Ali ibn Yusuf
Ali ibn Yusuf ibn Tashfin († January 26, 1143 ), علي بن يوسف بن تاشفين Ali ibn Yusuf ibn Tashfin, ʿ Alī DMG b.Yūsuf b.Tāšufīn, was ruler of the Almoravids from 1106 until his death in 1143.
Ali was the son of Yusuf ibn Tashfin ( 1060-1106 ) and a Spanish Christian. He was born in Ceuta and grew up there. Here he learned in his youth the Andalusian city of culture.
After taking power in 1106, he promoted mainly Andalusians in the administration and supported scholars and poets. However, it did not always prevail over the powerful tribal leaders of the Almoravids in the army and the administration itself. As a counterweight, therefore, a mercenary force of Christians under the guide Reverter was built.
Although managed under his rule the first submission of Saragossa ( 1110) and the expulsion of the Pisan of the Balearic Islands ( 1115 ), but there were soon to setbacks. So went Tudela ( 1114 ) and Zaragoza ( 1118) Navarre and Aragon lost. The Almoravids suffered at Lucena in 1125, a defeat against Aragon. Its expansion was halted with the victory of Fraga in July 1134 initially. In the following years a part of the Mozarabs was moved to Morocco, to deprive the Christians in their campaigns in Andalusia potential sympathizers.
Under Ali ibn Yusuf, the increasing solidification of the Almoravid movement began. Their lawyers insisted on the absolute sovereignty of interpretation in religious matters and began the pursuit of other views. The resulting induced decline of intellectual cohesion of the Almoravids was a source of worry, as the empire was loosely organized with his powerful provincial rulers and the scholars of Islamic law constitute an important support for the ruler. Against this intellectual paralysis, Ibn Tumart, who founded the movement of the Almohad turned.
Although 'Ali ibn Yusuf was not a great military leader, he was able to maintain the existence of the Empire, and also keep the emerging since 1120 Almohad movement under control. Only after his death began under Tashfin ibn Ali ( 1143-1145 ), Ibrahim ibn Tashfin ( 1145 ) and Ishaq ibn Ali ( 1146-1147 ) of the rapid collapse of the Reich.
In addition to the construction of a new palace and a ( destroyed ) Mosque in Marrakesh are the Great Mosque of Tlemcen was substantially rebuilt under Ali. The Qaraouyin Mosque in Fes has been extended. Here, Andalusian influences were increasingly felt in the architecture. These are the only surviving tomb in Marrakech from almoravidischer time to recognize the 1120 finished Qubba Barudiyin.