Editing History of Algeria (section)

==== Apogee in Ifriqiya ====
The Zirid period of Ifriqiya is considered a high point in its history, with agriculture, industry, trade and learning, both religious and secular, all flourishing, especially in their capital, [[Qayrawan]] (Kairouan).<ref name="locfatamids2">{{cite encyclopedia |last=Brill |first=E.J. |year=1987 |title=Fatamids |encyclopedia=Libya: Encyclopedia of Islam |publisher=Library of Congress |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wpM3AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA852 |access-date=5 March 2011 |isbn=9004082654}}</ref> The early reign of [[al-Mu'izz ibn Badis]] (r. 1016–1062) was particularly prosperous and marked the height of their power in Ifriqiya.{{Sfn|Tibi|2002|p={{page needed|date=April 2023}}}} In the eleventh century, when the question of Berber origin became a concern, the dynasty of al-Mu'izz started, as part of the Zirids' propaganda, to emphasize its supposed links to the [[Himyarite Kingdom|Himyarite kings]] as a title to nobility, a theme that was taken the by court historians of the period.{{sfn|Baadj|2015|p=12}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Brett |first=Michael |title=The Fatimids and Egypt |date=2019-05-03 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c1KWDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT132 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-429-76474-5 |language=en}}</ref> Management of the area by later Zirid rulers was neglectful as the agricultural economy declined, prompting an increase in banditry among the rural population.<ref name="locfatamids2" /> The relationship between the Zirids their Fatimid overlords varied - in 1016 thousands of [[Shiites]] died in rebellions in Ifriqiya, and the Fatimids encouraged the defection of Tripolitania from the Zirids, but nevertheless the relationship remained close. In 1049 the Zirids broke away completely by adopting Sunni Islam and recognizing the Abbasids of [[Baghdad]] as rightful Caliphs, a move which was popular with the urban [[Arabs]] of Kairouan.<ref name="ihr">Idris H. Roger, L'invasion hilālienne et ses conséquences, in : Cahiers de civilisation médiévale (43), July–September 1968, pp.353-369. [http://www.persee.fr/web/revues/home/prescript/article/ccmed_0007-9731_1968_num_11_43_1452]</ref><ref name="locfatamids">{{cite web |last=Berry |first=LaVerle |title=Fatamids |url=http://countrystudies.us/libya/10.htm |access-date=5 March 2011 |work=Libya: A Country Study |publisher=Library of Congress}}</ref>

In [[Sicily]] the [[Kalbids]] continued to govern on behalf of the Fatimids but the island descended into political disarray during the 11th century,<ref name="Rizzitano-2007"/> inciting the Zirids to intervene on the island. In 1025 (or 1021<ref name="Granara-2019">{{Cite book |last=Granara |first=William |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J2idDwAAQBAJ&dq=zirids+sicily+1036&pg=PA32 |title=Narrating Muslim Sicily: War and Peace in the Medieval Mediterranean World |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |year=2019 |isbn=978-1-78673-613-0 |pages=32–33 |language=en}}</ref>), al-Mu'izz ibn Badis sent a fleet of 400 ships to the island in response to the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantines]] reconquering [[Calabria]] (in southern Italy) from the Muslims, but the fleet was lost in a powerful storm off the coast of [[Pantelleria]].{{sfn|Tibi|2002|p={{page needed|date=April 2023}}}}<ref name="Granara-2019" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Granara |first=William |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BgEMEAAAQBAJ&dq=zirid+sicily+storm&pg=PT6 |title=Ibn Hamdis the Sicilian: Eulogist for a Falling Homeland |publisher=Simon and Schuster |year=201 |isbn=978-1-78607-847-6 |language=en}}</ref> In 1036, the Muslim population of the island request aid from al-Mu'izz to overthrow the Kalbid emir Ahmad ibn Yusuf al-Akhal, whose rule they considered flawed and unjust.<ref name="Rizzitano-2007" /> The request also contained a pledge to recognize al-Mu'izz as their ruler.<ref name="Granara-2019" /> Al-Mu'izz, eager to expand his influence after the fragmentation of Zirid North Africa, accepted and sent his son, 'Abdallah, to the island with a large army.<ref name="Granara-2019" /><ref name="Rizzitano-2007" />{{Sfn|Brett|2017|p=174-175}} Al-Akhal, who had been in negotiations with the Byzantines, requested help from them. A Byzantine army intervened and defeated the Zirid army on the island, but it then withdrew to Calabria, allowing 'Abdallah to finish off al-Akhal.<ref name="Rizzitano-2007" /> Al-Akhal was besieged in [[Palermo]] and killed in 1038.<ref name="Granara-2019" /><ref name="Rizzitano-2007" /><ref name="Bosworth-2004b" /> 'Abdallah was subsequently forced to withdraw from the island, either due to the ever-divided Sicilians turning against him or due to another Byzantine invasion in 1038, led by [[George Maniakes]].{{Sfn|Brett|2017|p=174-175}}<ref name="Granara-2019" /> Another Kalbid amir, al-Hasan al-Samsam, was elected to govern Sicily, but Muslim rule there disintegrated into various petty factions leading up to the [[Norman conquest of southern Italy|Norman conquest]] of the island in the second half of the 11th century.{{Sfn|Brett|2017|p=175}}<ref name="Rizzitano-2007" /><ref name="Granara-2019" />