Editing Almoravid dynasty (section)

=== Expansion into al-Andalus ===
Initially, it appears Ibn Tashfin had little interest in involving the Almoravids in the politics of al-Andalus (the Muslim territories on the Iberian Peninsula).{{Sfn|Bennison|2016|pp=40, 42}} After the collapse of the [[Caliphate of Córdoba]] in the early 11th century, al-Andalus had split into small kingdoms or city-states known as the ''[[Taifa]]s''. These states constantly fought with each other but were unable to raise large armies of their own, so they became reliant instead on the [[Reconquista#Northern Christian realms|Christian kingdoms of the north]] for military support. This support was secured through the regular payment of ''[[parias]]'' (tributes) to the Christian kings, but the payments became a fiscal burden that drained the treasuries of these local rulers. In turn, the ''Taifa'' rulers burdened their subjects with increased taxation, including taxes and tariffs that were not considered legal under Islamic law. As the payments of tribute began to falter, the Christian kingdoms resorted to punitive raids and eventually to conquest. The ''Taifa'' kings were unwilling or unable to unite to counter this threat, and even the most powerful ''Taifa'' kingdom, [[Taifa of Seville|Seville]], was unable to resist Christian advances.{{Sfn|Kennedy|1996|pp=145–153, 166–170}}{{Sfn|Bennison|2016|p=41}}

After the Almoravid capture of Ceuta (1083) on the southern shore of the Strait of Gibraltar, the way was now open for Ibn Tashfin to intervene in al-Andalus. It was in this same year that [[Alfonso VI of León and Castile|Alfonso VI]], king of [[Kingdom of Castile|Castile]] and [[Kingdom of León|León]], led a military campaign into southern al-Andalus to punish al-Mu'tamid of Seville for failing to pay him tribute. His expedition penetrated all the way to [[Tarifa]], the southernmost point of the Iberian Peninsula. A couple of years later, in May 1085, he seized control of [[Toledo, Spain|Toledo]], previously one of the most powerful city-states in al-Andalus. Soon after, he also began a siege of [[Zaragoza]].{{Sfn|Kennedy|1996|p=161}} These dramatic events forced the ''Taifa'' kings to finally consider seeking an external intervention by the Almoravids.{{Sfn|Kennedy|1996|p=162}}{{Sfn|Bennison|2016|p=43}} According to the most detailed Arabic source, it was al-Mu'tamid, the ruler of Seville, who convened a meeting with his neighbours, al-Mutawwakil of [[Taifa of Badajoz|Badajoz]] and [[Abdallah ibn Buluggin]] of [[Taifa of Granada|Granada]], where they agreed to send an embassy to Ibn Tashfin to appeal for his assistance.{{Sfn|Kennedy|1996|p=162}} The ''Taifa'' kings were aware of the risks that came with an Almoravid intervention but considered it the best choice among their bad options. Al-Mu'tamid is said to have remarked bitterly: "Better to pasture camels than to be a swineherd"—meaning that it was better to submit to another Muslim ruler than to end up as subjects of a Christian king.{{Sfn|Kennedy|1996|p=162}}{{Sfn|Bennison|2016|p=43}}

As a condition for his assistance, Ibn Tashfin demanded that [[Algeciras]] (a city on the northern shore of the Strait of Gibraltar, across from Ceuta) be surrendered to him so he could use it as a base for his troops. Al-Mu'tamid agreed. Ibn Tashfin, wary of the hesitation of the ''Taifa'' kings, immediately sent an advance force of 500 troops across the strait to take control of Algeciras. They did so in July 1086 without encountering resistance. The rest of the Almoravid army, numbering around 12,000, soon followed.{{Sfn|Kennedy|1996|p=162}} Ibn Tashfin and his army then marched to Seville, where they met up with the forces of al-Mu'tamid, al-Mutawwakil, and Abdallah ibn Buluggin. Alfonso VI, hearing of this development, lifted his siege of Zaragoza and marched south to confront them. The two sides met at a place north of Badajoz, called Zallaqa in Arabic sources and Sagrajas in Christian sources. In the [[Battle of Sagrajas]] (or Battle of Zallaqa), on 23 October 1086, Alfonso was soundly defeated and forced to retreat north in disorder. Al-Mu'tamid recommended that they press their advantage, but Ibn Tashfin did not pursue the Christian army further, returning instead to Seville and then to North Africa. It is possible he was unwilling to be away from his home base for too long or that the death of his eldest son, Sir, encouraged him to return.{{Sfn|Kennedy|1996|p=|pp=162–163}}{{Sfn|Bennison|2016|p=|pp=43–44}}

