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Fatimid Caliphate

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An Ismaili Shia caliphate that began in Tunisia in 909, conquered Egypt in 969 and ruled from Cairo, a city it founded. At its height it held Egypt, parts of North Africa, Sicily, the Hejaz and parts of Syria, until Saladin ended it in 1171.

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Key events

  1. Al-Mahdi proclaims himself caliph in Ifriqiya, backed by the Kutama Berbers

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  2. – Al-Mahdi founds Mahdia on the Tunisian coast and makes it the Fatimid capital in 921Disputed

    Britannica's Fatimid article gives 920 for the founding. Its Mahdia article gives 912 as the most detailed date and 920 as another. Both agree al-Mahdi made it his capital in 921.

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  3. The general Jawhar takes Egypt for the Fatimid caliph al-Mu'izz and founds Cairo beside al-Fustat; al-Mu'izz enters the city in 972 or 973Disputed

    Britannica gives 972 or 973 for al-Mu'izz entering Cairo, and the Ashmolean dates Cairo becoming the capital to 973. The conquest and the founding are dated 969.

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  4. – The mosque of al-Azhar is built in the new city of Cairo; it later becomes al-Azhar UniversityDisputed

    Britannica dates the founding to 970 and notes a later date of about 972. The Ashmolean dates the construction of the mosque to 972.

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  5. Caliph al-Hakim vanishes in 1021; the Druze faith grows from teaching that he was divineDisputed

    What happened to al-Hakim is unknown. Britannica says he was probably murdered, while his followers said he had gone into hiding and would return. The teaching of his divinity began during his reign.

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  6. – The Zirids, the Fatimids' governors in Ifriqiya, declare independence in 1048; the Fatimids answer by sending the Banu Hilal and Banu Sulaym into the Maghrib, and the Zirids are beaten in 1052Disputed

    Britannica dates the Fatimid response to 1052 but says the nomads crossed into Cyrenaica in 1050. How far the Fatimids directed the Banu Hilal, and how much damage they did, is debated.

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  7. Caliph al-Mustansir calls the general Badr al-Jamali to Cairo; he has leading generals and officials put to death and restores order

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  8. On Nur al-Din's order Saladin has the Friday prayer said in the name of the Abbasid caliph, ending the Fatimid caliphate and returning Egypt to Sunni rule

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