Almoravid dynasty

The Almoravid dynasty was a Berber Muslim dynasty that arose from the Sanhaja tribes of the western Sahara, inspired by a movement of religious reform led by Abdallah ibn Yasin. Under Yusuf ibn Tashfin, the Almoravids conquered Morocco and founded the city of Marrakesh, and crossed to Spain, where they defeated Alfonso VI of Castile at the battle of Sagrajas and took over the Muslim taifa kingdoms of al-Andalus. At its height, the empire extended from the Senegal river to the Ebro in Spain. The dynasty's adherence to strict Maliki Islam was challenged by the rise of the Almohads, a new reforming movement from the Atlas mountains, who captured Marrakesh.

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