ALNIORAVIDES, in history, a tribe of Arabs, who retired from their native country, and occupied a dis trict of Africa, under the pretence of devoting them selves to the rigid and sci upulous observance of the precepts delivered to them in the Koran. Hence they took the name of Morabites, an appellation which was changed by the Spaniards into that of Almoravides.
The first chief of this tribe was Abubeker Ben Omar. He had the influence to assemble a great army from the provinces of Numidia and Libya ; and, supported by the troops of those warlike countries, he founded the dynasty of the Almoravides in Barbary, A. D. 1051. Abubeker, called likewise by the Spanish historians Texefien, was succeeded by Yusef, or Joseph, his son. This young monarch having reduced the kingdoms of Fez, Tunis, and Tremecen, to a state of dependence, passed over into Spain, attacked the Christians with resistless impetuosity, and quickly subjected the pro vinces of Murcia, Granada, Cordova, and Leon, to the Mahomedan power. Entrusting the command of these provinces to his nephew, he embarked for Africa. Upon his arrival in his own country, he announced, in a pub lic declaration, a gai.7e, or holy Nv a r ; assembled a nu merous army with a view to disseminate the religion of the prophet; and, joining his nephew in Andalusia, he laid waste that populous district with fire and sword. In the year 1107, he again invaded the Spanish territories, forced his way into the kingdom of Portugal, and took the city of Lisbon. But having lost the towns of Algu azin and Gibraltar, and being defeated at sea, he pro posed a truce with the Europeans ; to which, however, they would not consent, unless the Moor should acknow ledge himself to be the tributary of Spain. Brave, haughty, and a stranger to submission, Yusef rejected with scorn the humiliating terms ; and passing into Africa, he made diligent and extraordinary preparations for a new invasion, affirming that he would never desist till he had extirpated the Christian religion from the Spanish dominions. Accordingly, he landed at Malaga,
and proceeded in the execution of his design. But his courage was not seconded by prudence in the conduct of war ; and his measures were often inconsiderately taken, and rashly executed. The consequence of this was, that though he was victorious in the famous battle of the Seven Counts, yet he lost so many of his troops in the engagement, that lie was unable to continue his progress, and was obliged to return to Africa. He died soon after, full of disappointment and regret, at his capital of Morocco.
Yuscf was succeeded by his son Ali, A. D. 1110.
This prince was of a disposition less warlike and am bitious than his father. Instead of attempting- the con• quest of any foreign country, he appears to have studied the arts of peace, and to have devoted himself to the improvement of his subjects. The great mosque of Morocco was erected in his time, and many other build ings were undertaken under his patronage, and execu ted at his expense. But Alphonso, king of Arragon, having attack 0 the Moorish dominions in Spain, and possessed nimseil of many cities of importance, All was constrained to quit his capital fi. Europe, in order to support the declining interests of his countrymen. In this expedition he was very unfortunate, and was at last defeated and slain by Alphonso, after a reign of five years and six months.
Al Abraham, the successor of Ali, was so tyrannical in his government, and oppressed the Moors with such heavy taxes, that they rose in arms against him; and in the 25th year of his reign, the sovereignty was trans ferred from the tribe of the Almoravides to that of the Almohedes. Sec ALMOHEDES. Mod. Un. Hist.