Abd al-Haqq I

Abu Muhammad Abd al-Haqq I (1157 – 1217) was the first leader of the Marinid dynasty of the Maghreb. He was descended from a noble family from the region, where he was born.

History The "Banu Marin" (Marinids) were a semi-nomadic Zenata Berber tribe from the Zab region, who in the 12th century were practising transhumance in the region between Figuig and the Moulouya River in what is now eastern Morocco. Unlike many Zenata tribes in the region, they did not join the Almohads as they conquered the Maghrib. the Marinids took advantage of the situation and entered in force into the cultivated lands of north-eastern Morocco, under the leadership of Abd al-Haqq. They progressively occupied land as far as the Rif region, forcing settlements and towns to pay taxes to them. In 1217 an Almohad army, joined by the Banu Riyah, an Arab tribe, and a dissident Marinid clan, defeated Abd al-Haqq in battle. Abd al-Haqq was killed and the Marinids were repelled from the region for a time. Leadership of the Marinids passed on to Abd al-Haqq's son, Uthman (Uthman I).