Battle of Tabfarilla facts for kids

The Battle of Tabfarilla was an important fight between two groups of Berbers in the Sahara Desert. These groups were the Lamtuna and the Godala. They were both Muslim tribes and had once been allies.

However, the Godala tribe later broke away from the Lamtuna. The Lamtuna then became the main part of a powerful group called the Almoravids. The Almoravid leader, Yahya ibn Umar al-Lamtuni, was sent to fight against the Godala.

What Was the Battle of Tabfarilla?

The Battle of Tabfarilla was a conflict in the Sahara desert. It happened between March 21 and April 19 in the year 1056 AD. The battle took place near a spot called Tabfarilla, close to a place named Azougui. This area is now in central Mauritania.

Who Fought in the Battle?

The main groups fighting were the Lamtuna, who were part of the Almoravids, and the Godala tribe. The Almoravids also had help from another group called the Takrurs.

What Was the Outcome?

The battle lasted for a long time, even into the night. Despite having extra help from the Takrurs, the Almoravids were defeated. Their leader, Yahya ibn Umar, was killed during the fighting. This meant the Godala tribe won the battle.

The Legend of Tabfarilla

A geographer named Abu Abdullah al-Bakri wrote about this battle. In his book, Book of Roads and Kingdoms, he shared an interesting legend.

The legend says that the battlefield of Tabfarilla was haunted. People believed they could hear the calls of ghostly muezzins there. A muezzin is a person who calls Muslims to prayer from a mosque. These ghostly calls would scare away anyone trying to loot the battlefield or just passing by, especially as night came.