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JJDESIGNS NEWS UPDATE 28th SEPTEMBER 2020
THE CRUSADES
THE ALMORAVIDS
The Almoravids, also known as the Murabits, were a fundamentalist Islamic movement of the 11[SUP]th[/SUP] and 12[SUP]th[/SUP] Centuries. Founded by Ibn Yasin, in southern Morocco, they combined devotion to Islam with a fierce military tradition, and a desire to conquer. In 1070, the Almoravids established their capital city at Marrakesh, which at the time, was little more than a mosque in the desert surrounded by the tents of the faithful.
These years were, however the high point of the Almoravid expansion into Spain. Despite success on the battlefield they failed to reconquer much land from the Christians. By the mid 12[SUP]th[/SUP] Century the Almoravid empire began to be replaced by a new North African power, the Almohads.
YUSUF IBN TASHFIN, who is better known to westerners as “Ben Yusuf”, was undoubtedly the greatest leader of the Almoravid movement. A pious and compassionate man, as well as a ruthless and charismatic leader in battle.
He rose to prominence as the commander of the northern part of the Almoravid empire in the 1070’s and became sole leader of the movement upon the death of Abu Bakr in 1087.
Having conquered all of morocco, he turned his attention to Spain, and invaded in 1086. He led his army to a great victory over the Christians at the battle of Zalaca in October 1086.
By 1089 he had decided to depose the Andalusian Taifa kings, and take their kingdoms for the Almoravid empire. Following the fall of the Taifa kings, Yusuf concentrated his forces against the Christians, in particular the outpost castle of Aledo near Granada, and Valencia, which El Cid had conquered in 1094.
Aledo finally fell in 1091, but Valencia held out against all of Yusuf’s attempts to retake it.
Yusuf was to outlive the Cid (who died in 1099) and finally saw Valencia fall into Almoravid hands in the spring of 1102.
Yusuf was to eventually die in 1106, and was succeeded by one of his many sons, Ali Ibn Yusuf.
THE ALMORAVID ARMY
The Almoravid army started as a confederation of Berber tribes, who were motivated religious warriors, trained to stand shoulder to shoulder and accept casualties in the cause of islam. Spearman and archers were the main force of the Almoravid army, and were especially effective against enemy cavalry, and Christian knights.
Cavalry were less common, and were mainly Berber light horsemen, armed with javelins and bows. They would have been the main mounted troops, but would have been little match against charging Christian knights. The skirmishing tactics became an important part of Spanish warfare, and the Berber tribe, called Zanata, eventually gave their name to it, “Jinete” (a Romanised corruption of Zanata) became the Spanish word for for a light horseman.
To compensate for the lack of heavy knights, Almoravid leaders had their own Hasham Guard cavalry, as well as using allied Andalusian Cavalry, and even Mercenary Christian knights.
The Almoravid forces were considerd disciplined by the standards of their time, and included large numbers of drummers to boost morale and issue orders. At the battle of Zalaca in 1806, the massed drumming terrified the Spanish.
THE BLACK GUARD AND ALMORAVID SPEARMEN
It is said that Ben Yusuf had an elite unit of 4,000 spearmen, known as “The Black Guard”, who were decisive in defeating King Alfonso VI of Leon-Castile at the battle of Zalaca in 1086.
Later army commanders would also have similar units, such as the guards that were allegedly chained together to protect the Caliph Muhammad II’s tent at Las Nava de Tolosa in 1212.
Probably the most characteristic feature of the Almoravid warrior was, his “litham” or face veil. The Almoravids were said to regard the mouth as unclean and refered to unveiled peoples as “the fly-mouthed”.
THE CRUSADES
THE ALMORAVIDS
The Almoravids, also known as the Murabits, were a fundamentalist Islamic movement of the 11[SUP]th[/SUP] and 12[SUP]th[/SUP] Centuries. Founded by Ibn Yasin, in southern Morocco, they combined devotion to Islam with a fierce military tradition, and a desire to conquer. In 1070, the Almoravids established their capital city at Marrakesh, which at the time, was little more than a mosque in the desert surrounded by the tents of the faithful.
These years were, however the high point of the Almoravid expansion into Spain. Despite success on the battlefield they failed to reconquer much land from the Christians. By the mid 12[SUP]th[/SUP] Century the Almoravid empire began to be replaced by a new North African power, the Almohads.
YUSUF IBN TASHFIN, who is better known to westerners as “Ben Yusuf”, was undoubtedly the greatest leader of the Almoravid movement. A pious and compassionate man, as well as a ruthless and charismatic leader in battle.
He rose to prominence as the commander of the northern part of the Almoravid empire in the 1070’s and became sole leader of the movement upon the death of Abu Bakr in 1087.
Having conquered all of morocco, he turned his attention to Spain, and invaded in 1086. He led his army to a great victory over the Christians at the battle of Zalaca in October 1086.
By 1089 he had decided to depose the Andalusian Taifa kings, and take their kingdoms for the Almoravid empire. Following the fall of the Taifa kings, Yusuf concentrated his forces against the Christians, in particular the outpost castle of Aledo near Granada, and Valencia, which El Cid had conquered in 1094.
Aledo finally fell in 1091, but Valencia held out against all of Yusuf’s attempts to retake it.
Yusuf was to outlive the Cid (who died in 1099) and finally saw Valencia fall into Almoravid hands in the spring of 1102.
Yusuf was to eventually die in 1106, and was succeeded by one of his many sons, Ali Ibn Yusuf.
THE ALMORAVID ARMY
The Almoravid army started as a confederation of Berber tribes, who were motivated religious warriors, trained to stand shoulder to shoulder and accept casualties in the cause of islam. Spearman and archers were the main force of the Almoravid army, and were especially effective against enemy cavalry, and Christian knights.
Cavalry were less common, and were mainly Berber light horsemen, armed with javelins and bows. They would have been the main mounted troops, but would have been little match against charging Christian knights. The skirmishing tactics became an important part of Spanish warfare, and the Berber tribe, called Zanata, eventually gave their name to it, “Jinete” (a Romanised corruption of Zanata) became the Spanish word for for a light horseman.
To compensate for the lack of heavy knights, Almoravid leaders had their own Hasham Guard cavalry, as well as using allied Andalusian Cavalry, and even Mercenary Christian knights.
The Almoravid forces were considerd disciplined by the standards of their time, and included large numbers of drummers to boost morale and issue orders. At the battle of Zalaca in 1806, the massed drumming terrified the Spanish.
THE BLACK GUARD AND ALMORAVID SPEARMEN
It is said that Ben Yusuf had an elite unit of 4,000 spearmen, known as “The Black Guard”, who were decisive in defeating King Alfonso VI of Leon-Castile at the battle of Zalaca in 1086.
Later army commanders would also have similar units, such as the guards that were allegedly chained together to protect the Caliph Muhammad II’s tent at Las Nava de Tolosa in 1212.
Probably the most characteristic feature of the Almoravid warrior was, his “litham” or face veil. The Almoravids were said to regard the mouth as unclean and refered to unveiled peoples as “the fly-mouthed”.
