10th century – 10th century
Ifriqiya and the Maghrib
Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi was the first Fatimid caliph, ruling from 909 to 934. After imprisonment at Sidjilmasa, he was freed by Abu Abd Allah's Kutama army and entered Rakkada, where he was proclaimed Prince of the Faithful and Mahdi. He established the new dynasty at Rakkada and built al-Mahdiyya as its coastal capital. His lineage from Ali and Fatima was central to Fatimid legitimacy but remained disputed among Muslim historians.
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The Story
Ubayd Allah lived in Salamiyya in Syria until the early Fatimid victories in Ifriqiya. Rather than join Abu Abd Allah there, he traveled to Sidjilmasa, the capital of the Kharijite Midrarid state in southern Morocco. The choice remains unexplained in the passage, and his presence there ended with house arrest followed by imprisonment under al-Yasa ibn Midrar.
In 296/909, Abu Abd Allah led the Kutama army to Sidjilmasa. The expedition overthrew the Rustumids at Tahert with help from local inhabitants, while Sidjilmasa capitulated without fighting. Ubayd Allah was released and entered Rakkada in triumph the following year, where he was proclaimed Prince of the Faithful and Mahdi.
Ubayd Allah reigned from 297/909 to 322/934. He first established himself at Rakkada and then began building al-Mahdiyya on the eastern coast, transferring his seat there in 308/920. His rule depended heavily on the Kutama, but the assassination of Abu Abd Allah and his brother provoked a Kutama revolt that was suppressed with heavy bloodshed.
10th century – 10th century
Ifriqiya and the Maghrib
Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi was the first Fatimid caliph, ruling from 909 to 934. After imprisonment at Sidjilmasa, he was freed by Abu Abd Allah's Kutama army and entered Rakkada, where he was proclaimed Prince of the Faithful and Mahdi. He established the new dynasty at Rakkada and built al-Mahdiyya as its coastal capital. His lineage from Ali and Fatima was central to Fatimid legitimacy but remained disputed among Muslim historians.
Continue exploring
The Story
Ubayd Allah lived in Salamiyya in Syria until the early Fatimid victories in Ifriqiya. Rather than join Abu Abd Allah there, he traveled to Sidjilmasa, the capital of the Kharijite Midrarid state in southern Morocco. The choice remains unexplained in the passage, and his presence there ended with house arrest followed by imprisonment under al-Yasa ibn Midrar.
In 296/909, Abu Abd Allah led the Kutama army to Sidjilmasa. The expedition overthrew the Rustumids at Tahert with help from local inhabitants, while Sidjilmasa capitulated without fighting. Ubayd Allah was released and entered Rakkada in triumph the following year, where he was proclaimed Prince of the Faithful and Mahdi.
Ubayd Allah reigned from 297/909 to 322/934. He first established himself at Rakkada and then began building al-Mahdiyya on the eastern coast, transferring his seat there in 308/920. His rule depended heavily on the Kutama, but the assassination of Abu Abd Allah and his brother provoked a Kutama revolt that was suppressed with heavy bloodshed.
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