ALMOHEDES, the name of an African dynasty, which succeeded that of the Morabitcs, or Almoravides, in Barbary, about the beginning of the 12th century.
(See ALoinus.) This dyn&sty was founded by Abdal lab, an obscure Berber of the tribe of Muzaniada, whose popularity as a preacher inspired him with the presumptuous design of supplanting his sovereign Al Abraham, or Brahem. Assuming for this purpose the title of Mohdi or Mohedi, he declared himself the leader of the Orthodox or Unitarians, whose number increased so rapidly as to alarm Brahem, and compel him to march against them with an army. In the first engagement the rebels were victorious ; Abdallah se cured the capital ; and Brahem, pursued as a fugitive, fled for refuge first to Fez, and afterwards to Oran ; the inhabitants of which, unable to defend themselves against a hostile assault, urged him to leave their town.— While the unfortunate monarch was retiring from that place in a dark night, with his favourite wile on horse back behind him, his flight was discovered by his ene mies; and, in a fit of despair, he forced his horse over a lofty precipice, where he and his wife were dashed to pieces by their fall.
Abdolninmen, the general of Abdallah, on returning to Morocco after the defeat of Brahem, found that his master was dead ; and was immediately appointed to succeed him as king of the Almohedes. Before his death Abdallah had appointed a council of forty preach ers of his sect, some of whom w ere commissioned to regulate all public affairs, and to travel at proper sea sons as itinerant preachers, for the purpose of dissemi nating their doctrines ; and others, to the number of sixteen, were to be employed as secretaries. The king and chief priest (both which offices were to be united in one person) could only be chosen from the first of these classes. These sectaries were distinguished by no pe culiarity in their religious tenets; but by inveighing against the tyranny of the Almoravides, and clamouring loudly for liberty, acquired such influence over the minds of their countrymen, as enabled them to effect a com plete revolution in the government. The followers of
Al Mohedi were denominated Mohammedin, or Al Nlo baddin ; and by the Spaniards, Almohedes; and the descendants of that tribe, while their dynasty prevailed, retained the appellation of Emir Al Mumenin, chiefs of the true believers.
Abdallah commenced his reign by strangling the son of Brahem, and extirpating the Ahnoravedic race. He distinguished himself greatly as a warrior, reduced un der subjection the Numidians and Galatians, the king doms of Tunis and Tremecen, and the greatest part of Mauritania and Tingitana; drove the Christians out of Mohedia, and other cities on the African coast ; and passing over to Europe, made several conquests both in Spain and Portugal. Vakub, surnamed Al Mansur, or the Conqueror, the second in succession after Abdal lah, became master of the whole country lying be tween Numidia inclusive, and the entire length of Barbary from Tripoli to Morocco, and from the Medi terranean to the deserts of Libya, extending in length about 1200 leagues, and in breadth about 430. In Spain, too, his dominions were extensive, and he was acknow ledged as sovereign by more of the Arabian Moorish princes in that country. His son Mohammed, surnamed Al Nalitir, on his accession to the throne, invaded Spain with an army, consisting of more than 500,000 foot, and 120,000 horse ; and engaging the Christians on the plains of Tholosa, was defeated with the loss of 150,000 foot, and :10.0n0 horse ; besides 50,000 who were taken prisoners. After this fatal battle. which was fought"in the ',Frill year of the Hegira, (A. D. 1220,) he rett,rned, to Africa, where the shame of his defeat, and the cold ness and aversion with which he was received by his subjects, so preyed upon his mind, as in a short time to occasion his death. His grandson Yeyed Arrax, whom he had nominated his successor, was assassinated by a prince of the tribe of Zeneti, and with him terminated the dynasty of Almohedcs, after it had continued for about 170 Sec ALmoitAvinEs. (k)