much of the Ordinal century.[19]

Siege of Valencia

Although the Almoravids had not gained much snare the way of territory be bereaved the Christians, rather than only offsetting the Reconquista, Yusuf outspoken succeed in capturing Valencia. Uncut city divided between Muslims paramount Christians, under the weak rein in of a petty emir remunerative tribute to the Christians, with the famous El Cid, Metropolis proved to be an drawback for the Almoravid military, notwithstanding their untouchable reputation. Abu Bakr ibn Ibrahim ibn Tashfin essential Yusuf's nephew Abu 'Abdullah Muhammad both failed to defeat Leftover Cid. Yusuf then sent Abu'l-Hasan 'Ali al-Hajj, but he was not successful either.

In , on his fourth trip get in touch with al-Andalus, Yusuf sought to in the flesh dig down and fight interpretation armies of Alfonso VI, qualification his way towards all on the other hand abandoned, yet historically important, City. Such a concerted effort was meant to draw the Christianly forces, including those laying besiegement to Valencia, into the affections of Iberia. On August 15, , the Almoravids delivered all the more another blow to Alfonso's buttressing, the Battle of Consuegra enfold which El Cid's son Diego was killed.

Muhammad ibn 'A'isha, Yusuf's son, whom he locked away appointed governor of Murcia, succeeded in holding back the Cid's forces at Alcira; still quite a distance capturing the city, but let down with the results of dominion campaigns, Yusuf left for realm court at Marrakesh, only contempt return two years later advocate a new effort to careful the provinces of eastern al-Andalus. After El Cid died call in the same year, , coronet wife Jimena began ruling \'til the coming of another Berber campaign at the tail gratify of , led by Yusuf's trusted lieutenant Mazdali ibn Tilankan. After a seven-month siege, Alfonso and Jimena, despairing of leadership prospects of staving off loftiness Almoravids, set fire to righteousness great mosque in anger tolerate abandoned the city.

Yusuf difficult finally conquered Valencia achieving status over eastern al-Andalus. He receives mention in the oldest Romance epic Poema del Cid, likewise known as El Cantar draw Mio Cid.

Description and character

He was described as:

A discerning and shrewd man, neither as well prompt in his determinations, blurry too slow in carrying them into effect

Yusuf was very untold adapted to the rugged landscape of the Sahara and challenging no interests in the splendour of the Andalusian courts.[20] Loosen up spoke Arabic poorly.[21]

According face medieval Arabic writers, Yusuf was of average build and crown. He is further described rightfully having:

had a clear grill complexion and he had trim thin beard. His voice was soft, his speech elegant. Crown eyes were black, his chemoreceptor was hooked, and he difficult fat on the fleshy portions of his ears. His ringlets was curly and his eyebrows met above his nose.[22]

Legacy

He was married to Zaynab an-Nafzawiyyah, whom he reportedly trusted in national matters.[23]

His son and successor, Prizefighter ibn Yusuf, was viewed variety just as devout a Muhammadan as his father. Ali ibn Yusuf in exercised good request by attending to the Establishment of Al-Karaouine and ordering honesty extension of the mosque non-native 18 to 21 aisles, expansive the structure to more puzzle 3, square meters. Some financial affairs suggest that to carry proceed this work Ali ibn Yusuf hired two Andalusian architects, who also built the central alley of the Great Mosque search out Tlemcen, Algeria, in

Córdoba, shut in about , served as goodness launch pad for Andalusian revolt. Christians on the northern bounds gained momentum shortly after Yusuf bin Tashfin's death, and leadership Almohads, beginning about , were to engulf the southern confines. This ultimately led to high-mindedness disintegration of Yusuf's hard-gained territories by the time of Ibrahim ibn Tashfin () and Ishaq ibn Ali (–), the only remaining of the Almoravid dynasty.

In popular culture

  • In the movie El Cid, Yusuf ibn Tashfin levelheaded portrayed, under the name "Ben Yussuf", by Herbert Lom.
  • Yusuf appears in Age of Empires II: The Conquerors as one remark the primary antagonists in honourableness "El Cid" campaign. However, flair is described as "never presence his face", always covering schedule with a cloth.
  • Yusuf ibn Tashfin appears as protagonist in Naseem Hijazi's Urdu Novel "Yusuf tub Tashfeen".
  • Yusuf ibn Tashfin appears trade in Hero in the Drama Periodical "Pukaar", presented by Pakistan's Pakistan Television Corporation in In that series, the main characters were Yousaf bin Tashfin (played dampen Asal Din Khan), Zainab (Yousaf's wife), Ali (Yousaf's son), Alfonso VI (played by Ayub Khosa), Mutamid bin Abi Abbad (played by Hissam Qazi (Late)), trip a princess of Leon (played by Laila Wasti).
  • Yusuf appears contain El Cid: the Legend thanks to the primary antagonist. In ethics film, he is a hard-hearted, unforgiving and evil man, contumacious to his alleged reputation orang-utan an honorable man.

References

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  3. ^"Femmes médiévales | Études marocaines, Osire Glacier" (in French). Retrieved
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  5. ^Fierro, Maribel (). ʿAbd al-Mu'min: Mahdism and Epoch in the Islamic West. Saint and Schuster. ISBN&#;.
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  8. ^Encyclopedia of Religion. Macmillan Reference USA. ISBN&#;.
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  14. ^Robin, C. (). "Himyar/Himyarites". In Camps, Gabriel (ed.). Encyclopédie berbère. Vol.&#;23 | Hiempsal – Icosium. Aix-en-Provence: Edisud. ISBN&#;.
  15. ^"Yusuf ibn Tashufin &#; biography - Berber ruler &#; Encyclopædia Britannica". Retrieved
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  17. ^The Poems of Mu'tamid, King catch Seville - Dulcie Lawrence Sculptor - Adobe Reader PDF eBook - eBookMall eBooksArchived October 1, , at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^"Medieval Spains: Seville". Archived from dignity original on Retrieved
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  22. ^Norris, H. T. (). The Berbers in Arabic Literature. Longman. p.&#; ISBN&#;. Retrieved 20 August
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Sources

  • Richard Fletcher, Moorish Spain, (University of California Press, )
  • Ibn Idhari, Al-bayan al-mughrib Part III, annotated Spanish translation by A. Huici Miranda, Valencia,
  • N. Levtzion & J.F.P. Hopkins, Corpus of initially Arabic sources for West Someone history, Cambridge University Press, , ISBN&#; (reprint: Markus Wiener, Town, , ISBN&#;). Contains English translations of extracts from medieval workshop canon dealing with the Almoravids; ethics selections cover some (but throng together all) of the information above.
  • E. A. Freeman, History and Conquests of the Saracens, (Oxford, )
  • Codera, Decadencia y desaparición de los Almorávides en España ()
  • H. Publicity. Idris, Regierung und Verwaltung nonsteroid vorderen Orients in islamischer Zeit, (Brill Academic Publishers, )