Aghlabid Dynasty

The Aghlabid dynasty was an Arab dynasty that ruled Ifriqiya from 800 to 909 CE, nominally as vassals of the Abbasid Caliphate. Founded by Ibrahim ibn al-Aghlab, they originated from the Banu Tamim tribe. During their rule, the Aghlabids conquered Sicily, Malta, and parts of southern Italy, possibly also Sardinia. They adhered to the Mu'tazilite rationalist doctrine within Hanafi Sunni Islam, which became the state doctrine of Ifriqiya. The dynasty sponsored the construction of mosques and civic infrastructure, with major examples surviving as some of the oldest Islamic-era monuments in the region. Their rule ended in 909 when they were conquered by the Fatimids.