Barghawata

Barghawata Confederacy
744–1058
Barghawata Confederacy (blue)
Common languages	Berber (Lisan al-Gharbi)
Religion	Official : Islam-influenced Traditional Berber religion (adopted by 12 tribes) Other : Islam (Khariji)(adopted by 17 tribes)
Government	Monarchy Tribal confederacy (29 tribes)
King
• 744	Tarif al-Matghari
• 961	Abu Mansur Isa
Historical era	Middle Ages
• Established	744
• Disestablished	1058
Preceded by Succeeded by Umayyad Caliphate Almoravid dynasty

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The Barghawatas (also Barghwata or Berghouata) were a

Some historians believe that the term Barghawata is a phonetic deformation of the term Barbati, a nickname which Tarif carried. It is thought that he was born in the area of Barbate, near Cádiz in Spain.^[2] However, Jérôme Carcopino and other historians think the name is much older and the tribe is the same as that which the Romans called Baquates, who up until the 7th century lived near Volubilis.^[3]

History

Few details are known about Barghawata. Most of the historical sources are largely posterior to their rule and often present a contradictory and confused historical context. However, one tradition appears more interesting. It comes from

It is possible that the Barghawata had a Judeo-Berber background, though accounts of entire Berber tribes practicing Judaism appear later and are unreliable.^[7]: 167

After the conversion to Islam at the beginning of the 8th century and the Maysara uprising (739-742), the Barghawata Berbers formed their own state on the Atlantic coast between Safi and Salé.^{[citation needed]}

The Barghawata kingdom followed a syncretic religion inspired by

The Barghawata confederacy was made of 29 tribes. 12 of these tribes adopted the Barghawata religion while 17 adhered to Islam.[8]^{[unreliable source?]}

Barghawata religion (syncretic with Islam) tribes

Khariji Muslim tribes

Some constituent tribes, such as Branès, Matmata, Ifren and Trara, were fractions of much larger tribal groups, and only the Tamesna-based fractions joined the Barghawata Confederacy.

Barghawata kings

• Tarif al-Matghari
• Ṣāliḥ ibn Tarīf (744-?), who declared himself prophet^[9] in 744 and went away at the age of 47, promising to return.
• Ilyas ibn Salih (?792-842),^[10] who is said to have professed Islām publicly but Ṣāliḥ's religion secretly, and died in the 50th year of his reign.
• Yunus ibn Ilyas (?842-888), who made Ṣāliḥ's religion official and fought those who would not convert (killing 7770 people, according to Ibn Khaldun's sources, some at a place called Tamlukeft). Curiously enough, he is also said to have performed the Hajj. He died in the 44th year of his reign.
• Abu-Ghufayl Muhammad (?888-917), who may also have been called a prophet (according to a poem Ibn-Khaldun cites) and who had 44 wives and more sons. He died in the 29th year of his reign.
• Abu al-Ansar Abdullah (?917-961), buried at Ameslakht. He died in the 44th year of his reign.
• Abu Mansur Isa (?961-?), who was 22 when he became king.

See also

• Kingdom of Nekor
• Maghrawa
• Banu Ifran

References

Citations