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Under this dynasty the Moroccan empire was extended over present-day Morocco, Mauritania, Gibraltar, Tlemcen (in Algeria) and a great part of what is now Senegal and Mali in the south, and Spain and Portugal to the north in Europe.

The exact meaning of "Murabit" is a matter of controversy. The name may be derived from the Arabic ribat (meaning tie or fortress (a term with which it shares the root r-b-t). This was the common opinion some time ago, however most historians now believe that it refers to ribat, meaning "tied to Horses" (ie ready for battle--Ribat also mentioned in Quran as referring to Jihad)

Almoravid Koubba | Marrakesh | Morocco

The Almoravid Koubba is next to the museum of Marrakech and about 40 meters south of the mosque of Ben Youssef. It is the only remaining example of Almoravid architecture in Marrakech. It was built in 1117, was restructured in the sixteenth and nineteenth century, was rediscovered in 1948 and excavated in 1952, after having being buried beneath one of the outbuildings of the Ben Youssef Mosque. The dome was once used for ablutions before prayer (relying on the revolutionary hydraulics of khettaras, drainage systems), and also had a system of toilets, showers, and faucets for drinking water. It belonged to an Almoravid mosque, now long gone. The dome is on top of a rectangular bassin. The interior is richly decorated with floral patterns (pine cones, palms and acanthus leaves) and calligraphy. The epigraphic decoration, which covers the frames and borders, is noteworthy for the fact that the foundation inscription is the oldest inscription in cursive Maghrebi script in North Africa. Materials used are marble and cedar-wood. At the entrance and at the top of the prayer room is the inscription:

"I was created for science and prayer, by the prince of the believers, descendant of the prophet, Abdallah, most glorious of all Caliphs. Pray for him when you enter the door, so that you may fulfill your highest hopes."

The inscription refers to Abdallah ibn Yasin, the founder of the Almoravid dynasty and gives hommage to Ali ibn Yusuf, the patron of the building.

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Sijilmassa | Morocco


Sijilmasa (or Sijilmassa) was a mediaeval trade centre in the western Maghreb.

Sijilmasa was an oasis town south west of Fez on the northern edge of the Sahara, overlooking the Ziz River. It was established by Sufris in 757. Up until the 11th century, it was, as the exit-point for the western Trans-Sahara trade route, one of the most important trade centres in the Maghreb. Sijilmasa became very wealthy through trade with Ghana, above all through the exchange of luxury items from the Mediterranean for gold.

On account of its wealth, the city was able to assert its independence under the Miknasa tribe as a Kharijite Emirate ruled by the Midrarid dynasty, freeing itself from the Abbasid Caliphate as early as 771. In alliance with the Caliphate of Córdoba it was also able to remain apart from the Fatimids of Ifriqiya in the 10th century. However, when the Miknasa allied themselves with the Fatimids, they were dislodged by the Berber Maghrawa tribe, who were allied with the Umayyads of Córdoba.

Under the Maghrawa the city retained its role as a trade centre, but came increasingly into conflict with the Sanhaja, a nomad tribe of the Sahara. In 1054, Ibn Yasin allied the Almoravids with the Sanhaja and captured Sijilmasa in 1054, imposing his rigorous interpretation of Islam. A revolt quickly followed (1055), in the course of which the Almoravids were defeated and their leader Yahya ibn Umar killed. His successor Abu-Bakr Ibn-Umar put down the rebellion in 1056 and laid waste to Sijilmasa, which never recovered its status a centre of trade.

Although it was destroyed again in 1363, it was rebuilt under the orders of Sultan Moulay Ismail in the 18th century. It was conquered and destroyed - once again - by the nomadic tribes of Ait Atta in 1818. Today, the ruins of Sijilmassa, laying a couple kms north of the town of Rissani[1], are recognized by the World Monuments Fund as an endangered site, and preserved by the Moroccan Ministry of Culture.

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Qasr Aljafería | Zaragosa | Spain


The Aljafería Palace (Arabic:قصر الجعفرية Qasr Aljafariya,Spanish: Palacio de la Aljafería) is a fortified palace built during the second half of the eleventh century in Zaragoza, as the residence of the Banu Hud dynasty during the era of Al-Muqtadir and reflecting the splendor attained by the kingdom of the taifa of Zaragoza at the height of its grandeur. The palace currently contains the Cortes (regional parliament) of the autonomous community of Aragon.

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Amazing thread, thank you! :okay:

Any architecture left behind by the Almoravids in Mauritania ? I know of Azougui in northern Mauritania was a settlement, perhaps a military-religious settlement in the region. The Almohads originated in the western High Atlas (correct ?) and the Almoravids ?

Amazing thread, thank you! :okay:

Any architecture left behind by the Almoravids in Mauritania ? I know of Azougui in northern Mauritania was a settlement, perhaps a military-religious settlement in the region. The Almohads originated in the western High Atlas (correct ?) and the Almoravids ?

are you from north of mauritania ?

are you from north of mauritania ?

Oh no, I just have an interest in history, architecture, geography, military history and uniformology. :)