Editing Fatimid dynasty (section)

===Imperial expansion===
Given the semi-divine status they claimed as the rightful imams of Islam, the Fatimids' ambitions were not limited to Ifriqiya. The Fatimid caliphs aimed to overthrow not only the rival Muslim monarchs—the Abbasids of Baghdad and the [[Umayyad dynasty|Umayyads]] of [[Caliphate of Cordoba|Cordoba]]—but also the [[Byzantine Empire]], claiming a divine right to universal sovereignty.{{sfn|Canard|1942–1947}}

Fatimid power quickly expanded across the sea to [[Sicily]], which had been [[Muslim conquest of Sicily|conquered]] by the Aghlabids from the Byzantines,{{sfn|Halm|2014}} but Fatimid rule was established there only after a series of revolts by the local Muslims, who at times declared for the Abbasids, were suppressed.{{sfn|Canard|1965|p=853}}{{sfn|Daftary|2007|pp=143–144}} Sicily was also important as a battleground against the Byzantines, which among other things allowed the Fatimids to present themselves as champions of Islam, engaged in [[jihad|holy war]] against the infidels. In practice, relations were often more pragmatic, and warfare alternated with periods of truce.{{sfn|Canard|1965|p=853}}{{sfn|Lev|1995|pp=191–192}} From 948 on, a series of hereditary governors, the [[Kalbid dynasty]], governed Sicily on the Fatimids' behalf.{{sfn|Canard|1965|p=853}}

The Fatimids also expanded west to the rest of the Maghreb, where [[Fez, Morocco|Fez]] and Sijilmasa were captured in 920–921, although these conquests were difficult to hold, and brought the Fatimids into conflict with the Umayyads of Cordoba.{{sfn|Canard|1965|pp=852–853}}{{sfn|Daftary|2007|p=142}} In an attempt to supplant the Abbasids, al-Mahdi's son and heir, al-Qa'im bi-Amr Allah, led campaigns eastward to capture Egypt in [[Fatimid invasion of Egypt (914–915)|914]] and [[Fatimid invasion of Egypt (919–921)|919]]. Both endeavours failed, leaving only the [[Cyrenaica]] in Fatimid hands.{{sfn|Halm|2014}}{{sfn|Daftary|2007|p=142}}