Almoravids

Almoravids, Berber dynasty that ruled in Africa and Spain in the 11th and 12th centuries. Between 1053 and 1061, a large part of northwestern Africa was subjugated by the Muslim religious military brotherhood known as the hermits (Arabic al-murabit). Leadership of the movement passed in 1061 to Yusuf ibn Tashfin, a Berber chieftain who had previously conquered the region constituting present-day Morocco. In 1062 he assumed the title of king. After enlarging their domain in northwestern Africa, the Almoravids invaded Spain in 1086; during the next four years, they conquered the area between the Tajo (Tagus) and Ebro rivers. In 1147 the dynasty was overthrown by the Almohads, another Muslim reform movement.