Nasir ibn Alnas
Encyclopedia
An-Nasir ibn Alnas was the fifth ruler of the Hammadids in Algeria
, from 1062 until his death.
An-Nasir succeeded Buluggin ibn Muhammad
(1055–1062) after his murder in 1062. After the decline of the Zirids in Ifriqiya
as a result of the invasion of the Banu Hilal
(since 1051), An-Nasir was able to extend the influence of the Hammadids in the Maghreb
. Vassals were installed in Tunis
and territory as far as Kairouan
came under control. Influence was also built up in the northern Sahara
by driving out the Ibadi
from Sandrata (1077). With the establishment of Bejaia
as a second capital, maritime trade gained importance for the economy. Italian architects and craftsmen were enlisted in the construction of Bejaia. The extensive control of the trade routes led to economic growth and a flourishing of the kingdom.
However, the stability of the realm was precarious, since the Bedouin
Banu Hilal
began to infiltrate the Hammadid
state after their conquest of Ifriqiya. At first, they were used as mercenaries against the Almoravids
of Morocco
- even when the Almoravids conquered territory as far as Algiers
in 1081, they could be turned back with Bedouin help. But the Banu Hilal could not be kept under Hammadid control, and ultimately caused the downfall of the kingdom.
An-Nasir was succeeded by his son Al-Mansur ibn an-Nasir.
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, from 1062 until his death.
An-Nasir succeeded Buluggin ibn Muhammad
Buluggin ibn Muhammad
Buluggin ibn Muhammad was the ruler of the Hammadids from 1046 to 1062. He led an army into Morocco against the Almoravids and briefly captured Fes. On his withdrawal, he was assassinated by an agent of his successor Nasir ibn Alnas.- References :...
(1055–1062) after his murder in 1062. After the decline of the Zirids in Ifriqiya
Ifriqiya
In medieval history, Ifriqiya or Ifriqiyah was the area comprising the coastal regions of what are today western Libya, Tunisia, and eastern Algeria. This area included what had been the Roman province of Africa, whose name it inherited....
as a result of the invasion of the Banu Hilal
Banu Hilal
The Banu Hilal were a confederation of Arabian Bedouin tribes that migrated from Upper Egypt into North Africa in the 11th century, having been sent by the Fatimids to punish the Zirids for abandoning Shiism. Other authors suggest that the tribes left the grasslands on the upper Nile because of...
(since 1051), An-Nasir was able to extend the influence of the Hammadids in the Maghreb
Maghreb
The Maghreb is the region of Northwest Africa, west of Egypt. It includes five countries: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Mauritania and the disputed territory of Western Sahara...
. Vassals were installed in Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
and territory as far as Kairouan
Kairouan
Kairouan , also known as Kirwan or al-Qayrawan , is the capital of the Kairouan Governorate in Tunisia. Referred to as the Islamic Cultural Capital, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city was founded by the Arabs around 670...
came under control. Influence was also built up in the northern Sahara
Sahara
The Sahara is the world's second largest desert, after Antarctica. At over , it covers most of Northern Africa, making it almost as large as Europe or the United States. The Sahara stretches from the Red Sea, including parts of the Mediterranean coasts, to the outskirts of the Atlantic Ocean...
by driving out the Ibadi
Ibadi
The Ibāḍī movement, Ibadism or Ibāḍiyya is a form of Islam distinct from the Sunni and Shia denominations. It is the dominant form of Islam in Oman and Zanzibar...
from Sandrata (1077). With the establishment of Bejaia
Béjaïa
Béjaïa, Vgaiet or Bejaya is a Mediterranean port city on the Gulf of Béjaïa in Algeria; it is the capital of Béjaïa Province, Kabylia. Under French rule, it was formerly known under various European names, such as Budschaja in German, Bugia in Italian, and Bougie...
as a second capital, maritime trade gained importance for the economy. Italian architects and craftsmen were enlisted in the construction of Bejaia. The extensive control of the trade routes led to economic growth and a flourishing of the kingdom.
However, the stability of the realm was precarious, since the Bedouin
Bedouin
The Bedouin are a part of a predominantly desert-dwelling Arab ethnic group traditionally divided into tribes or clans, known in Arabic as ..-Etymology:...
Banu Hilal
Banu Hilal
The Banu Hilal were a confederation of Arabian Bedouin tribes that migrated from Upper Egypt into North Africa in the 11th century, having been sent by the Fatimids to punish the Zirids for abandoning Shiism. Other authors suggest that the tribes left the grasslands on the upper Nile because of...
began to infiltrate the Hammadid
Hammadid
The Hammadids were a Berber dynasty who ruled an area roughly corresponding to north-eastern modern Algeria for about a century and a half , until they were destroyed by the Almohads...
state after their conquest of Ifriqiya. At first, they were used as mercenaries against the Almoravids
Almoravids
The Almoravids were a Berber dynasty of Morocco, who formed an empire in the 11th-century that stretched over the western Maghreb and Al-Andalus. Their capital was Marrakesh, a city which they founded in 1062 C.E...
of Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
- even when the Almoravids conquered territory as far as Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
in 1081, they could be turned back with Bedouin help. But the Banu Hilal could not be kept under Hammadid control, and ultimately caused the downfall of the kingdom.
An-Nasir was succeeded by his son Al-Mansur ibn an-Nasir.