Zenata facts for kids

The Zenata (pronounced Zeh-NAH-tah) were a large and important group of Berbers. Berbers are an ancient people from North Africa. The Zenata were known for their nomadic or semi-nomadic way of life. This means they often moved from place to place. They were one of the biggest Berber groups, alongside the Sanhaja and Masmuda.

Life and Culture

The Zenata people were made up of several large tribes. A famous historian named Ibn Khaldun wrote about them in the 1300s. He mentioned three main tribes: the Jarawa, Maghrawa, and Banu Ifran.

These tribes once lived across a big part of the Maghreb. The Maghreb is a region in North Africa. Over time, they moved south and west due to conflicts with other strong tribes.

The Zenata were among the first Berber groups to accept Islam. This happened in the 600s. While some other Berber tribes resisted for a long time, the Zenata quickly became Muslim. They also played a big part in the Muslim conquest of Spain (Iberia).

Their Language

The Zenata spoke their own unique Berber language. It was different from the languages of other Berber groups. A French language expert, Edmond Destaing, suggested in 1915 that "Zenati" was a group of related languages. These included Riffian Berber in Morocco and Shawiya Berber in Algeria.

Where Did They Come From?

We don't know much about the Zenata before the Muslim conquests. Most of what we know comes from Arabic writings. The name "Zenata" itself appeared later in history.

Historians believe the Zenata might have moved around a lot after the conquests. Early Zenata groups settled in a region called Tripolitania, in what is now Libya. This was around the late 600s. They soon joined the Arab armies.

Over time, Zenata groups moved west. They settled in western Algeria, near cities like Tiaret and Tlemcen. Some even traveled further west into Morocco.

Zenata in Power

The Zenata tribes were very influential in the western Maghreb. This region includes modern-day Morocco and western Algeria. They held power during two main periods.

First, in the 900s, they became important as the Idrisid rulers grew weaker. They sometimes supported the Fatimid Caliphs or the Umayyad Caliphs of Cordoba.

Later, from the 1200s to the 1500s, Zenata tribes formed their own powerful kingdoms. These included the Zayyanid dynasty in Algeria and the Marinid and Wattasid dynasties in Morocco. Many people in the Rif region of Morocco today are thought to be descendants of the Zenata.

Early Zenata Influence (700s-1000s)

After the first Arab conquests, Berber groups became very powerful in Morocco. The Zenata were a big part of this.

A Zenata leader named Khalid ibn Hamid al-Zanati led a major Berber revolt in 740. They fought against the Arab Umayyad Caliphate. Khalid led his rebels to important victories in battles like the Battle of the Nobles.

Even though the Umayyads eventually won, parts of the Maghreb, like Morocco, became independent. This allowed new small kingdoms to form. One example was the Midrarid Emirate in eastern Morocco. It was led by the Zenata Miknasa tribe. They are credited with founding the city of Sijilmasa.

In the 800s, several Berber tribes, including the Miknasa, united. They fought against the Idrisid rulers of Fez. They even took Fez for a short time.

In the 900s, the Fatimid Caliphate from the east wanted to expand. They allied with the Miknasa tribe. In 917, the Miknasa attacked Fez and took control. This ended the Idrisid rule in Fez.

The Miknasa leader, Musa ibn Abul 'Afiya, sometimes supported the Fatimids and sometimes the Umayyads of Cordoba. This was his way of trying to gain more independence. These shifts led to many conflicts.

By the early 1000s, the Umayyad Caliphate collapsed. Zenata Berber tribes then took control of Morocco. The Maghrawa tribe ruled cities like Fez and Sijilmasa. The Banu Ifran tribe ruled over Tlemcen and Salé. This period lasted until the rise of the Sanhaja Almoravid dynasty later in the century.

Zenata Dynasties (1200s-1500s)

In the 1200s, the Banu Marin, another Zenata tribe, rose to power in Morocco. They began to overthrow the Almohad rulers in 1245.

At their strongest in the mid-1300s, the Marinid dynasty controlled much of the Maghreb. This included parts of modern-day Algeria and Tunisia. They also supported the Emirate of Granada in Spain. However, their attempts to gain land in Europe were stopped by battles in the 1340s.

The Marinids made Fez their capital. They encouraged education by building many schools called madrasas. These schools taught about Maliki Sunni Islam.

In the early 1400s, the Wattasid dynasty, related to the Marinids, started to share power. They became the real rulers of Morocco between 1420 and 1459. In 1465, a revolt in Fez overthrew the last Marinid sultan. This led to the Wattasids ruling directly.

The Wattasid sultans ruled until the mid-1500s. They were then overthrown by the Saadians. This marked the start of Arab Sharifian rule in Morocco, which continues today with the Alaouite dynasty.

At the same time as the Marinids, the Zenata Zayyanid dynasty ruled the Kingdom of Tlemcen in northwestern Algeria. Their kingdom stretched across a large area, centered around the city of Tlemcen. The Zayyanid dynasty ruled from 1235 until 1556. Their rule ended when they faced pressure from the Spanish and the Saadians, and were finally taken over by the Ottomans.

Zenata warriors were also famous as light cavalry in the armies of Granada in Spain. The Spanish word jinete (pronounced hee-NEH-teh) comes from the name 'Zenata'. It describes this type of fast, mobile horse soldier. They were a key part of the Granadan army. They used lances, javelins, and small, flexible shields. These warriors were known for their special fighting tactics.

See also

In Spanish: Zenata para niños

• Numidia
• Dihya
• Zanata Stone
• Su'da