Difference between revisions of "Fatimids Caliphate" - New World Encyclopedia
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| − | The '''Fatimids''', '''Fatimid Caliphate''' or '''al-Fātimiyyūn''' | + | The '''Fatimids''', '''Fatimid Caliphate''' or '''al-Fātimiyyūn''' is the [[Shia]] dynasty that ruled much of [[North Africa]] from 5 January 910 to 1171C.E.. The term ''Fatimite'' is sometimes used to refer to the citizens of this caliphate. They belonged to the [[Ismaili]] branch of Shi'ism. They did much to promote Ismaili scholarship and sponsored missionary outreach, sending missionaries as far as India and Central Asia. They appointed officials based on ability regardless of religion. Sunni Muslims, Christians and Jews occupied significant offices. This policy was reversed by their successors. Rivals of the [[Abbasdis]] they also transformed Egypt's economic status and very nearly succeeded in achieving their goal of ruling the whole Muslims world. |
==The Fatimid Rise== | ==The Fatimid Rise== | ||
| − | The Fatimids had their origins in what is now modern Tunisia (" | + | The Fatimids had their origins in what is now modern Tunisia ("Ifriqiya"), but after their success in commandeering rule over Egypt around 970 C.E., they relocated to a new capital, Cairo. By this time, the Abbasid caliphate, ruling from Baghdad, had lost effective control over what was becoming a decentralized Islamic empire. Already two Shi'a dynasties had effectively ruled in the North, the Buyids (945-1055) and the Seljuks (1055-11 35) although they nominally recognized the Abbasids. Now another Shi'a dynasty ruled in the South but this one did not recognize and planned to replace the Sunni Abbasdis. Elsewhere, too, real power was in the hands of Sultans (which is derived from the word for delegate). |
| − | Under the Fatimids, [[Egypt]] became the center of an [[empire]] that included North Africa, [[Sicily]], [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]], [[Syria]], the [[Red Sea]] coast of Africa, [[Yemen]] and the [[Hejaz]]. Under the Fatimids, Egypt flourished and developed an extensive trade network in both the [[Mediterranean]] and the [[Indian Ocean]], which eventually determined the economic course of Egypt during the | + | Under the Fatimids, [[Egypt]] became the center of an [[empire]] that included North Africa, [[Sicily]], [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]], [[Syria]], the [[Red Sea]] coast of Africa, [[Yemen]] and the [[Hejaz]]. Under the Fatimids, Egypt flourished and developed an extensive trade network in both the [[Mediterranean]] and the [[Indian Ocean]], which eventually determined the economic course of Egypt during the High Middle Ages. |
| − | The dynasty and its followers belonged to the | + | The dynasty and its followers belonged to the Shi'a branch of [[Islam]] and in particular, to a sub-set of Shi'ism called the Ismailis or the Ismā'īliyya. The dynasty was founded in 909C.E. by Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi Billah, who claimed legitimacy through asserting his descent from [[Muhammad|the Prophet]] throuygh his the daughter [[Fatima Zahra|Fātima as-Zahra]] and her husband [[Ali ibn Abi Talib]], the first Shī'a Imam, hence the name ''al-Fātimiyyūn'' "Fatimid". Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi Billah was the 11th Ismails Imam. By adopting the title Caliph, he also laid claim to leadership of Sunni Muslims. The Fatimids and the Abbasids became bitter rivals. The latter claimed that the Fatimids claims to leadership was invalid because they traced themselves to Muhammad through a female. The Abbadisds traced themselves to an uncle of the prophet. The Ismailis separated from the majority of Shi'a (known as Twelvers) in 765C.E. over the succession to the widely respected 6th Imam, al-Jafar, who is also recognized as an important legal scholar by Sunnis. The majority of Shi'a followed Musa. The Ismailis followed Ismail. The Zaydis had split after the death of the 4th Imam. The Buyids were Zaydis. |
Abdullāh al-Mahdi's control soon extended over all of central [[Maghreb]], an area consisting of the modern countries of [[Morocco]], [[Algeria]], [[Tunisia]] and [[Libya]], which he ruled from [[Mahdia]], his newly-built capital in Tunisia. | Abdullāh al-Mahdi's control soon extended over all of central [[Maghreb]], an area consisting of the modern countries of [[Morocco]], [[Algeria]], [[Tunisia]] and [[Libya]], which he ruled from [[Mahdia]], his newly-built capital in Tunisia. | ||
