Hafsid Dynasty: Map & History
The Hafsid dynasty was a Sunni Muslim dynasty of Berber descent that ruled Ifriqiya from 1229 to 1574.
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The Hafsid dynasty was a Sunni Muslim dynasty of Berber descent that ruled Ifriqiya from 1229 to 1574. The dynasty was founded by Abu Zakariya Yahya, who was initially appointed governor of the region by the Almohad caliph before declaring his independence.
Modern Countries Once Part of Hafsid Dynasty
At its mapped extent, Hafsid Dynasty covered territory in 3 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Hafsid Dynasty's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Hafsid Dynasty in Depth
History
The Hafsids were of Berber descent, although to further legitimize their rule, they claimed Arab ancestry from the second Rashidun caliph Omar. The ancestor of the dynasty (from whom their name is derived), was Abu Hafs Umar ibn Yahya al-Hintati, a Berber from the Hintata tribal confederation, which belonged to the greater Masmuda confederation in present-day Morocco. He was a member of the Council of Ten, one of the highest Almohad political bodies, and a close companion of Ibn Tumart, the Almohad movement's founder.
The son of Abu Hafs, Abu Muhammad Abd al-Wahid ibn Abi Hafs, was appointed by the Almohad caliph Muhammad al-Nasir as governor of Ifriqiya (generally present-day Tunisia, eastern Algeria, and western Libya) where he ruled from 1207 to 1221.
Economy
The Hafsids, with their location in Ifriqiya, was rich in agriculture and trade. Instead of placing the capital at inland cities such as Kairouan, Tunis was chosen as the capital due to its position on the coast as a port linking the Western and Eastern Mediterranean. Christian merchants from Europe were given their own enclaves in various cities on the Mediterranean coast, promoting trans-Mediterranean trade. Under the Hafsids, commerce and diplomatic relations with Christian Europe grew significantly, however piracy against Christian shipping grew as well, particularly during the rule of Abd al-Aziz II (1394–1434). The Hafsids also had a large stake in trans-Saharan trade through the caravan routes from Tunis to Timbuktu and from Tripoli to sub-Saharan Africa.
Culture
The Hafsids were effective patrons of culture and education. They were the first to introduce madrasas to the Maghreb. Arabic literacy and religious education thus increased, with Kairouan, Tunis and Bijaya hosting famous university-mosques. Kairouan continued to serve as a center of the Maliki school of religious doctrine.As the political center of the country shifted to Tunis, the Great Mosque of al-Zaytuna, the city's main mosque, became the country's leading center of learning. Of great impact on culture were immigrants from al-Andalus, whom Abu Zakariya encouraged to come to his realm in the 13th century. Among the most important figures was the historian and intellectual, Ibn Khaldun, born in Tunis and of Andalusi descent.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Hafsid dynasty (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Hafsid Dynasty: Key Facts
| Capital | Tunis |
|---|---|
| Official language | Classical Arabic |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
| Form of government | monarchy |
| Founded | 1229 |
| Dissolved | 1574 |
Preceded by
Facts from Wikidata Q752662 (CC0).
Hafsid Dynasty Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Hafsid Dynasty appears, with the other states of the time.
Hafsid Dynasty Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 224,295 km² in 1348 CE.
Hafsid Dynasty: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Hafsid Dynasty exist?
The Hafsid Dynasty is dated to 1236 CE – 1571 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of the Hafsid Dynasty?
The capital of the Hafsid Dynasty was Tunis.
How large was the Hafsid Dynasty at its peak?
At its peak in 1348 AD the Hafsid Dynasty covered about 224,295 km².
How did the map of the Hafsid Dynasty change over time?
The Hafsid Dynasty appears on 3 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1300 CE to 1500 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
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