ALMOHADES, alimo-hadz, from the Arabic the Unitarians— the Spanish name given to the 12th cenrurk Moorish dynasty which ruled northwestcr Africa and Spain. Their origin is traced Abu Abdillah Mohammed ben Tumart, a de formed youth of humble parentage, a Masmuda Berber from the Atlas, who, as a traveling dev oteer, obtained instructions in Cordova Cairo, Bagdad, and made the pilgrimage tc Mecca. On his return to Morocco he became known by the boldness of his preaching and In the austerity of his life. In Abd-el-Mumim el Kumi, another Berber, he found a disciple. whose mind he filled with a belief that he was reserved to inaugurate a purified Mohammed= creed. Preaching the coming of the great Mandi (director) who was to establish the reign of universal justice and peace, Abd-el Mumin one day remarked °You yourself are the great Mandi," swore allegiance to him with 50 other listeners, and was followed soon after by 70 others. Preaching the unity of God, they
retired to the mountains. Their number soon increased to 20,000 and a victory over the King's brother established the power of the Almohades. By 1147 they had conquered Mo rocco. In the meantime Abu Abdillah had died and been succeeded by Abd-el-Mumin. He and his successors Yusuf, Yacub-ibn-Yusuf. Mohammed Abu-Abdallah, overthrowing the Almoravidian Moorish dynasty established themselves in Portugal and Spain, until 12 June 1212, they were defeated by the Christian' in the battle of Navas de Tolosa, leaving it is said 170,000 dead on the field. Soon after, disorganized by internal dissensions, the power of the Almohades in Spain had disappeared by 1257 and in Africa by 1269.