| − | The Fatimids entered [[Egypt]] in | + | The Fatimids entered [[Egypt]] in 972C.E., conquering the short lived Ikhshidid dynasty (935- 969C.E.) and founding a new capital at ''al-Qāhirat'' "The Subduer" (modern [[Cairo]]).They continued to extend their control over the surrounding areas until they ruled a span of territory from Tunisia to [[Syria]] and their influence even crossed over into [[Sicily]] and southern Italy. |
| − | Unlike other governments in the area, Fatimid advancement in state | + | Unlike other governments in the area, Fatimid advancement in state offices was based more on merit than on heredity. Members of other branches of Islām, like the [[Sunni]]s, were just as likely to be appointed to government posts as Shiites. In fact, the Fatimids ruled over a majority Sunni population in Cairo. Tolerance was extended further to non-Muslims such as [[Christian]]s and [[Jew]]s, who occupied high levels in government based on expertise. An exception to this general attitude of tolerance include one significant aberration, the eccentric Fatimid, the 6th Caliph, known as the "Mad Caliph" Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, the 16th Imam in the Ismails succession. |
==Decay and Fall== | ==Decay and Fall== | ||
| − | In the 1040s, the | + | In the 1040s, the Zirids (governors of North Africa under the Fatimids) declared their independence from the Fatimids and their conversion to "orthodox" Sunnī Islām, which led to the devastating Banū Hilal invasions. After about 1070C.E., Fatimid authority over the Levant coast and parts of Syria was challenged first by Turkic invasions, then by the [[Crusades]], so that Fatimid territory shrunk until eventually, it consisted only of Egypt. |
| − | After the decay of the Fatimid political system in the 1160s, the | + | After the decay of the Fatimid political system in the 1160s, the Zengid ruler Nūr ad-Dīn despatched his general, [[Saladin]], seized Egypt in 1169, forming the [[Sunni]] Ayyubid Dynasty (which fell to the [[Mamluks]] in 1254. The Zengrids had replaced the Seljuks as Sultans in Syria and Iraq. |
== Fatimid Imāms == | == Fatimid Imāms == | ||
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The Fatimids, Fatimid Caliphate or al-Fātimiyyūn is the Shia dynasty that ruled much of North Africa from 5 January 910 to 1171C.E. The term Fatimite is sometimes used to refer to the citizens of this caliphate. They belonged to the Ismaili branch of Shi'ism. They did much to promote Ismaili scholarship and sponsored missionary outreach, sending missionaries as far as India and Central Asia. They appointed officials based on ability regardless of religion. Sunni Muslims, Christians and Jews occupied significant offices. This policy was reversed by their successors. Rivals of the Abbasdis they also transformed Egypt's economic status and very nearly succeeded in achieving their goal of ruling the whole Muslims world.
The Fatimid Rise
The Fatimids had their origins in what is now modern Tunisia ("Ifriqiya"), but after their success in commandeering rule over Egypt around 970 C.E., they relocated to a new capital, Cairo. By this time, the Abbasid caliphate, ruling from Baghdad, had lost effective control over what was becoming a decentralized Islamic empire. Already two Shi'a dynasties had effectively ruled in the North, the Buyids (945-1055) and the Seljuks (1055-11 35) although they nominally recognized the Abbasids. Now another Shi'a dynasty ruled in the South but this one did not recognize and planned to replace the Sunni Abbasdis. Elsewhere, too, real power was in the hands of Sultans (which is derived from the word for delegate).
Under the Fatimids, Egypt became the center of an empire that included North Africa, Sicily, Palestine, Syria, the Red Sea coast of Africa, Yemen and the Hejaz. Under the Fatimids, Egypt flourished and developed an extensive trade network in both the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean, which eventually determined the economic course of Egypt during the High Middle Ages.
