vol 16 no 1,2016

Moroccan Tribal Structure of the Army in the Almohad Era (526-668h /1130-1269m)

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Moroccan Tribal Structure of the Army in the Almohad Era (526-668h /1130-1269m)

Dr. Tawfiq Mazari Abd essameud

Department of Human Sciences-Faculty of Human and Social Sciences

University Yahia Fares of Medea, Algeria

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Abstract:

This research includes a study of the tribal structure of the Army of the Almohad Caliphate (526-668 Hegira/1130-1269 AD), which played a prominent role in the protection and expansion of its borders. This army had been of a diverse structure and composed of local and foreign people, who joined through stages of the growth of the state and they represented basic parts in that army.

The Moroccan army in the Almohad state composed of different Moroccan Berter tribes, especially these tribes that had lived on Dern Mountains, as Mehdi Bin Toumert's origin, which formed the first nucleus of this army, as well as Zanata tribes of relatives of Abdelmoumen Ben Ali, to consolidate his position and dedicate the inheritance of his sons to the rule of the state and the army command.

There was an increase demand to troops when the influence of Almohad extended to Al-Andalus so there was a need to recruit more Hilali Arab tribes especially from Bani Salim and Bani Riah, taking advantage of their large numbers, courage and strength in fighting.

The foreign people had increased in the Almohad army and some of them held leadership positions such as "Dnlb" Alnasrani. So, Almohad army included Roman Christians, Zanj and Alagzaz, Turks and Saqaliba and others. It is noticeable that Almohad army had benefitted from the services of these foreign people, but the spirit of tribalism was the cause of the deterioration of the army and the collapse of the state.

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