Zirid Dynasty
Tunisia, 972 CE–1148. Draft, not yet reviewed
The Zirid dynasty was a Sanhaja Berber dynasty from what is now Algeria which ruled the central Maghreb from 972 to 1014 and Ifriqiya (eastern Maghreb) from 972 to 1148. The Zirids were emirs who ruled in the name of the Fatimids, and gradually established their autonomy in Ifriqiya through military conquest until officially breaking with the Fatimids in the mid-11th century. The main branch of the Zirids was based in Kairouan until 1057, when they moved the capital to Mahdia on the coast. The last Zirid ruler, al-Hasan, surrendered Mahdia to the Normans in 1148, thus ending independent Zirid rule.
Seat of power: Mahdia
Rulers
Badis ibn Mansur
Emir of Ifriqiya, 995 CE–1016
He succeeded his father al-Mansur ibn Buluggin as viceroy of Ifriqiya on 8 April 996. By 1001, he had secured his position with a convincing victory over the Zenata, their allies the Maghrawa, and Zawi ibn Ziri.
Al-Mu'izz ibn Badis
Emir of Ifriqiya, 1016–1062
He ascended the throne as a minor, with his aunt, Umm Mallal, acting as regent. Sometime between 1041 and 1051 he renounced the Fatimid Caliphs and recognized the Sunni Muslim Abbasid Caliphate.
Portrait of Al-Mu'izz ibn Badis: Kabyle20, CC BY-SA 4.0, file
Tamim ibn al-Mu'izz
Emir of Ifriqiya, 1062–1108
Tamim took over at a time when the Zirid realm found itself in a state of disintegration following the invasion of the Banu Hilal. The capital, Mahdia, was attacked by the city-states of Genoa and Pisa in 1087 and forced to pay a high ransom.
Culture
- Sometime between 1041 and 1051 the Zirid ruler al-Mu'izz ibn Badis renounced the Fatimid Caliphs and recognized the Sunni Muslim Abbasid Caliphate. In retaliation, the Fatimids instigated the migration of the Banu Hilal tribe to the Maghreb, dealing a serious blow to Zirid power in Ifriqiya.
- In the 12th century, the Hilalian invasions combined with the attacks of the Normans of Sicily along the coast further weakened Zirid power.
- Under Buluggin ibn Ziri the Zirids extended their control westwards and briefly occupied Fez and much of present-day Morocco after 980, but encountered resistance from the local Zenata Berbers who gave their allegiance to the Caliphate of Cordoba.
Picture
Mahdia is a Tunisian coastal city, south of Monastir and southeast of Sousse.
Image: Davide Mauro, CC BY-SA 4.0, file
Sources
Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.