The Banu Ifran (Arabic: بنو يفرن, Banu Yafran) or Ifranids,^[1] were a Zenata Berber tribe prominent in the history of pre-Islamic and early Islamic North Africa. In the 8th century, they established a kingdom in the central Maghreb, with Tlemcen as its capital.

Prior to the 8th century, the Banu Ifran resisted or revolted against foreign occupiers—Romans, Vandals, and Byzantines—of their territory in Africa. In the seventh century, they sided with Kahina in her resistance against the Muslim Umayyad invaders. In the eighth century they mobilized around the Sufri dogma, revolting against the Arab Umayyads and Abbasids.

In the 10th century they founded a dynasty opposed to the Fatimids, the Zirids, the Umayyads, the Hammadids and the Maghraoua. The Banu Ifran were defeated by the Almoravids and the invading Arabs (the Banu Hilal and the Banu Sulaym)^[2] at the end of the 11th century. The Ifranid dynasty^[3] was recognized as the only dynasty that defended the indigenous people of the Maghreb, by the Romans referred to as the Africani.^[4] In 11th century Iberia, the Ifranids founded a Taifa of Ronda in 1039^[5] at Ronda in Andalusia and governed from Cordoba for several centuries.^[6]

Etymology

According to Ibn Khaldun, the Banu Ifran are named after an ancestor, Ifri, whose name in Berber languages meant "cavern".^[1]

History

Early history

The oldest mentions concerning the Banu Ifran situate the bulk of their people in the western region of Mauretania Caesariensis.^[7] The Banu Ifran were one of the four major tribes of the Zenata or Gaetulia^[8] confederation in the Aurès Mountains , and were known as expert cavalrymen. According to Ibn Khaldun, "Ifrinides" or "Ait Ifren" successfully resisted Romans, Vandals and Byzantines who sought to occupy North Africa before the arrival of the Muslim armies. According to Corippus in his Iohannis,^[9] during the reign of Justinian I between 547 and 550, the Banu Ifran challenged the Byzantine armies under John Troglita to war.^[10][11][12]

At the time of the Arab-Muslim conquests, they were located in the region of Yafran in Tripolitania (present-day Libya). The conquests most likely caused them to move from there to the Aurès region, and an Abbasid invasion of Ifriqiya in 761 likely made them move further into what is now north-western Algeria.^[13] Their chief Abu Qurra founded the city of Tlemcen in this region in 765 (over the site of the former Roman city of Pomaria) and established an emirate based here.^[1][13]

In the 10th century the Ifranids were enemies with the Fatimid Caliphate, aligning themselves with the Maghrawa tribe and the Umayyad Caliphate of Córdoba, although they themselves became Kharijites. Led by Abu Yazid, they surged east and attacked Kairouan in 945. Another leader, Yala ibn Mohammed captured Oran and constructed a new capital, Ifgan, near Mascara. Under the leadership of their able general Jawhar, who killed Ya'la, in battle in 954,^[14] the Fatimids struck back and destroyed Ifgan, and for some time afterward the Banu Ifran reverted to being scattered nomads in perpetual competition with their Sanhaja neighbours. Some settled in regions of Spain, such as Málaga. Others, led by Hammama, managed to gain control of the Moroccan province of Tadla. Later, led by Abu al-Kamāl, they established a new capital at Salé on the Atlantic coast, though this brought them into conflict with the Barghawata tribes on the seaboard.^{[citation needed]} The Banu Ifran had also founded Tadla and Sale where Tamim ibn Ziri built the Great Mosque of Sale.^[15][16][17]

Banu Ifran in the Maghreb al-Aqsa

During the 11th century, the Banu Ifran contested with the Maghrawa tribe for the control of the Maghreb al-Aqsa (present-day Morocco) after the fall of the Idrisid dynasty. Ya'la's son Yaddū took Fes by surprise in January 993 and held it for some months until the Maghrawa ruler Ziri ibn Atiyya returned from Spain and reconquered the region.

In May or June 1033, Fes was recaptured by Ya'la's grandson Tamīm. Fanatically devoted to religion, he began a persecution of the Jews,^[18] and is said to have killed 6000 of their men while confiscating their wealth and women, but Ibn Khaldun says only persecution without killing.^[19] It was described to have been a bloodbath and the women were reduced to slavery while the men were massacred.^[20][21] Sometime in the period 1038–1040 the Maghrawa tribe retook Fes, forcing Tamīm to flee to Salé.

Soon after that time, the Almoravids began their rise to power and effectively conquered both the Banu Ifran and their brother-rivals the Maghrawa.

Banu Ifran in Al-Andalus

The Banu Ifran were influential in al-Andalus (present-day Spain) in the 11th century AD: the Ifran house of Corra ruled the Andalusian city of Ronda. Yeddas was the military leader of the Berber troops who were at war against the Christian king and El Mehdi. Abu Nour or Nour of the house of Corra became lord of Ronda and then Seville in Andalusia from 1023 to 1039 and from 1039 to 1054. The son of Nour bin Badis Hallal ruled Ronda from 1054 to 1057, and Abu Nacer from 1057 to 1065.^{[22][better source needed]}

Religion

Before Islam

Among the Ifran, animism was the principal spiritual philosophy. Ifri was also the name of a Berber deity, and their name may have an origin in their beliefs.^[23] Ifru rites symbolized in caves were held to gain favor or protection for merchants and traders. The myth of this protection is befittingly depicted on Roman coins.^[24][25]

Ifru was regarded as a sun goddess, cave goddess and protector of the home.^[26][27] Ifru or Ifran was regarded as a Berber version of Vesta.

Dehia, usually referred to as The Kahina was the Dejrawa Berber queen, prophetess, and leader of the non-Muslim response to the advancing Arab armies. Some historians claim Kahina was Christian,^[28] or a follower of the Judaic faith,^[29][30][31] though few of the Ifran were Christians, even after more than half a millennium of Christianity among the urban populations and the more sedentary tribes. Ibn Khaldun simply states that the Ifran were Berbers, and says nothing of their religion before the advent of Islam.

During Islam

The Banu Ifran were opposed to the Sunnis of the Arab armies. They eventually converted, but joined the Kharidjite movement within Islam. Ibn Khaldun claimed that the "Zenata people say they are Muslims but they still oppose the Arab army".^[32][33] After 711, the Berbers were systematically converted to Islam and many became devout members of the faith.