Fatimid Caliphate

Southern Ancient Arab states Arab empires and caliphates Eastern dynasties Western dynasties and caliphates Arabian Peninsula East Africa Current monarchies v t e The Fatimid Caliphate or al-Fātimiyyūn ( Arabic الفاطميون) was an Arab Shi'a Muslim caliphate centered in Egypt that ruled over varying areas of the Maghreb , Sicily , Malta ,the Levant , and Hijaz from 5 January 909 to 1171. The caliphate was ruled by the Fatimids, who were basedly originally in the Tunisian city of Mahdia , before establishing the Egyptian city of Cairo in 969, which thereafter became their capital. The fourth century AH /tenth century CE has been called by Louis Massignon ‘the Ismaili century in the history of Islam’. The term Fatimite is sometimes used to refer to the citizens of this caliphate. The ruling elite of the state belonged to the Ismaili branch of Shi'ism. The leaders of the dynasty were also Shia Ismaili Imams , hence, they had a religious significance to Ismaili Muslims. They are also part of the chain of holders of the office of Caliph , as recognized by some Muslims. Therefore, this constitutes a rare period in history in which some form of the Shia Imamate and the Caliphate were united to any degree, excepting the final period of the Rashidun Caliphate under Ali himself. The caliphate was reputed to exercise a degree of religious tolerance towards non-Ismaili sects of Islam as well as towards Jews , Maltese Christians , and Coptic Christians . In his “Mutanabbi devant le siècle ismaëlien de l’Islam”, in Mém. de l’Inst Français de Damas, 1935, p.

Today part of Countries today Algeria Egypt Israel Italy Lebanon Libya Malta Palestinian National Authority Saudi Arabia Tunisia Jordan Syria Ancient Egypt Greco-Roman Egypt Medieval Egypt Early modern Egypt Late Modern Egypt Egypt portal v t e Southern Ancient Arab states Arab empires and caliphates Eastern dynasties Western dynasties and caliphates Arabian Peninsula East Africa Current monarchies v t e The Fatimid Caliphate ( , al-Fāṭimīyūn ) was a Shia Islamic caliphate , which spanned a large area of North Africa , from the Red Sea in the east to the Atlantic Ocean in the west. The dynasty ruled across the Mediterranean coast of Africa and ultimately made Egypt the centre of the caliphate. At its height, the caliphate included in addition to Egypt varying areas of the Maghreb , Sudan , Sicily , the Levant , and Hijaz . The Fatimids claimed to be descended from Fatima bint Muhammad ( فاطمة بنت محمد ), the daughter of Islamic prophet Muhammad . The Fatimids conquered North Africa and their Fatimid state took shape among the Kutama , in the Western North of Africa, particularly Algeria in 909 conquering Raqqada , the Aghlabid capital. In 921, Fatimid established the Tunisian city of Mahdia as their new capital. In 948 they shifted their capital to Al-Mansuriya , near Kairouan , Tunisia . In 969 they conquered Egypt and established Cairo as the capital of their caliphate, and Egypt became the political, cultural, and religious centre of their empire. The ruling class belonged to the Ismaili branch of Shi'ism, as did the leaders of the dynasty. The existence of the caliphate marked the only time the descendants of Ali through Fatimah, the daughter of the prophet were united to any degree, except for the final period of the Rashidun Caliphate under Ali himself, and the name Fatimid refers to Fatimah. The different term Fatimite is sometimes used to refer to the caliphate's subjects. After the initial conquests, the caliphate often allowed a degree of religious tolerance towards non-Ismaili sects of Islam, as well as to Jews , Maltese Christians , and Egyptian Coptic Christians . The Fatimid caliphate was also distinguished by the central role of Berbers in its initial establishment and in helping its development, especially on the military and political levels. During the late eleventh and twelfth century, however, the Fatimid caliphate declined rapidly, and in 1171 the country was invaded by Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn . He founded the Ayyubid dynasty and incorporated the Fatimid state into the Abbasid Caliphate . Ibn Hammad (d. 1230) in Akhbar al-Muluk Bani Ubayd (ed. While green is often referred to as the dynastic colour of the Fatimids, it appears that the Fatimid caliphate did also use white, in opposition to the black used by the Abbasid caliphate . Journal of world-systems research . 12 (2): 219– 229 . Metalwork in Medieval Islamic Art . In the course of the later eleventh and twelfth century, however, the Fatimid caliphate declined rapidly, and in 1171 the country was invaded by Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn , the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty . He restored Egypt as a political power, reincorporated it in the Abbasid caliphate and established Ayyubid suzerainty not only over Egypt and Syria but, as mentioned before, temporarily over northern Mesopotamia as well.

