Abu Thabit Amir
Encyclopedia
Abu Thabit Amir (1283 – 28 July 1308) was a Marinid
ruler of Morocco
for around a year. Son or grandson of Abu Yaqub Yusuf
, whom he succeeded in 1307.
sultan Abu Yaqub Yusuf
was laying siege to the Abdalwadid
capital of Tlemcen
when he was assassinated. During this long siege, which had been in place since 1299, the Marinid sultan was unable to prevent a Nasrid-sponsored pretender Othman ibn Idris from landing in Ceuta
in 1306 and seizing much of northern Morocco. The new Marinid sultan Abu Thabit, whose ascendancy was contested by four pretenders, had to choose between pressing the siege or recovering his dominions. He opted for the latter.
Acting quickly, Abu Thabit dispatched three of the pretenders, then struck a deal with the Abdalwadid
ruler Abu Zayyan to allow an orderly lifting of the siege of Tlemcen
. Abu Thabit rushed his troops back to Morocco to take on the fourth pretender, Othman ibn Idris, leaving little or no garrisons to hold the Marinid positions in his wake. The Abdalwadids set about razing the Marinid siege camp at Tlemcen (by now, evolved into a veritable city, known as 'al-Mahalla al-Mansura') and proceeded down the coast to Oujda
, rolling back the hard-won Marinid gains of the last few years.
To coordinate his operations against Othman ibn Idris, Abu Thabit erected a new town, Tetouan
, just south of Ceuta
.
In July 1308, Abu Thabit fell ill and died in Tetouan. He was succeeded by his brother, Abu al-Rabi Sulayman
as Marinid
sultan of Morocco
.
Marinid
The Marinid dynasty or Benemerine dynasty was a Zenata Berber dynasty of Morocco. The Marinid dynasty overtook the Almohads in controlling Morocco in 1244. They controlled most of the Maghreb from the mid-14th century to the 15th century and supported the Kingdom of Granada in Al-Andalus in the...
ruler of Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
for around a year. Son or grandson of Abu Yaqub Yusuf
Abu Yaqub Yusuf an-Nasr
Abu Yaqub Yusuf an-Nasr was a Marinid ruler of Morocco. Son of Abu Yusuf Ya'qub, whom he succeeded in 1286. He was assassinated in 1307.- History :...
, whom he succeeded in 1307.
History
The MarinidMarinid
The Marinid dynasty or Benemerine dynasty was a Zenata Berber dynasty of Morocco. The Marinid dynasty overtook the Almohads in controlling Morocco in 1244. They controlled most of the Maghreb from the mid-14th century to the 15th century and supported the Kingdom of Granada in Al-Andalus in the...
sultan Abu Yaqub Yusuf
Abu Yaqub Yusuf an-Nasr
Abu Yaqub Yusuf an-Nasr was a Marinid ruler of Morocco. Son of Abu Yusuf Ya'qub, whom he succeeded in 1286. He was assassinated in 1307.- History :...
was laying siege to the Abdalwadid
Abdalwadid
Zayyanids or Abd al-Wadids , or Banu Zayan, is the name of a Berber zenata dynasty in North Africa. The Zayyanids, whose capital was Tlemcen existed from 1235 to 1556...
capital of Tlemcen
Tlemcen
Tlemcen is a town in Northwestern Algeria, and the capital of the province of the same name. It is located inland in the center of a region known for its olive plantations and vineyards...
when he was assassinated. During this long siege, which had been in place since 1299, the Marinid sultan was unable to prevent a Nasrid-sponsored pretender Othman ibn Idris from landing in Ceuta
Ceuta
Ceuta is an autonomous city of Spain and an exclave located on the north coast of North Africa surrounded by Morocco. Separated from the Iberian peninsula by the Strait of Gibraltar, Ceuta lies on the border of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Ceuta along with the other Spanish...
in 1306 and seizing much of northern Morocco. The new Marinid sultan Abu Thabit, whose ascendancy was contested by four pretenders, had to choose between pressing the siege or recovering his dominions. He opted for the latter.
Acting quickly, Abu Thabit dispatched three of the pretenders, then struck a deal with the Abdalwadid
Abdalwadid
Zayyanids or Abd al-Wadids , or Banu Zayan, is the name of a Berber zenata dynasty in North Africa. The Zayyanids, whose capital was Tlemcen existed from 1235 to 1556...
ruler Abu Zayyan to allow an orderly lifting of the siege of Tlemcen
Tlemcen
Tlemcen is a town in Northwestern Algeria, and the capital of the province of the same name. It is located inland in the center of a region known for its olive plantations and vineyards...
. Abu Thabit rushed his troops back to Morocco to take on the fourth pretender, Othman ibn Idris, leaving little or no garrisons to hold the Marinid positions in his wake. The Abdalwadids set about razing the Marinid siege camp at Tlemcen (by now, evolved into a veritable city, known as 'al-Mahalla al-Mansura') and proceeded down the coast to Oujda
Oujda
Oujda is a city in eastern Morocco with an estimated population of 1 million. The city is located about 15 kilometers west of Algeria and about 60 kilometers south of the Mediterranean Sea. It is the capital of the Oriental Region of Morocco and the birthplace of the current Algerian president,...
, rolling back the hard-won Marinid gains of the last few years.
To coordinate his operations against Othman ibn Idris, Abu Thabit erected a new town, Tetouan
Tétouan
Tetouan is a city in northern Morocco. The Berber name means literally "the eyes" and figuratively "the water springs". Tetouan is one of the two major ports of Morocco on the Mediterranean Sea. It lies a few miles south of the Strait of Gibraltar, and about 40 mi E.S.E. of Tangier...
, just south of Ceuta
Ceuta
Ceuta is an autonomous city of Spain and an exclave located on the north coast of North Africa surrounded by Morocco. Separated from the Iberian peninsula by the Strait of Gibraltar, Ceuta lies on the border of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Ceuta along with the other Spanish...
.
In July 1308, Abu Thabit fell ill and died in Tetouan. He was succeeded by his brother, Abu al-Rabi Sulayman
Abu al-Rabi Sulayman
Abu al-Rabi Sulayman was a Marinid ruler of Morocco. Son or grandson of Abu Yaqub Yusuf and brother of Abu Thabit Amir, whom he succeeded in 1308, at the age of 19.- History :Abu al-Rabi Sulayman succeeded his brother Abu Thabit Amir as Marinid sultan in July 1308...
as Marinid
Marinid
The Marinid dynasty or Benemerine dynasty was a Zenata Berber dynasty of Morocco. The Marinid dynasty overtook the Almohads in controlling Morocco in 1244. They controlled most of the Maghreb from the mid-14th century to the 15th century and supported the Kingdom of Granada in Al-Andalus in the...
sultan of Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
.
Sources
- Julien, Charles-André, Histoire de l'Afrique du Nord, des origines à 1830, édition originale 1931, réédition Payot, Paris, 1961