8th century – 10th century
Tafilalet, southeastern Morocco
The Midrarid State was a small Sufrite polity established by the Miknasa in Tafilalet. Its capital, Sijilmasa, was founded in 757–758 and developed into a major desert-edge centre for trade with the Sudan. Governed by the Banu Midrar dynasty, the state maintained friendly relations with the Rustumid Imamate despite doctrinal differences and remained under Sufrite chiefs until the middle of the tenth century.
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The Story
The Midrarid State arose in Tafilalet, in the southeastern part of present-day Morocco, among Miknasa groups that adopted Sufrite beliefs. Its capital, Sijilmasa, was founded in 757–758 and became the political centre of the Banu Midrar dynasty. The settlement’s position at the edge of the desert gave it an important role in relations between North Africa and the Sudan.
Sijilmasa soon developed into a major commercial centre. It served as one terminus of a caravan route linking North Africa to the ancient kingdom of Ghana, identified by medieval Arab geographers as a land of gold. A route from Tahert to the western Sudan passed through Sijilmasa, making the city a key intermediary between Maghrebi markets and Saharan trade.
Despite the doctrinal difference between Sufrite Sijilmasa and the Ibadi dynasty of Tahert, relations between the two ruling houses were described as friendly. Arab sources report marriage alliances in the late eighth and early ninth centuries. The text connects this rapprochement to Sijilmasa’s growing importance in trans-Saharan commerce.
8th century – 10th century
Tafilalet, southeastern Morocco
The Midrarid State was a small Sufrite polity established by the Miknasa in Tafilalet. Its capital, Sijilmasa, was founded in 757–758 and developed into a major desert-edge centre for trade with the Sudan. Governed by the Banu Midrar dynasty, the state maintained friendly relations with the Rustumid Imamate despite doctrinal differences and remained under Sufrite chiefs until the middle of the tenth century.
Continue exploring
The Story
The Midrarid State arose in Tafilalet, in the southeastern part of present-day Morocco, among Miknasa groups that adopted Sufrite beliefs. Its capital, Sijilmasa, was founded in 757–758 and became the political centre of the Banu Midrar dynasty. The settlement’s position at the edge of the desert gave it an important role in relations between North Africa and the Sudan.
Sijilmasa soon developed into a major commercial centre. It served as one terminus of a caravan route linking North Africa to the ancient kingdom of Ghana, identified by medieval Arab geographers as a land of gold. A route from Tahert to the western Sudan passed through Sijilmasa, making the city a key intermediary between Maghrebi markets and Saharan trade.
Despite the doctrinal difference between Sufrite Sijilmasa and the Ibadi dynasty of Tahert, relations between the two ruling houses were described as friendly. Arab sources report marriage alliances in the late eighth and early ninth centuries. The text connects this rapprochement to Sijilmasa’s growing importance in trans-Saharan commerce.
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