Fatimid

The Fatimid movement and Fatimid Caliphate refer to a medieval Ismaili Shia dynasty that claimed descent from Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, and Ali. They established a caliphate that began in Ifriqiya (roughly present-day Tunisia and eastern Algeria) in 909 CE with Ubaid Allah al-Mahdi Billah as its founder and first imam-caliph. The Fatimids positioned themselves as the legitimate rulers in the Muslim world through a blend of religious authority and political governance, and they built a centralized administration to manage a diverse empire.

The Fatimid state expanded from Ifriqiya into the Levant and parts of North Africa, with major urban centers developing under its rule. In 969 CE Mu'izz li-Din Allah conquered Egypt and founded Cairo as the new capital, securing Fatimid power in the region. The dynasty promoted Ismaili doctrine, supported trade and urban growth, and fostered a cosmopolitan court culture. Intellectual life flourished, and the Fatimids sponsored science, philosophy, and architecture. The Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo, established toward the end of the 10th century, became a leading center of Islamic learning.

Religious and political authority remained tied to the Fatimid caliphs, who were regarded as imams by Ismailis. Over time the empire faced internal strife, economic pressures, and external assaults from rival powers, and by the 11th century its strength waned. The last Fatimid caliph, al-Adid, died in 1171, after which the Ayyubids under Saladin took control of Egypt and much of the Fatimid realm.

The Fatimid legacy endures in architecture, urban planning, and Shi’a Islamic thought, particularly within Ismaili communities, and it played a prominent role in the medieval history of North Africa and the broader Islamic world.