Zirid Dynasty
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Was a Berber dynasty from modern-day Algeria which ruled central Maghreb from 972 to 1014 and Ifriqiya (eastern Maghreb) from 972 to 1148.
Establishment
- January 1050: In 1049 the Zirids broke away from the Fatimid Caliphate by adopting Sunni Islam and recognizing the Abbasids of Baghdad as rightful Caliphs.
Chronology
Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation
1. Byzantine-Norman Wars
Were a series of wars between the Byzantines and the Normans in southern italy and the Balkan Peninsula.
1.1. Norman conquest of southern Italy
Were a series of military campaigns by Norman forces that slowly conquered southern Italy from the Bizyntine Empire and from local Lombard rulers.
1.1.1. Norman conquest of Sicily
Was the Norman conquest of Sicily, at the time under Muslim rule.
- January 1124: The Pleagian islands were annexed to the Kingdom of Sicily.
2. Military campaign of Roger II of Sicily in Africa
The King of Sicily Roger II conquered large amounts of territories in North Africa in a series of military campaigns.
- January 1136: Roger II of Sicily expanded his domains by taking Djerba in 1135.
- January 1147: Several of the minor emirs in the vicinity of Tripoli sought Sicilian overlordship after the fall of Tunis.
- January 1147: In 1146 the Normans besieged and took Tunis.
- June 1148: The Sicilians reached Mahdia on 22 June.
- July 1148: The city of Sousse, ruled by al-Hasan's son ‘Ali, surrendered to the Sicilians without a fight.
- July 1148: On 12 July Sfax fell to Norman-Sicilian forces after a short resistance.
- January 1149: Between 1146 and 1148 the Normans of Sicily conquered all the coastal towns of ifriquiya.
3. Establishment and expansion of the Almohad Caliphate
Were the conquests of Abd al-Mu'min, founder of the Moroccan Almohad Caliphate.
- January 1153: In 1152 the last Zirids in Algeria were superseded by the Almohad Caliphate.
4. Further events (Unrelated to Any War)
- January 1058: After the loss of Kairouan (1057) the rule of the Zirids was limited to a coastal strip with Mahdia as the capital.
- January 1058: In 1057, the tribes of the Atlas Mountains were conquered by the Almoravid Caliphate, led by the Berber dynasty of Almoravids.
- January 1060: The Khurasanid Dynasty was a Sanhaja Berber Sunni Muslim dynasty centered in Tunisia and ruled an independent principality in Tunis from 1059.
Disestablishment
- January 1153: In 1152 the last Zirids in Algeria were superseded by the Almohad Caliphate.