Editing Fatimid Caliphate (section)

=== Consolidation and western rivalry ===
For a large part of the tenth century the Fatimids also engaged in a rivalry with the [[Caliphate of Córdoba|Umayyads of Cordoba]]—who ruled [[Al-Andalus]] and were hostile to the Fatimids' pretensions—in an effort to establish domination over the western Maghreb.{{sfn|Canard|1965|p=852}} In 911, [[Tahert]], which had been briefly captured by Abu Abdallah al-Shi'i in 909, had to be retaken by the Fatimid general Masala ibn Habus of the [[Miknasa]] tribe.{{sfn|Canard|1965|pp=852–53}} The first Fatimid expeditions to what is now northern Morocco occurred in 917 and 921 and were primarily aimed at the [[Emirate of Nekor|Principality of Nakur]], which they subjugated on both occasions. Fez and Sijilmasa were also captured in 921.<!--There is a bit of inconsistency among authors in the exact dates of Fez being captured. Canard (1965) says Fez was captured in 920 and Sijilmasa in 921 (presumably on the same expedition). Abun-Nasr (1987, p. 63) says that in 917 Fez was "besieged" and the Idrisid ruler forced to recognize the Fatimids, before Masala returned to "depose" the Idrisid in 921. Halm (1996, p. 267) says Fez was "occupied for the first time" in 921. Perhaps Fez was besieged but not occupied in 917, or perhaps there is disagreement among the authors. There seems to be at least some agreement on 920/921.--> These two expeditions were led by Masala ibn Habus, who had been made governor of [[Tiaret|Tahert]].{{Sfn|Halm|1996|pp=266–67|p=}}{{sfn|Canard|1965|pp=852–53}} Thereafter, the weakened [[Idrisid dynasty|Idrisids]] and various local [[Zenata]] and [[Sanhaja]] leaders acted as proxies whose formal allegiances oscillated between the Umayyads or the Fatimids depending on the circumstances.<ref name=":0522">{{Cite book |last=Eustache |first=D. |title=Encyclopaedia of Islam|edition=2nd |publisher=Brill |year=2012 |editor-last=Bearman |editor-first=P. |chapter=Idrīsids |editor-last2=Bianquis |editor-first2=Th. |editor-last3=Bosworth |editor-first3=C.E. |editor-last4=van Donzel |editor-first4=E. |editor-last5=Heinrichs |editor-first5=W.P.}}</ref>{{Sfn|Abun-Nasr|1987|pp=63–64, 74–75}} As a result of the political instability in the western Maghreb, effective Fatimid control did not extend much beyond the former territory of the Aghlabids.{{Sfn|Abun-Nasr|1987|p=64}} Masala's successor, [[Musa ibn Abi'l-Afiya]], captured Fez from the Idrisids again, but in 932 defected to the Umayyads, taking the western Maghreb with him.{{sfn|Canard|1965|p=853}} The Umayyads gained the upper hand again in northern Morocco during the 950s, until the Fatimid general [[Jawhar (general)|Jawhar]], on behalf of Caliph [[Al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah]], led another major [[Fatimid Expedition to Morocco|expedition to Morocco]] in 958 and spent two years subjugating most of northern Morocco.{{Sfn|Abun-Nasr|1987|p=64}} He was accompanied by [[Ziri ibn Manad]], the leader of the [[Zirid dynasty|Zirids]]. Jawhar took Sijilmasa in September or October 958 and then, with the help of Ziri, his forces took Fez in November 959. He was unable, however, to dislodge the Umayyad garrisons in [[Salé|Sala]], [[Ceuta|Sebta]] (present-day Ceuta) and [[Tangier]], and this marked the only time that the Fatimid army was present at the [[Strait of Gibraltar]].{{Sfn|Halm|1996|pp=397–99}} Jawhar and Ziri returned to al-Mansuriyya in 960. The subjugated parts of Morocco, including Fez and Sijilmasa, were left under the control of local vassals while most of the central Maghreb (Algeria), including Tahert, was given to Ziri ibn Manad to govern on the caliph's behalf.{{Sfn|Halm|1996|pp=399, 401}}

All this warfare in the Maghreb and Sicily necessitated the maintenance of a strong army, and a [[Fatimid navy|capable fleet]] as well.{{sfn|Canard|1965|p=852}} Nevertheless, by the time of al-Mahdi's death in 934, the Fatimid Caliphate "had become a great power in the Mediterranean".{{sfn|Halm|2014}} The reign of the second Fatimid imam-caliph, al-Qa'im, was dominated by the Kharijite rebellion of [[Abu Yazid]]. Starting in 943/4 among the [[Zenata]] Berbers, the uprising spread through Ifriqiya, taking Kairouan and blockading al-Qa'im at al-Mahdiyya, which was besieged in January–September 945. Al-Qa'im died during the siege, but this was kept secret by his son and successor, Isma'il, until he had defeated Abu Yazid; he then announced his father's death and proclaimed himself imam and caliph as [[al-Mansur bi-Nasr Allah|al-Mansur]].{{sfn|Canard|1965|p=852}}{{sfn|Halm|2014}} While al-Mansur was campaigning to suppress the last remnants of the revolt, a new palace city was being constructed for him south of Kairouan. Construction began around 946 and it was only fully completed under al-Mansur's son and successor, al-Mu'izz.<ref name=":7">{{Cite journal |last1=Barrucand |first1=Marianne |last2=Rammah |first2=Mourad |date=2009 |title=Sabra Al-Mansuriyya And Her Neighbors During The First Half Of The Eleventh Century: Investigations Into Stucco Decoration |journal=Muqarnas |volume=26 |pages=349–76|doi=10.1163/22118993-90000154 |jstor=27811145 |doi-access=free }}</ref> It was named [[Mansouria, Tunisia|al-Mansuriyya]] (also known as Sabra al-Mansuriyya) and became the new seat of the caliphate.{{sfn|Halm|2014}}<ref name=":7" />