Almoravid

The Almoravid dynasty, also known as the Almoravids, was a Berber Muslim empire that controlled much of the Maghreb and Al-Andalus from the mid-11th to the mid-12th century. Originating among the Sanhaja Berbers in the western Sahara, the movement began as a religious reform effort led by Abd Allah ibn Yasin in the 1040s–1050s and quickly gained followers. Under the leadership of Yusuf ibn Tashfin, the Almoravids extended their authority into present-day Morocco, establishing Marrakech as their capital in 1062 and uniting much of the region under a centralized administration.

The Almoravids promoted a strict interpretation of Islam within the Maliki school and adopted the name al-Murābiṭūn, meaning those bound by vows or piety. They sought to defend and reform Islamic practice, regulate trade routes across the Sahara, and establish a disciplined, militant religiousCommunity that controlled vast territories through fortified towns and frontier garrisons.

From Morocco, the Almoravids expanded into Al-Andalus (Muslim Spain and Portugal). They intervened in the affairs of the taifa kingdoms and achieved military success, most notably at the Battle of Sagrajas in 1086, which helped consolidate their influence over much of Iberia for a time. Rulers such as Ali ibn Yusuf extended and maintained control over large parts of the peninsula and the Maghreb, coordinating administration and tax systems across a diverse domain.

The dynasty began to decline in the early 12th century due to internal strain and the rise of the Almohads, who eventually overthrew the Almoravids in the Maghreb and in Iberia by around 1147. The Almoravids left a lasting impact on the region, including the spread of Maliki orthodoxy, architectural developments, and the political framework that influenced subsequent medieval North Africa and Iberia.