50                                     MURABTI   PERIOD             [Eleventh Century,

dynasty, originally nomads of the Sahara. Although
Sanhaja Berbers^—similar in stock to the Tuareks, who
still inhabit parts of South Algeria, they are sometimes
described erroneously as Arabs, on account of their mode
of living. From their desert habit of wearing veils when
riding-, they were called by the Arabs Mulath-

The Lamt-flna           ,                             -i     i n i                                    n      t           a ~

o-r Murabtis.        thamin or "veiled,  but more generally Lamtuna,
from the lamta or buffalo skins ^ of which their
shields were made.

To them the disordered state of Morocco and its
sub-divisions rendered it a prey too tempting to resist,
and the eleventh century was just half through when they
commenced its conquest. Tafilalt, the portion nearest to
1055-1056. them, was the first to be subdued, and next
year Sus was at their feet. Then they crossed the Atlas,
and Aghmat, held at that time by the Beni Yifran of
1057-1058. Tadla,^ fell before them. The surrounding
Masmuda Berbers, then ruled by the Maghrawa, were
conquered next year, as ^ also Tadla. Abu Bakr, the
Lamtuna leader, espoused the defeated king's widow,
Zainab the magician, so called on account of her wonderful
counsel.

Thus far all had gone well, but with the news that the

Sahara  was   in   revolt   came   the   need   of   the   leader's

presence   at   home.     Yusef   bin   Tashfin,   his

Yusef toin Tashfin.            .                 ^   r   -                           i           i

cousin, was left in command, and, moreover, m
possession of Zainab, whom Abu Bakr declared

became known as Murabtin (plural of Murabit, "bound," i,e., in a religious
Order, and therefore attached to its hermitage or ribat). When duly prepared
they proclaimed a jehad against their irreligious kinsmen, promising, if need
were, to slay their own fathers. At the point of the sword large numbers
were forced to join them, and the Lamtuna made Yahya their king. Having
conquered the western Sddan and the adjoining Sahara, they turned their
steps towards Morocco.

1 Ra6p el Kartas, p. 162; Ibn Khaldun, vol. ii, p. 67.

2 Marmol, vol. i., p. 52.     3 Ibn KhaldOn, vol ii., p. 71.