The dynasty and its followers belonged to the Shi'a branch of Islam and in particular, to a sub-set of Shi'ism called the Ismailis or the Ismā'īliyya. The dynasty was founded in 909C.E. by Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi Billah, who claimed legitimacy through asserting his descent from the Prophet throuygh his the daughter Fātima as-Zahra and her husband Ali ibn Abi Talib, the first Shī'a Imam, hence the name al-Fātimiyyūn "Fatimid". Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi Billah was the 11th Ismails Imam. By adopting the title Caliph, he also laid claim to leadership of Sunni Muslims. The Fatimids and the Abbasids became bitter rivals. The latter claimed that the Fatimids claims to leadership was invalid because they traced themselves to Muhammad through a female. The Abbadisds traced themselves to an uncle of the prophet. The Ismailis separated from the majority of Shi'a (known as Twelvers) in 765C.E. over the succession to the widely respected 6th Imam, al-Jafar, who is also recognized as an important legal scholar by Sunnis. The majority of Shi'a followed Musa. The Ismailis followed Ismail. The Zaydis had split after the death of the 4th Imam. The Buyids were Zaydis.
Abdullāh al-Mahdi's control soon extended over all of central Maghreb, an area consisting of the modern countries of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya, which he ruled from Mahdia, his newly-built capital in Tunisia.
The Fatimids entered Egypt in 972C.E., conquering the short lived Ikhshidid dynasty (935- 969C.E.) and founding a new capital at al-Qāhirat "The Subduer" (modern Cairo).They continued to extend their control over the surrounding areas until they ruled a span of territory from Tunisia to Syria and their influence even crossed over into Sicily and southern Italy.
Unlike other governments in the area, Fatimid advancement in state offices was based more on merit than on heredity. Members of other branches of Islām, like the Sunnis, were just as likely to be appointed to government posts as Shiites. In fact, the Fatimids ruled over a majority Sunni population in Cairo. Tolerance was extended further to non-Muslims such as Christians and Jews, who occupied high levels in government based on expertise. An exception to this general attitude of tolerance include one significant aberration, the eccentric Fatimid, the 6th Caliph, known as the "Mad Caliph" Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, the 16th Imam in the Ismails succession.
Decay and Fall
In the 1040s, the Zirids (governors of North Africa under the Fatimids) declared their independence from the Fatimids and their conversion to "orthodox" Sunnī Islām, which led to the devastating Banū Hilal invasions. After about 1070C.E., Fatimid authority over the Levant coast and parts of Syria was challenged first by Turkic invasions, then by the Crusades, so that Fatimid territory shrunk until eventually, it consisted only of Egypt.
After the decay of the Fatimid political system in the 1160s, the Zengid ruler Nūr ad-Dīn despatched his general, Saladin, seized Egypt in 1169, forming the Sunni Ayyubid Dynasty (which fell to the Mamluks in 1254. The Zengrids had replaced the Seljuks as Sultans in Syria and Iraq.
Fatimid Imāms
The word "Imām" as used in Shīˤa Islām means a hereditary leader of the Muslim community in the direct line of ˤAlī ibn-Abī-Tālib.
- Abū Muḥammad ˤAbdu l-Lāh (ˤUbaydu l-Lāh) al-Mahdī bi'llāh (910-934) founder Fatimid dynasty
- Abū l-Qāsim Muḥammad al-Qā'im bi-Amr Allāh (934-946)
- Abū Ṭāhir Ismā'il al-Manṣūr bi-llāh (946-953)
- Abū Tamīm Ma'add al-Mu'izz li-Dīn Allāh}} (953-975) Egypt is conquered during his reign
- Abū Manṣūr Nizār al-'Azīz bi-llāh (975-996)
- Abū 'Alī al-Manṣūr al-Ḥākim bi-Amr Allāh (996-1021)
- Abū'l-Ḥasan 'Alī al-Ẓāhir li-I'zāz Dīn Allāh (1021-1036)
- Abū Tamīm Ma'add al-Mustanṣir bi-llāh (1036-1094)
- al-Musta'lī bi-llāh (1094-1101) Quarrels over his succession led to the Nizari split.
- al-Āmir bi-Aḥkām Allāh (1101-1130) The Fatimid rulers of Egypt after him are not recognized as Imams by Mustaali Taiyabi Ismailis.
- 'Abd al-Majīd al-Ḥāfiẓ (1130-1149)
- al-Ẓāfir (1149-1154)
- al-Fā'iz (1154-1160)
- al-'Āḍid (1160-1171)
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