The
Fatimid Caliphate or
al-Fātimiyyūn (
Arabic الفاطميون) was an
Arab Shi'a dynasty that ruled over varying areas of the
Maghreb,
Egypt,
Sicily,
Malta and the
Levant from 5 January 909 to 1171. The caliphate was ruled by the Fatimids, who established the Egyptian city of
Cairo as their capital. The term
Fatimite is sometimes used to refer to the citizens of this caliphate. The ruling elite of the state belonged to the
Ismaili branch of Shi'ism. The leaders of the dynasty were also
Shia Ismaili Imams, hence, they had a religious significance to Ismaili Muslims. They are also part of the chain of holders of the office of
Caliph, as recognized by most Muslims. Therefore, this constitutes a rare period in history in which some form of the
Shia Imamate and the
Caliphate were united to any degree, excepting the Caliphate of
Ali himself. It should be noted here, however, that these Ismaili Imams are not considered rightful Imams (nor seen to possess any other spiritual or religious significance) by the overwhelming majority of Shias known as
Twelvers. Thus, most Shias would not consider the Fatimid period of rule as a unification of Caliphate and Imamate.
With exceptions, the Fatimids were reputed to exercise a degree of religious tolerance towards non-Ismaili sects of Islam as well as towards
Jews,
Maltese Christians and
Coptic Christians.
Rise of the Fatimids
Genealogical tree of the Fatimid caliphs (in yellow). Their ancestry from the seven Ismaili imams (in grey) and Muhammad is also shown.
The Fatimids had their origins in
Ifriqiya (modern-day
Tunisia and eastern
Algeria). The dynasty was founded in 909 by , who legitimised his claim through descent from
Muhammad by way of his daughter
Fātima as-Zahra and her husband , the first
Imām, hence the name
al-Fātimiyyūn "Fatimid".
Abdullāh al-Mahdi's control soon extended over all of central
Maghreb, an area consisting of the modern countries of
Morocco,
Algeria,
Tunisia and
Libya, which he ruled from
Mahdia, his newly-built capital in Tunisia.
The Fatimids entered Egypt in the late 900s, conquering the
Ikhshidid dynasty and founding a new capital at
al-Qāhira (
Cairo) in 969. The name was a reference to the planet Mars, "The Subduer", which was prominent in the sky at the moment that city construction started. Cairo was intended as a royal enclosure for the Fatimid caliph and his army, though the actual administrative and economic capital of Egypt was in cities such as
Fustat until 1169. After Egypt, the Fatimids continued to conquer the surrounding areas until they ruled from Tunisia to
Syria and even crossed over into
Sicily and southern
Italy.
Under the Fatimids, Egypt became the center of an
empire that included at its peak
North Africa,
Sicily,
Palestine,
Lebanon,
Syria, the
Red Sea coast of Africa,
Yemen and the
Hejaz. Egypt flourished, and the Fatimids developed an extensive trade network in both the
Mediterranean and the
Indian Ocean. Their trade and diplomatic ties extended all the way to
China and its
Song Dynasty, which eventually determined the economic course of Egypt during the
High Middle Ages.
Unlike other governments in the area, Fatimid advancement in state offices was based more on merit than on heredity. Members of other branches of Islam, like the
Sunnis, were just as likely to be appointed to government posts as Shiites. Tolerance was extended even to non-Muslims such as
Christians and Jews, who occupied high levels in
government based on ability. There were, however, exceptions to this general attitude of tolerance, most notably
Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah.
The Fatimids were also known to some extent for their arts. A type of ceramic,
lustreware, was prevalent during the Fatimid period. Glassware and metalworking was also popular. Many traces of Fatimid architecture exist in Cairo today, like the Al Azhair University and the Al Hakim mosque.
The Fatimid palace was two parts. it used to be in the
Khan el-Khalili area at Bin El-Quasryn street.
Decay and fall
In the 1040s, the
Zirids (governors of North Africa under the Fatimids) declared their independence from the Fatimids and their conversion to
Sunni Islam, which led to the devastating
Banū Hilal invasions. After about 1070, the Fatimid hold on the
Levant coast and parts of Syria was challenged first by
Turkish invasions, then the
Crusades, so that Fatimid territory shrank until it consisted only of Egypt.
After the decay of the Fatimid political system in the 1160s, the
Zengid ruler
Nūr ad-Dīn had his general
Shirkuh, seize Egypt from the vizier
Shawar in 1169. Shirkuh died two months after taking power, and the rule went to his nephew,
Saladin. This began the
Ayyubid Dynasty.
Fatimid caliphs
Map of the Fatimid Caliphate also showing cities.
- (909-934) founder Fatimid dynasty
- (953-975) Egypt is conquered during his reign
- (996-1021) Founder of the Druze religion
- (1094-1101) Quarrels over his succession led to the Nizari split.
- (1101-1130) The Fatimid rulers of Egypt after him are not recognized as Imams by Mustaali Taiyabi Ismailis.
See also
