Yusuf ibn Tashfin : founder of the Almoravid state and hero of the Battle of Al-zalaqa
Yusuf ibn Tashfin is considered one of the greatest amazigh leaders in Islamic and Moroccan history, as he ruled the Almoravid state and made great achievements in uniting Morocco and Andalusia. He was an experienced military commander and an accomplished statesman, famous for his justice, humility and asceticism, contributed to the spread of Islam and the consolidation of Islamic rule in North Africa and Andalusia.
Yusuf ibn Tashfin was born around the year 1009 AD in the desert region of Morocco and belonged to the Tamazight tribe, he grew up in a harsh desert environment, which gave him strength of endurance and simplicity in living. He joined the Almoravid movement founded by Abdullah ibn Yasin, a reformist movement aimed at reviving Islam according to a hardline Salafi approach.
After the death of Abdullah ibn Yasin, Abu Bakr Ibn Umar took over the leadership of the Almoravids, but he was forced to return to the Sahara to resolve internal conflicts, leaving Yusuf ibn Tashfin as his deputy in Morocco. Youssef proved highly competent in leadership, and was able to unite Morocco
Under the banner of the Almoravids, until Abu Bakr abdicated to him in 1072
Unification of Morocco and the construction of Marrakech
Yusuf ibn Tashfin worked to unite the Moroccan tribes and establish a strong state. He founded the city of Marrakech in 1070, which became the capital of the Almoravid state and a cultural and military Center. He also succeeded in eliminating the scattered Emirates in Morocco, imposing order and stability, which made his state one of the most powerful at that time
The crossing to Andalusia and the Battle of the slide (1086)
In the XI century, Andalusia was plagued by weak Taifa Kings who split into small states, which made them vulnerable to the threat of Christian kingdoms, especially the kingdom of Castile led by King Alfonso VI.
Faced with this threat, Al-Mu’tamid ibn Abbad, the governor of Seville, sent a distress call to Yusuf ibn Tashfin to save Al-Andalus. Yusuf responded and crossed the sea towards Al-Andalus in 1086, led a strong army of Moroccans, and faced the army of Alfonso VI in the Battle of Al-zalaqa.
The battle was a watershed in the history of Al-Andalus, as Yusuf ibn Tashfin managed to achieve a crushing victory, stopping the Christian expansion on the Iberian Peninsula, earning him the nickname “Nasir al-Din” and raising his status among Muslims.
Annexation and just rule of Al-Andalus
After the Battle of zalaqa, Yusuf ibn Tashfin returned to Morocco, but later returned to Al-Andalus after seeing the continued weakness of the Taifa Kings and the cooperation of some of them with Christians. He decided to end their rule and annex Andalusia to the Almoravid state, so he entered Cordoba, Seville, Granada and Valencia, thus Andalusia became part of his unified state.
Yusuf ibn Tashfin was a just and ascetic ruler in the world, where he refused to be called the Caliph despite his strength, and contented himself with the title of “Prince of Muslims” out of respect for the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad, although the Abbasid state at that time was weak and could not confront the state of the Almoravids
Yusuf ibn Tashfin died in 1106 at the age of 97, after a reign of more than four decades. He left behind a powerful state that stretched from the south of the Sahara desert to the north of Andalusia, and was an example of a just and courageous Muslim ruler.
Although the Almoravid state later fell due to the emergence of the Almohads, Yusuf ibn Tashfin’s achievements in uniting Morocco and saving Andalusia are still engraved in history books, and he is considered one of the greatest leaders that the Islamic Moroccan nation gave birth to
Yusuf ibn Tashfin remains an outstanding historical figure, he founded a great state, spread Islam, defended al-Andalus at a time when it was threatened with fall. He was a model of fair governance, wise leadership, and humility, which earned him the respect of Arab and Western historians alike
