Yaqub, Almohad Caliph
Encyclopedia
Abu Yusuf Ya'qub al-Mansur ( Abū Yūsuf Ya‘qūb al-Manṣūr) (c. 1160 – January 23, 1199), also known as Moulay Yacoub, was the third Almohad
Amir
Succeeding his father, Abu Ya'qub Yusuf, Yaqub al-Mansur reigned from 1184 to 1199 with distinction. During his tenure, trade, architecture, philosophy and the sciences flourished, to say nothing of military conquests. In 1191 Yaqub al-Mansur repelled the occupation of Paderne Castle
and the surrounding territory near Albufeira, in the Algarve which had been controlled by the Portuguese
army of King Sancho I
since 1182.
In the Battle of Alarcos
, on July 18, 1195, he defeated the Castilian
King Alfonso VIII
. After victory, he took the title al-Mansur Billah ("Made Victorious by God"). The battle is recounted by the historian Abou Mohammed Salah ben Abd el-Halim of Granada in his Roudh el-Kartas (History of the Rulers of Morocco, French translation by A. Beaumier, 1860) in 1326.
He died in Marrakech
, Morocco
. During his reign, he undertook several major projects. He built the Koutoubia and El Mansouria mosques in Marrakech
and the kasbah of the Udayas
, accessed by Bab Agnaou
and Bab Ksiba
in the southern part of its medina
. He attempted to build what would have been the world's largest mosque in Rabat
. However, construction on the mosque
stopped after al-Mansur died. Only the beginnings of the mosque had been completed, including the Hassan Tower
. Al-Mansur protected the philosopher Averroes
and kept him as a favorite at court.
Al-Mansur, came to the throne after his father was killed in Portugal
in 1184. He promised revenge for his father's death, but fighting with the Almohads, who were ousted from the throne, delayed him in Africa. After defeating the Almohads again, he sent out for Iberian Peninsula
to avenge his father's death. Landing in Iberia, defeating and capturing all major cities, Al-Mansur, returned to Morocco with three thousand Christian captives, young women and children.
When the Christians in Iberian Peninsula
heard of Al-Mansur's absence to Africa, they revolted, capturing many of the Moorish cities, including Silves, Vera, and Beja. When Al-Mansur heard this news, he returned to the Iberian Peninsula
, and defeated the Christians again. This time, many were taken in chained groups of fifty each, and later sold in Africa as slaves.
While Al-Mansur was away in Africa, the Christians mounted the largest army of that time period of over 300,000 men to defeat Al-Mansur. Immediately upon hearing this, Al-Mansur returned to Iberia and defeated Alfonso's army, killing 150,000, taking money, valuables and other goods beyond calculation.
The town of Moulay Yacoub, outside of Fez, Morocco, is named after Al-Mansur, and is best known for its therapeutic hot springs.
Almohad
The Almohad Dynasty , was a Moroccan Berber-Muslim dynasty founded in the 12th century that established a Berber state in Tinmel in the Atlas Mountains in roughly 1120.The movement was started by Ibn Tumart in the Masmuda tribe, followed by Abd al-Mu'min al-Gumi between 1130 and his...
Amir
Succeeding his father, Abu Ya'qub Yusuf, Yaqub al-Mansur reigned from 1184 to 1199 with distinction. During his tenure, trade, architecture, philosophy and the sciences flourished, to say nothing of military conquests. In 1191 Yaqub al-Mansur repelled the occupation of Paderne Castle
Paderne Castle
Paderne Castle is in Algarve, Portugal. This hill fort was built by the Moors in the second half of the 12th Century. Its is eight km from the Algarve resort of Albufeira, on a River Quarteira bend close to the village and civil parish of Paderne. It is north from the coast. The castle is one of...
and the surrounding territory near Albufeira, in the Algarve which had been controlled by the Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
army of King Sancho I
Sancho I of Portugal
Sancho I , nicknamed the Populator , second monarch of Portugal, was born on 11 November 1154 in Coimbra and died on 26 March 1212 in the same city. He was the second but only surviving legitimate son and fourth child of Afonso I of Portugal by his wife, Maud of Savoy. Sancho succeeded his father...
since 1182.
In the Battle of Alarcos
Battle of Alarcos
Battle of Alarcos , was a battle between the Almohads led by Abu Yusuf Ya'qub al-Mansur and King Alfonso VIII of Castile. It resulted in the defeat of the Castilian forces and their subsequent retreat to Toledo whereas the Almohads conquered back Trujillo, Montánchez and Talavera.-Background:In...
