Al-Mu'izz ibn Badis facts for kids
Al-Muʿizz ibn Bādīs (born 1008, died 1062) was an important ruler of the Zirid kingdom. He was the fourth Zirid leader in a region called Ifriqiya, which is now part of modern-day Tunisia and Algeria. He ruled for a long time, from 1016 to 1062.
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What's in a Name?
Historians like Ibn Khallikan tell us something interesting about al-Mu'izz's name. Usually, "al-Mu'izz" was a special title given to someone. But for al-Mu'izz ibn Badis, it seems this was his actual birth name. Ibn Khallikan looked through many old books and asked experts. He wanted to see if al-Mu'izz had another name. Since he never found one, he believed "al-Mu'izz" was his true given name.
His Time as a Ruler
Al-Mu'izz ibn Badis was born in a city called al-Mansuriya on January 19, 1008.
Becoming the Leader
Al-Mu'izz became the ruler when he was still young, after his father, Badis ibn Mansur, passed away. His aunt, Umm Mallal, helped him rule as a regent (someone who governs for a young or absent ruler). He officially became ruler on May 13, 1016.
In 1016, there was a big uprising in Ifriqiya. A city called Al-Mansuriya was destroyed, and many people were killed. This trouble led to a pause in fighting with the Hammadids of Algeria. The Hammadids finally became independent in 1018.
Taking Full Control
Al-Mu'izz took full control of the government in 1022. This happened after his aunt was no longer regent. His relationship with the Fatimids (another powerful group) became difficult. In 1027, the Fatimids supported a revolt in Tripolitania. This caused al-Mu'izz to lose control of that area permanently.
Later, his son Abdallah briefly ruled Sicily from 1038 to 1040. He stepped in with a Zirid army during a civil war on the island.
Good Times and Hard Times
Even with political problems, the kingdom was doing well economically at first. This allowed for many new buildings to be constructed. However, by the 1040s, the kingdom faced money troubles. The value of their money went down, and there were also diseases and food shortages. This might have been because the Zirids had to pay a very large amount of gold every year to the Fatimids.
A Big Change in Beliefs
In 1045, al-Mu'izz made a huge decision. He decided to support the Abbasids in Baghdad as the true leaders (Caliphs). He also adopted the Sunni branch of Islam. This was a big change because the Fatimids followed the Shi'ite branch. This decision completely broke his ties with the Fatimids. He even put messages on new coins saying the Fatimids were wrong.
The Bedouin Invasion
Because of this break, the Fatimids sent armies of Bedouin tribes from Egypt to Ifriqiya. This invasion by the Bedouin (from 1051 to 1052) caused great suffering. After a defeat at Jabal Haydaran, farming in Ifriqiya was badly hurt.
The Fatimids sent a leader named Makin al-Dawla to gather the Bedouin invaders. They then surrounded al-Mu'izz in Kairouan and took over many areas. When Kairouan was conquered in 1057, it led to even more chaos. The Zirids lost control of the inland areas. They could only keep the cities along the coast. The capital was moved to Mahdia.
As Bedouin groups grew stronger inland, the economy of Ifriqiya started to focus more on the Mediterranean Sea. Coastal cities became very important for sea trade and even piracy.
Al-Mu'izz passed away on August 13, 1062, from a liver illness. His son, Tamim ibn Muizz, became the next ruler.
His Writings
Al-Mu'izz is believed to have written a famous book called Kitab `umdat al-kuttab wa `uddat dhawi al-albab. This translates to "Staff of the Scribes." The book has twelve chapters. It talks about many interesting things, like:
- How important the pen is.
- How to make different kinds of inks, including colored and metallic inks.
- How to mix dyes and colors.
- Secret writing methods.
- How to make paper, Arabic gum, and glue.
Two famous poets, Ibn Sharaf and Ibn Rashīq, were rivals at his court. It is said that al-Mu'izz enjoyed their competition and even encouraged it.
See Also
In Spanish: Al-Muizz ben Badis para niños