Ismaili Shia Islamic caliphate Southern Ancient Arab states Arab empires and caliphates Eastern dynasties Western dynasties and caliphates Arabian Peninsula East Africa Current monarchies v t e Ancient Egypt Greco-Roman Egypt Medieval Egypt Early modern Egypt Late Modern Egypt Egypt portal v t e The Fatimid Caliphate was an Ismaili Shia caliphate that spanned a large area of North Africa , from the Red Sea in the east to the Atlantic Ocean in the west. The dynasty of Arab origin ruled across the Mediterranean coast of Africa and ultimately made Egypt the center of the caliphate. At its height the caliphate included in addition to Egypt varying areas of the Maghreb , Sudan , Sicily , the Levant , and Hijaz . The Fatimids ( ) claimed descent from Fatimah , the daughter of the prophet Muhammad . The Fatimid state took shape among the Kutama , Berbers located in the west of the North African littoral (in Kabylie , Algeria ). In 909 using the military might of the Kutama , they conquered Raqqada , the Aghlabid capital. In 921, the Fatimids established the Tunisian city of Mahdia as their new capital. In 948 they shifted their capital to al-Mansuriyya , near Kairouan in Tunisia . In 969 they conquered Egypt and established Cairo as the capital of their caliphate; Egypt became the political, cultural, and religious centre of their empire that developed a new, indigenous Arabic culture. The ruling class belonged to the Ismai'li branch of Shi'a Islam , as did the leaders of the dynasty. The existence of the caliphate marked the only time the descendants of Ali and Fatimah were united to any degree (except for the final period of the Rashidun Caliphate under Ali himself from 656 to 661) and the name "Fatimid" refers to Fatimah. The different term Fatimi (or “Fatimite”) by orientalist authors is sometimes used to refer to the caliphate's subjects. After the initial conquests, the caliphate often allowed a degree of religious tolerance towards non-Shia sects of Islam, as well as to Jews , Maltese Christians, and Copts . However, its leaders made little headway in persuading the Egyptian population to adopt its religious beliefs. During the late eleventh and twelfth centuries the Fatimid caliphate declined rapidly, and in 1171 Saladin invaded its territory. He founded the Ayyubid dynasty and incorporated the Fatimid state into the Abbasid Caliphate . Journal of World-Systems Research . 12 (2): 222. Metalwork in Medieval Islamic Art . In the course of the later eleventh and twelfth century, however, the Fatimid caliphate declined rapidly, and in 1171 the country was invaded by Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn , the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty . He restored Egypt as a political power, reincorporated it in the Abbasid caliphate and established Ayyubid suzerainty not only over Egypt and Syria but, as mentioned above, temporarily over northern Mesopotamia as well.

Shia Islamic caliphate (909–1171) The Fatimid Caliphate was an Ismaili Shi'a caliphate extant from the tenth to the twelfth centuries AD. Spanning a large area of North Africa , it ranged from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Red Sea in the east. The Fatimids , a dynasty of Arab origin, trace their ancestry to Muhammad's daughter Fatima and her husband, ‘Ali b. Abi Talib , the first Shi‘a imam . The Fatimids were acknowledged as the rightful imams by different Isma‘ili communities as well as by denominations in many other Muslim lands and adjacent regions. Originating during the Abbasid Caliphate , the Fatimids conquered Ifriqiya and established the city of al-Mahdiyya . The Ismaili dynasty ruled territories across the Mediterranean coast of Africa and ultimately made Egypt the center of the caliphate. At its height, the caliphate included—in addition to Egypt—varying areas of the Maghreb , Sudan , Sicily , the Levant , and the Hijaz . Between 902 and 909 the foundation of the Fatimid state was realized under the leadership of da'i (missionary) Abu Abdallah , whose conquest of Aghlabid Ifriqiya paved the way for the establishment of the Caliphate. After the conquest, Abdallah al-Mahdi Billah was retrieved from Sijilmasa and then accepted as the Imam of the movement, becoming the first Caliph and founder of the dynasty in 909. In 921, the city of al-Mahdiyya was established as the capital. In 948, they shifted their capital to al-Mansuriyya , near Kairouan . In 969, during the reign of al-Mu'izz , they conquered Egypt , and in 973 the caliphate was moved to the newly founded Fatimid capital of Cairo . Egypt became the political, cultural, and religious centre of the empire, which developed a new and "indigenous Arabic" culture. After its initial conquests, the caliphate often allowed a degree of religious tolerance towards non-Shia sects of Islam, as well as to Jews and Christians. However, its leaders made little headway in persuading the Egyptian population to adopt its religious beliefs. After the reigns of al-'Aziz and al-Hakim , the long reign of al-Mustansir entrenched a regime in which the caliph remained aloof from state affairs and viziers took on greater importance. Political and ethnic factionalism within the army led to a civil war in the 1060s which threatened the empire's survival. After a period of revival during the tenure of the vizier Badr al-Jamali , the Fatimid caliphate declined rapidly during the late eleventh and twelfth centuries. In addition to internal difficulties, the caliphate was weakened by the encroachment of the Seljuk Turks into Syria in the 1070s and the arrival of the Crusaders in the Levant in 1097. In 1171, Saladin abolished the dynasty's rule and founded the Ayyubid dynasty , which incorporated Egypt back into the nominal sphere of authority of the Abbasid Caliphate. Journal of World-Systems Research . 12 (2): 222. An Atlas of African History . Studies, American University (Washington, D.C.) Foreign Area (1979). Algeria, a Country Study . [...] it was at this time that an indigenous Arabic culture was developed in Egypt, and Arab Egypt, so to speak, came of age to the extent that it was able to rival older centres like Baghdad as a seat of learning and intellectual activity. Metalwork in Medieval Islamic Art . In the course of the later eleventh and twelfth century, however, the Fatimid caliphate declined rapidly, and in 1171 the caliphate was dissolved and the dynasty was overthrown by Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn , the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty . He restored Egypt as a political power, reincorporated it in the Abbasid caliphate and established Ayyubid suzerainty not only over Egypt and Syria but, as mentioned above, temporarily over northern Mesopotamia as well. There are <ref group=pron> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a template (see the help page ).

