Realm of the Hafsid dynasty and surrounding states in 1400.
The
Hafsids () were a Berber dynasty ruling
Ifriqiya (modern
Tunisia) from 1229 to 1574.
History
After the split of the Hafsids from the
Almohads under
Abu Zakariya (1229-1249),
Abu Zakariya organised the administration in
Ifriqiya (the
Roman province of
Africa in modern
Maghreb; today's
Tunisia, eastern
Algeria and western
Libya) and built
Tunis up as the economic and cultural centre of the empire. At the same time, many Muslims from
Andalucia fleeing the
Spanish Reconquista of
Castile and
Aragon were absorbed. His successor
Muhammad I al-Mustansir (1249-1277) took the title of
caliph.
In the 14th century the empire underwent a temporary decline. Although the Hafsids succeeded for a time in subjugating the empire of the
Abdalwids of
Tlemcen for a time, but between 1347 and 1357 it was twice conquered by the
Merinids in
Morocco. These however could not defeat the
Bedouin, so that the Hafsids were able to regain their empire. As at the same time epidemics of plague caused a considerable fall in population, the rule of the Hafsids was weakened further.
Under the Hafsids,
piracy against Christian shipping grew stronger in the 14th century, particularly under
Abd al-Aziz II (1394-1434). The profits were used for a great building programme and for the support of
art and
culture. However piracy also provoked retaliation from Aragon and
Venice, which several times attacked Tunisian coastal cities. Under Utman (1435-1488) the Hafsids reached their last zenith, as the
caravan trade through the
Sahara and with
Egypt was developed, as well as sea trade with Venice and Aragon. The Bedouins and the cities of the empire became largely independent, so that the Hafsids controlled only Tunis and
Constantine.
In the 16th century the Hafsids increasingly became caught up in the power struggle between
Spain and the
Ottoman Empire-supported
Corsairs. The latter conquered Tunis in 1574 and toppled the Hafsids, who had at times accepted Spanish sovereignty over them.
Hafsid rulers
Category:1574 disestablishmentsCategory:States and territories established in 1229Category:Islamic historyCategory:History of TunisiaCategory:Muslim dynasties*Category:Articles lacking sources (Erik9bot)ar:الحفصيونan:Hafsíca:Hàfsidade:Hafsidenfa:حفصیانfr:Hafsidesit:Dinastia hafsideka:ჰაფსიდებიnl:Hafsidenja:ハフス朝pl:Hafsydziru:Хафсидыfi:Hafsidittr:Hafsilerur:بنو حفصzh:哈夫斯王朝
