Yahya ibn Umar al-Lamtuni facts for kids

Yahya ibn Umar al-Lamtuni was an important leader of the Lamtuna tribe. This tribe was part of the larger Sanhaja group of people. Yahya ibn Umar lived in the middle of the 11th century. He became the first leader, or emir, of a powerful movement called the Almoravids.

Yahya worked closely with a religious teacher named Abdallah ibn Yasin to start the Almoravid movement. Yahya was the main military commander. He led the Almoravid armies in their first big battles. They captured important cities like Sijilmassa and Awdaghost around 1054 and 1055. Sadly, Yahya was killed in a battle in 1056 against another group of Berbers in the Adrar Plateau. After his death, his brother, Abu Bakr ibn Umar, took over as the Almoravid emir.

Who Was Yahya ibn Umar?

In the 11th century, the Sanhaja people were divided into several tribes. These included the Lamtuna, Massufa, Banu Warith, and Gudala. Long ago, in the 9th century, these desert tribes became Muslims. They united and fought to take back lands they had lost.

The Sanhaja had built a large empire in the Sahara desert. But this empire later fell apart. Many of their important places, like cities and stops along busy trans-Saharan trade routes, were taken by the Ghana Empire to the south. Others were taken by the Zenata Maghrawa rulers of Sijilmassa to the north.

Yahya ibn Umar came from a family of Lamtuna chiefs. Like many leaders of his tribe, he really wanted to bring the old Sanhaja empire back together. He wanted to get back the lands they had lost.

A chance to do this came in the late 1040s. The chief of the neighboring Godala tribe, Yahya ibn Ibrahim, died. He was also the high chief of all the Sanhaja tribes. The desert Sanhaja had a special rule where leaders could be chosen through their mother's side of the family. Yahya ibn Umar's mother was a Godala princess. Even though other people wanted the job, Yahya ibn Umar was chosen as the new high Sanhaja chief. This made the Godala tribe unhappy, as they wanted one of their own to be chief.

The Rise of the Almoravids

Yahya ibn Umar's choice as chief was supported by Abdallah ibn Yasin. Ibn Yasin was a religious scholar and a very strong preacher. He had been staying with the Gudala tribe. Because he supported Yahya, the Gudala tribe kicked Ibn Yasin out. Yahya ibn Umar likely saw how helpful Ibn Yasin's strong religious beliefs could be. So, he invited Ibn Yasin to stay with the Lamtuna. Yahya became very close to Ibn Yasin, and they formed a strong partnership.

Ibn Yasin taught that fighting was needed to spread Islam. He said it wasn't enough just to follow God's law. It was also necessary to remove anything that went against it. He also said that tribalism, or focusing only on your own tribe, was against God's law. So, he preached that Muslims should put aside their tribal differences. They should create a new society based on Sacred Law. For Yahya ibn Umar and the Lamtuna chiefs, Ibn Yasin's ideas fit perfectly with their dream. They wanted to rebuild their old Saharan empire. Ibn Yasin's teachings gave their worldly goals a strong religious reason and authority.

Yahya as Almoravid Emir

Ibn Yasin and Yahya worked together to lead this new movement. Soon, it became known as "the Almoravids". Abdallah ibn Yasin was the religious leader and guided their beliefs. Yahya ibn Umar was the main military commander. This made him the first Almoravid emir. Some historians say that Yahya ibn Umar was the first to use the title amir al-muslimin, which means "Prince of the Muslims." This title was later used by other Almoravid rulers.

With strong religious passion, the Lamtuna began a series of campaigns in the early 1050s. They fought against neighboring tribes to make them join the new Sanhaja union. They used force if they had to. Under Yahya's leadership, the Lamtuna armies successfully brought other Sanhaja desert tribes into their cause. This included the Massufa, the Banu Warith, and even the cautious Gudala. Once they were united, the Almoravids started taking control of the old trans-Saharan trade routes and stations.

But their rivals did not give up easily. The Zenata Maghrawa rulers of Sijilmassa used their connections in the desert to stop the Almoravids. After some smaller fights, Yahya decided the best plan was to attack the main problem directly. In 1054 or 1055, Yahya led his desert Sanhaja armies against Sijilmassa. He defeated the Maghrawa ruler and captured the city. It was a big surprise to many people that the rich and powerful city of Sijilmassa fell to an army of desert fighters.

With Sijilmassa seemingly under control, Yahya led his army south. They went to fight against the Ghana empire. The Almoravids captured the important city of Awdaghost. This city was at the southern end of the trans-Saharan trade route. But then, news arrived that the Zenata had taken Sijilmassa back. They had kicked out the Almoravid soldiers. Yahya decided to march quickly back north to get the city back.

However, the Godala tribe suddenly decided to leave the Almoravid group. This was a problem for Yahya. It meant he would have an enemy force behind him if he kept going north. So, the Almoravids made a big decision. They split their forces. Yahya would lead a campaign against the Godala lands to force them back into the union. His brother, Abu Bakr, would take a smaller force north to keep the Zenata of Sijilmassa in check.

The Battle of Tabfarilla

Yahya went as far as the Almoravid fort of Azuggi. This fort was in the Adrar Plateau in central Mauritania. He felt he did not have enough soldiers to fight the Godala by himself. So, Yahya asked his new friend, King War Jabi of Takrur, for help. Takrur was an African kingdom near the Senegal River. It had joined the Almoravids during their attack on Ghana.

King War Jabi sent a large army from Takrur, led by his own son, Labi. They were supposed to meet Yahya in the Adrar. But the Godala attacked first. Before the Takruri army could reach Yahya, the Godala army attacked Azuggi. They trapped Yahya's smaller force and forced them into a big battle. The Godala destroyed the Almoravid army at the Battle of Tabfarilla in March or April 1056. Yahya ibn Umar was killed on the battlefield.

What Happened Next

Yahya's time as the first Almoravid emir ended too soon. After he died, Abdallah ibn Yasin immediately chose Yahya's brother, Abu Bakr ibn Umar, to be the new Almoravid emir. Under Abu Bakr's leadership, the Almoravids would take Sijilmassa back. They would then go on to conquer most of Morocco in the 1070s. Later, they would even return to finish off what was left of the Ghana Empire in the 1080s.

Historians say that Yahya ibn Umar had three sons: Muhammad, Ali, and Isa. We don't know exactly what happened to them. But it seems their uncle, Abu Bakr ibn Umar, did not forget them. Around 1057, after getting Sijilmassa back, Abu Bakr made his nephew Ali ibn Yahya the Almoravid governor of Sijilmassa. Ali seems to have held this job until 1069. When Abu Bakr died in 1087, he divided his lands (the southern part of the Almoravid empire) among his own sons and also among Yahya's sons.

See also

In Spanish: Yahya ibn Umar al-Lamtuni para niños