After Ibn Tashfin's departure, Alfonso VI quickly resumed his pressure on the ''Taifa'' kings and forced them to send tribute payments again. He captured the fortress of [[Aledo, Spain|Aledo]], cutting off eastern al-Andalus from the other Muslim kingdoms. Meanwhile, Ibn Rashiq, the ruler of [[Murcia]], was embroiled in a rivalry with al-Mu'tamid of Seville. As a result, this time it was the elites or notables ({{Transliteration|ar|wujūh}}) of al-Andalus who now called for help from the Almoravids, rather than the kings.{{Sfn|Kennedy|1996|p=163}} In May–June 1088, Ibn Tashfin landed at Algeciras with another army, soon joined by al-Mu'tamid of Seville, by Abdallah ibn Buluggin of Granada, and by other troops sent by Ibn Sumadih of [[Almería]] and Ibn Rashiq of Murcia. They then set out to retake Aledo. The siege, however, was undermined by rivalries and disunity among the ''Taifa'' kings. News eventually reached the Muslims that Alfonso VI was bringing an army to help the Castilian garrison. In November 1088, Ibn Tashfin lifted the siege and returned to North Africa again, having achieved nothing.{{Sfn|Kennedy|1996|p=|pp=163–164}} Alfonso VI sent his trusted commander, [[Álvar Fáñez|Alvar Fañez]], to pressure the ''Taifa'' kings again. He succeeded in forcing Abdallah ibn Buluggin to resume tribute payments and began to pressure al-Mu'tamid in turn.{{Sfn|Kennedy|1996|p=164}}

In 1090, Ibn Tashfin returned to al-Andalus yet again, but by this point he seemed to have given up on the ''Taifa'' kings and now intended to take direct control of the region.{{Sfn|Kennedy|1996|p=164}}{{Sfn|Bennison|2016|p=45}} The Almoravid cause benefited from the support of the [[Maliki school|Maliki]] {{Transliteration|ar|fuqahā}} ([[Islamic jurists]]) in Al-Andalus, who extolled the Almoravid devotion to ''[[jihad]]'' while criticizing the ''Taifa'' kings as impious, self-indulgent, and thus illegitimate.{{Sfn|Kennedy|1996|p=164}}{{Sfn|Bennison|2016|p=|pp=45, 47}} In September 1090, Ibn Tashfin forced Granada to surrender to him and sent Abdallah ibn Buluggin into exile in Aghmat. He then returned to North Africa again, but this time he left his nephew, Sir ibn Abu Bakr, in charge of Almoravid forces in al-Andalus. Al-Mu'tamid, seeking to salvage his position, resorted to striking an alliance with Alfonso VI, which further undermined his own popular support.{{Sfn|Kennedy|1996|p=164}} In early 1091, the Almoravids took control of Cordoba and turned towards Seville, defeating a Castilian force led Alvar Fañez that came to help al-Mu'tamid. In September 1091, al-Mu'tamid surrendered Seville to the Almoravids and was exiled to Aghmat.{{Sfn|Kennedy|1996|p=164}} In late 1091, the Almoravids captured Almería.{{Sfn|Kennedy|1996|p=164}} In late 1091 or January 1092, Ibn Aisha,<!--Messier 2010 names him "Da'ud ibn Aisha" while Bennison 1996 names him "Muhammad ibn Aisha". Some other sources simply refer to him as "Ibn Aisha".--> one of Ibn Tashfin's sons, seized control of Murcia.{{Sfn|Messier|2010|p=112}}