, on July 18, 1195, he defeated the Castilian
Kingdom of Castile
Kingdom of Castile was one of the medieval kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. It emerged as a political autonomous entity in the 9th century. It was called County of Castile and was held in vassalage from the Kingdom of León. Its name comes from the host of castles constructed in the region...
King Alfonso VIII
Alfonso VIII of Castile
Alfonso VIII , called the Noble or el de las Navas, was the King of Castile from 1158 to his death and King of Toledo. He is most remembered for his part in the Reconquista and the downfall of the Almohad Caliphate...
. After victory, he took the title al-Mansur Billah ("Made Victorious by God"). The battle is recounted by the historian Abou Mohammed Salah ben Abd el-Halim of Granada in his Roudh el-Kartas (History of the Rulers of Morocco, French translation by A. Beaumier, 1860) in 1326.
He died in Marrakech
Marrakech
Marrakech or Marrakesh , known as the "Ochre city", is the most important former imperial city in Morocco's history...
, 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...
. During his reign, he undertook several major projects. He built the Koutoubia and El Mansouria mosques in Marrakech
Marrakech
Marrakech or Marrakesh , known as the "Ochre city", is the most important former imperial city in Morocco's history...
and the kasbah of the Udayas
Kasbah of the Udayas
The Kasbah of the Udayas is a kasbah in Rabat, Morocco located at the mouth of the Bou Regreg river opposite of Salé. It was built during the reign of the Almohads....
, accessed by Bab Agnaou
Bab Agnaou
Bab Agnaou is one of the nineteen gates of Marrakech, Morocco. It was built in the 12th century in the time of the Almohad dynasty....
and Bab Ksiba
Bab Ksiba
Bab Ksiba is one of the nineteen gates of Marrakech, Morocco. It was built in the 12th century in the time of the Almohad dynasty.The name Ksiba, , in Berber refers to the Kasbah district of the Medina, where this gateway is located...
in the southern part of its medina
Medina
Medina , or ; also transliterated as Madinah, or madinat al-nabi "the city of the prophet") is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, and...
. He attempted to build what would have been the world's largest mosque in Rabat
Rabat
Rabat , is the capital and third largest city of the Kingdom of Morocco with a population of approximately 650,000...
. However, construction on the mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
stopped after al-Mansur died. Only the beginnings of the mosque had been completed, including the Hassan Tower
Hassan Tower
Hassan Tower or Tour Hassan is the minaret of an incomplete mosque in Rabat, Morocco. Begun in 1195, the tower was intended to be the largest minaret in the world along with the mosque, also intended to be the world's largest. In 1199, Sultan Yacoub al-Mansour died and construction on the mosque...
. Al-Mansur protected the philosopher Averroes
Averroes
' , better known just as Ibn Rushd , and in European literature as Averroes , was a Muslim polymath; a master of Aristotelian philosophy, Islamic philosophy, Islamic theology, Maliki law and jurisprudence, logic, psychology, politics, Arabic music theory, and the sciences of medicine, astronomy,...
and kept him as a favorite at court.
Al-Mansur, came to the throne after his father was killed in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
in 1184. He promised revenge for his father's death, but fighting with the Almohads, who were ousted from the throne, delayed him in Africa. After defeating the Almohads again, he sent out for Iberian Peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
to avenge his father's death. Landing in Iberia, defeating and capturing all major cities, Al-Mansur, returned to Morocco with three thousand Christian captives, young women and children.
When the Christians in Iberian Peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
heard of Al-Mansur's absence to Africa, they revolted, capturing many of the Moorish cities, including Silves, Vera, and Beja. When Al-Mansur heard this news, he returned to the Iberian Peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
, and defeated the Christians again. This time, many were taken in chained groups of fifty each, and later sold in Africa as slaves.
While Al-Mansur was away in Africa, the Christians mounted the largest army of that time period of over 300,000 men to defeat Al-Mansur. Immediately upon hearing this, Al-Mansur returned to Iberia and defeated Alfonso's army, killing 150,000, taking money, valuables and other goods beyond calculation.
The town of Moulay Yacoub, outside of Fez, Morocco, is named after Al-Mansur, and is best known for its therapeutic hot springs.