Almohad Caliphate

The Almohad Caliphate, also known as the Almohad Empire, was a Berber Muslim dynasty that ruled a North African empire in the 12th and 13th centuries. Founded around 1121 by Ibn Tumart, who was recognized as the Mahdi, the caliphate was formally established after his death by Abd al-Mu'min. At its height, it controlled much of the Maghreb and the Iberian Peninsula (Al-Andalus). The Almohads overthrew the Almoravid dynasty in 1147, conquering Marrakesh, and extended their power across the Maghreb by 1159 and Muslim Iberia by 1172. A turning point occurred in 1212 with their defeat at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, leading to the loss of many Iberian territories. The caliphate dissolved in 1269 when its last ruler was murdered and the Marinids seized Marrakesh.