Abd-el-Krim ('The Wolf Of The RifMountains') was a Moroccan Berber chief, revolutionary and founder of the North African Liberation Committee. He was born in 1880 at Adjir and died in 1963. Leading unsuccessful revolts against the Spanish and French occupiers of Morocco during the early 1920's he formed the Republic of the Rif and served as its President from 1921 to 1926 before being defeated by a Franco-Spanish army and exiled on the island of Reunion. He was granted amnesty in 1947 and went to Egypt where he formed the North African Liberation Committee. Research Abd-el-Krim
The Almonhades (Almohades) were a dynasty of Berber princes who expelled the Almoravides, and reigned over a large part of north-west Africa and the southern half of Spain during the 12th and 13th centuries. They were founded as a Moslem sect by Mohammed-ibn-Abdallah. They conquered Morocco and extended their power in Spain by defeating the Castilians at Alarcos in 1195. They were defeated in Spain at the Battle of Navas de Tolosa in 1212 and in Morocco by a revolt of the nomadic tribes in 1269. Research Almonhades
The Berbers are a people spread over nearly the whole of Northern Africa, from whom the name Barbary was derived. The chief branches into which the Berbers are divided are, first, the Amazirgh or Amazigh, of Northern Morocco. They were traditionally for the most part quite independent of the former sultans of Morocco, and lived partly under chieftains and hereditary princes and partly in small republican communities. Second, the Shuluh, Shillooh, or Shellakah, who inhabited the south of Morocco. They were more highly civilized than the Amazirgh. Third, the Kabyles in Algeria and Tunis; and fourth, the Berbers of the Sahara, who inhabit the oases. Among the Sahara Berbers the most remarkable are the Beni-Mzab and the Tuaregs. To these we may also add the Guanches of the Canary Islands, now extinct, but undoubtedly of the same race.
The Berbers generally are about the middle height; their complexion is brown, and sometimes almost black, with brown and glossy hair. They are sparely built, but robust and graceful; the features approach the European type. Their language has affinities to the Semitic group, but Arabic is widely spoken. They are believed to represent the ancient Mauritanians, Numidians, Gaetulians, etc. The Berbers traditionally lived in huts or houses, and practised various industries. Thus they were known to smelt iron, copper, and lead, manufacture gun-barrels, implements of husbandry, etc., knives, swords, gunpowder, and a species of black soap. Some of the tribes bred mules, asses, and stock in considerable numbers, but many of the Berbers traditionally live by plunder. Research Berber
Caliph, or calif or khalif (vicegerent) is the name assumed by the successors of Mohammed in the government of the faithful and in the high-priesthood. Caliphate is therefore the name given to the empire of these princes which the Arabs founded in Asia, and enlarged, within a few centuries, to a dominion exceeding even the Roman empire in extent. The appellation of caliph has long ago been swallowed up in Shah, Sultan, Emir, and other titles peculiar to the East.
Mohammed having died without naming his successor, three rival parties appeared immediately after his death. The first was headed by Omar, a kinsman of the prophet, who demanded the election of Abu Bekr, Mohammed's father-in-law. The second party was headed by Ali, the husband of Fatima, the prophet's daughter, who declared for himself. The third party consisted of people of Medina, who demanded the election of one of themselves. Abu Bekr was chosen in 632, and prosecuting the conquest of Syria, he defeated the Byzantine emperor Heraclius and took Damascus. His successor, Omar, completed the conquest of Syria, took Jerusalem, subjugated Egypt, and defeated the Persians. He is said to have erected over 1500 mosques. He was succeeded by Othman, or Osman, who completed the conquest of Persia and other Eastern countries, extended his dominion in Africa, and took Cyprus and Rhodes. Othman was succeeded by Ali, who is regarded as the first legitimate possessor of the dignity by a numerous sect of Mohammedans, which gives him and his son, Hassan, almost equal honour with the prophet. During his reign a great schism divided the Mohammedans into two sects called the Sunnites and the Shiites, the former acknowledging the authority of all the caliphs, the latter acknowledging only Ali and his descendants.
Ali was murdered in 660, and his son Hassan in 661, when Moawiyah, the founder of the dynasty of the Ommiyades, became caliph, and transferred his capital from Medina to Damascus. His army continued the conquest of Northern Africa, and twice unsuccessfully attacked Constantinople (Istanbul). Carthage was taken in 698, after which the Mohammedans encountered no serious opposition in Northern Africa.
From the union of the Arabic and Berber races of Africa sprung the Moors of Saracenic history. The conquest of Spain immediately followed, Tarik, the lieutenant of the Saracen general, Musa, having totally defeated the King of the Goths. The caliphate now extended from the Oxus and Indus to the Atlantic. In 732 a great host of Islamic soldiers crossed the Pyrenees and invaded France, but were totally defeated at Tours by Charles Martel. In 755 the Mohammedan dominion split up into the Eastern and Western Caliphates, the western caliph having Spain, with his capital at Cordova; and the eastern including Northern Africa, with the capital at Bagdad. The former was ruled by a series of Ommiyade caliphs; the latter by the dynasty of the Abbasides.
The most celebrated of the Abbaside caliphs of Bagdad was Haroun al Rashid (Aaron the Just), 786-808, under whom learning, science, and art were in a flourishing state. Subsequently the Islamic kingdom lost province after province, and the temporal authority of the caliph of Bagdad was destroyed. Numerous independent dynasties were set up, the most important of which was that of the Fatimites, founded by an African Saracen who claimed descent from Fatima the daughter of the prophet.
This dynasty conquered Sicily and several parts of Italy, Egypt, and Palestine. It came to an end in 1171. In 1031 the Western Caliphate ceased, and the Saracenic dominions in Spain was broken up into several small states. The most brilliant period of the Western Caliphate was in the 9th and 10th centuries, when literature, science, and art were in more flourishing condition than anywhere else in Europe. The Eastern Caliphate lingered on until 1258, when Bagdad was taken and sacked by the Mongols. Research Caliph
The Guanches were the aboriginal people of the Canary Islands. They became extinct as a separate nation long ago, although Guanche blood probably flows in the veins of many of the present inhabitants. They practised the embalming of the dead. The few words of their language which remain seem cognate to the Berbertongue. Research Guanches
Henri Duveyrier was a French explorer and geographer. He was born in 1840 at Paris and died in 1892. He undertook an exploration of the Sahara in 1858 until 1861 and studied the Berber people of Morocco in 1876. Research Henri Duveyrier
The Kabyle are a group of Berber peoples of Algeria and Tunisia. They served as Zouave in the colonial French forces. Many Kabyles were notable in the fight for Algerian independence 1954-62. Their language belongs to the Afro- Asiatic family. Research Kabyle
Leo Africanus was a Berbertraveller and geographer, who, towards the end of the 15th century, travelled through western Asia and north and central Africa. While returning by sea from Egypt he was seized by Pirates and sent to Rome, where he became a Christian. His account of his travels, written in Italian and published in 1550 was for a long time the chief source of information on the Sudan. Research Leo Africanus
The Moors were dark skinned, mixed race (part Arab, part Berber) people of North Africa who under the influence of Islam conquered an empire stretching from the Pamirs to the Pyrenees in the 9th century. Their occupation of Spain lasted from 711 until 1492. Research Moors
Abbreviations
Research Abd-el-Krim