The Fatimid Caliphate ( / ˈ f æ t ɪ m ɪ d / ; Arabic : الخلافة الفاطمیّة , romanized : al-Khilāfat al-Fāṭimiyya ), also known as the Fatimid Empire , was a caliphate extant from the tenth to the twelfth centuries CE under the rule of the Fatimids , an Isma'ili Shi'a dynasty. Spanning a large area of North Africa and West Asia , it ranged from the western Mediterranean in the west to the Red Sea in the east. The Fatimids traced their ancestry to the Islamic prophet Muhammad 's daughter Fatima and her husband Ali , the first Shi'a imam. The Fatimids were acknowledged as the rightful imams by different Isma'ili communities as well as by denominations in many other Muslim lands and adjacent regions. Originating during the Abbasid Caliphate , the Fatimids initially conquered Ifriqiya (roughly present-day Tunisia and north-eastern Algeria ). They extended their rule across the Mediterranean coast and ultimately made Egypt the center of the caliphate. At its height, the caliphate included—in addition to Egypt—varying areas of the Maghreb , Sicily , the Levant , and the Hejaz . Between 902 and 909, the foundation of the Fatimid state was realized under the leadership of da'i (missionary) Abu Abdallah , whose conquest of Aghlabid Ifriqiya with the help of Kutama forces paved the way for the establishment of the Caliphate. After the conquest, Abdallah al-Mahdi Billah was retrieved from Sijilmasa and then accepted as the Imam of the movement, becoming the first Caliph and founder of the dynasty in 909. In 921, the city of al-Mahdiyya was established as the capital. In 948, they shifted their capital to al-Mansuriyya , near Kairouan . In 969, during the reign of al-Mu'izz , they conquered Egypt , and in 973, the caliphate was moved to the newly founded Fatimid capital of Cairo . Egypt became the political, cultural, and religious centre of the empire and it developed a new and "indigenous Arabic culture". After its initial conquests, the caliphate often allowed a degree of religious tolerance towards non-Shi'a sects of Islam, as well as to Jews and Christians. However, its leaders made little headway in persuading the Egyptian population to adopt its religious beliefs. After the reigns of al-'Aziz and al-Hakim , the long reign of al-Mustansir entrenched a regime in which the caliph remained aloof from state affairs and viziers took on greater importance. Political and ethnic factionalism within the army led to a civil war in the 1060s, which threatened the empire's survival. After a period of revival during the tenure of the vizier Badr al-Jamali , the Fatimid caliphate declined rapidly during the late eleventh and twelfth centuries. In addition to internal difficulties, the caliphate was weakened by the encroachment of the Seljuk Turks into Syria in the 1070s and the arrival of the Crusaders in the Levant in 1097. In 1171, Saladin abolished the dynasty's rule and founded the Ayyubid dynasty , which incorporated Egypt back into the nominal sphere of authority of the Abbasid Caliphate. Journal of World-Systems Research . 12 (2): 222. An Atlas of African History . Algeria, a Country Study . Metalwork in Medieval Islamic Art . In the course of the later eleventh and twelfth century, however, the Fatimid caliphate declined rapidly, and in 1171 the caliphate was dissolved and the Fatimid dynasty was overthrown by Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn , the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty . He restored Egypt as a political power, reincorporated it in the Abbasid caliphate and established Ayyubid suzerainty not only over Egypt and Syria but, as mentioned above, temporarily over northern Mesopotamia as well.