Uthman (Hafsid)
Encyclopedia
Uthman was an Hafsid Caliph
of Ifriqiya
. His rule marked the zenith of the Hafsid kingdom.
He successfully brought on his grandfather Abd al-Aziz II's politics but in the long run he could avoid neither power struggles inside the Hafsid family nor the revolt of the southern Arab tribes.
Initially he choose his provincial governors among freed slaves but when they attempted to gain some degree of independence he replaced them with members of his own family. Although some of the latter would later break out in open rebellion, yet he was able to keep the Abdalwadid state
of Tlemcen
under his control and also to extend Hafsid sphere of influence over the Kingdom of Fez for a brief period of time, thus making Ifriqiya the most powerful state of the Maghreb
.
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
of Ifriqiya
Ifriqiya
In medieval history, Ifriqiya or Ifriqiyah was the area comprising the coastal regions of what are today western Libya, Tunisia, and eastern Algeria. This area included what had been the Roman province of Africa, whose name it inherited....
. His rule marked the zenith of the Hafsid kingdom.
He successfully brought on his grandfather Abd al-Aziz II's politics but in the long run he could avoid neither power struggles inside the Hafsid family nor the revolt of the southern Arab tribes.
Initially he choose his provincial governors among freed slaves but when they attempted to gain some degree of independence he replaced them with members of his own family. Although some of the latter would later break out in open rebellion, yet he was able to keep the Abdalwadid state
Abdalwadid
Zayyanids or Abd al-Wadids , or Banu Zayan, is the name of a Berber zenata dynasty in North Africa. The Zayyanids, whose capital was Tlemcen existed from 1235 to 1556...
of Tlemcen
Tlemcen
Tlemcen is a town in Northwestern Algeria, and the capital of the province of the same name. It is located inland in the center of a region known for its olive plantations and vineyards...
under his control and also to extend Hafsid sphere of influence over the Kingdom of Fez for a brief period of time, thus making Ifriqiya the most powerful state of the Maghreb
Maghreb
The Maghreb is the region of Northwest Africa, west of Egypt. It includes five countries: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Mauritania and the disputed territory of Western Sahara...
.