Pharaoh Taharqo & Yusuf ibn Tashifin

Pharaoh Taharqo

Moreover, there is considerable evidence that the newly founded North African city of Carthage was part of his sphere of influence. Thus, his imperial activities give substance to his boast of being the “Emperor of the World”. Of this great man, Professor Rawlinson wrote the following: “The reign of Tirhakah (Tehrak) [sic] during this period appears to have been glorious. He was regarded by Judea as its protector, and exercised a certain influence over all Syria as far as Taurus, Amanus, and the Euphrates. In Africa, he brought into subjection the native tribes of the north coast, carrying his arms, according to some, as far as the Pillars of Hercules. He is exhibited at Medinet-Abou in the dress of a warrior, smiting with a mace ten captive foreign princes. He erected monuments in the Egyptian style at Thebes, Memphis, and Napata. Of all the Ethiopian [i.e. Kushite] sovereigns of Egypt he was undoubtedly the greatest.”

Moreover, there is considerable evidence that the newly founded North African city of Carthage was part of his sphere of influence. Thus, his imperial activities give substance to his boast of being the “Emperor of the World”. Of this great man, Professor Rawlinson wrote the following: “The reign of Tirhakah (Tehrak) [sic] during this period appears to have been glorious. He was regarded by Judea as its protector, and exercised a certain influence over all Syria as far as Taurus, Amanus, and the Euphrates. In Africa, he brought into subjection the native tribes of the north coast, carrying his arms, according to some, as far as the Pillars of Hercules. He is exhibited at Medinet-Abou in the dress of a warrior, smiting with a mace ten captive foreign princes. He erected monuments in the Egyptian style at Thebes, Memphis, and Napata. Of all the Ethiopian [i.e. Kushite] sovereigns of Egypt he was undoubtedly the greatest.”

Yusuf Ibn Tashifin

In time Yusuf’s forces seized Seville and dethroned its Islamic rulers. Apparently they had become “sunk in pleasure and sloth”. The Almoravid Empire had a court in Africa centred in Marrakech and a court in Spain centred in Seville. This, according to Lady Lugard, “established once more a supreme sultan upon the throne of Andalusia”. Furthermore, Yusuf’s conquest and “the dynasty which he founded must be regarded as an African conquest and an African dynasty”. Incidentally, there is a “traditional” image of Yusuf that appears on the Catalan Atlas, a famous Spanish map of a slightly later period. Not only is he clearly depicted as a Negro but he is portrayed as darker in complexion than Mansa Musa, incongruously drawn on the same map. The territory ruled by the Almoravides in Africa and Spain was extensive. Under their sway were the lands of Senegal, Morocco, Algeria and Spain. It was a larger area than that of Western Europe. Thirteen kings acknowledged the overlordship of Yusuf.

In Africa Yusuf had great monuments built. Three great mosques date from his time, the mosque of Tlemcen, the mosque of Nedroma, and the mosque of Algiers. He also built an imposing stone fortress in Marrakech when other buildings at the time were of clay. Natascha Kubisch notes that: “[He] founded the city of Marrakech in 1062 and laid out the great palm grove, but then handed over the further developments of the city to his son. Marrakech remained the capital of the empire under the Almohads and is one of the four royal cities of Morocco, alongside Rabat, Fez and Meknes. It is still a fascinating city today because of its African character and its surviving medieval buildings.”