Hawwara facts for kids

The Hawwara (Berber languages: Ihuwwaren) are a large group of Berbers and Arabized Berbers. They are found across the Maghreb region, which includes countries like Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. You can also find their descendants in Upper Egypt and Sudan.

In Upper Egypt, especially in the Qena area, the Hawwara are one of the most important tribes. In Sudan, they are known as Hawwaweer (Arabic: هواوير) and have a strong presence in politics.

Hawwara Family Groups

The Hawwara were made up of many different tribes and family groups. Some of these include the Addasa, Andara, Awtita, Baswa, Gharyan, Haragha, Banu Irmazyan, Kaldin, Kamlan, Karkuda, Lahan or Lahana, Maghar, Malila, Maslata, Mindasa, Misrata, Razin, Satat, Tarhuna, Wannifan, Warfalla, Wargha, Warsatifa, Washtata, Yaghmorasen, Zakkawa, and Zanzafa.

A Look at Hawwara History

The Hawwara are believed to be descendants of an ancient group called the Bavarians. In old times, the Hawwara were a main tribe within the Masaesyli state. Their traditional land was known as Avaritana or Abaritana province. Later, in the Middle Ages, this area was called “bilad Haouara,” meaning "country of the Haouara."

During the Byzantine period, the Hawwara were one of the two main ruling groups in their region. Historians say the Hawwara were in the Aurès region long before Arabs arrived in the 600s AD. Their lands stretched from Tawergha to Zella from the 700s to the 1100s.

Hawwara in Spain

Some Hawwara families went to Al-Andalus (modern-day Spain). There, they founded and ruled small Islamic kingdoms. Examples include the Taifa of Toledo and the Taifa of Albarracín. The Spanish town of Albarracín is still named after a Hawwara sub-tribe called Al Banu Razin. Other Spanish cities like Alhaurín el Grande and Alhaurín de la Torre also get their names from the Hawwara.

Hawwara in Egypt

A part of the Hawwara joined the Fatimid army. This army conquered Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and Jordan. After their victories, the Fatimid leaders gave land to the Hawwara. The Hawwara tribe became very powerful in the al-Buhayra region of Egypt.

In 1380, the Mamluk Sultan Barquq settled some Hawwara groups in Upper Egypt. He gave land in Girga to a Hawwara chief named Isma'il ibn Mazin. Isma'il was later followed by Umar, who started the Banu Umar clan.

Around 1396, a group of Hawwara and Arabs from Upper Egypt attacked the governor of Aswan. They made an alliance with the Arab tribe of Banu Kanz. However, in 1412, the Hawwara tribesmen attacked the Banu Kanz Arabs in Aswan. They killed many men and took women and children as slaves. They also destroyed the city walls, leaving it in ruins.

After attacking al-Fayyum in 1485, the Hawwara tribes became the real rulers of Upper Egypt.

Hawwara Power in Upper Egypt

For a long time, Southern Egypt was a center for tribal settlements. By the 1800s, the Egyptian Hawwara tribe controlled Southern Egypt and Northern Nubia. They spread their power over ten provinces and parts of twenty-one others in Upper Egypt. The Egyptian Hawwara were seen as the actual rulers of Upper Egypt. Their power reached across North Africa.

However, in 1813, Ibrahim Pasha led military campaigns against them. These campaigns finally broke their strong influence. Many Hawwara then fled to Sudan.

Before they moved to Sudan, during the Mamluk era in Egypt, the Hawwara were the most important tribe in Upper Egypt. They were led by Sheikh Hammam. Sultan Barquq worked with the Hawwara to prevent other Arab tribes from becoming too strong. Towards the end of the Mamluk rule, the Hawwara and Arabs started working together against the Mamluks. Because of this, the Mamluks began calling the Hawwara "Arab," even though they were mostly Arabized Berbers.

Famous Hawwara People

• Ismail al-Zahir: A king of the Taifa of Toledo in Spain.
• Al-Mamun of Toledo: Another king of the Taifa of Toledo.
• Yahya al-Qadir: Also a king of the Taifa of Toledo.
• Sheikh Al-Arab Hammam: A famous leader of the Egyptian Hawwara tribe in the 1700s.