Abu Hafs Umar I

Abu Hafs Umar bin Yahya (also known as Al-Mustansir II) was the Hafsid caliph of Ifriqiya (1284–1295).

After restoring Hafsid rule interrupted by the usurper Ibn Abi Umara (1283–1284), Abu Hafs Umar sought to rebuild the state in the face of invasions and challenges to his authority. He was however unable to prevent the division of Hafsid territories. During the period when the Hafsids had been driven out of Tunis by Ibn Abi Umara, Zakariyya, a nephew of Abu Hafs Umar I, conquered Bejaïa with the support of local tribes and later also gained control of Constantine. In 1285 Zakariyya also attacked Tunis and Tripoli. Although this attack was neutralized by an alliance between Abu Hafs Umar I and the Zayyanids of Tlemcen, Constantine and Bejaïa became independent of the rule of from Tunis. Abu Hafs Umar I died in 1295.

Early life (to 1284) Abu Hafs Umar was the son of Abu Zakariya Yahya and a slave named Zabya, and younger half-brother of Abu Ishaq Ibrahim I. He was described by the chroniclers as being generous, prudent and pious. Surviving the battle of Marmājanna in June 1283 where most of his male relatives were killed by the usurper Ibn Abi Umara, Abu Hafs Umar took refuge in the fortress of Kalaat es Senam nearby. Tribal leaders of the Banu Sulaym Bedouin came to pledge loyalty to him, and he advanced on Tunis. Abu Hafs Umar undertook a major reconstruction of the Great Mosque of Kairouan.

He tried above all to stimulate the economy by promoting trade but he was not able to do so without interruption. In 1288 the Almohad Prince Abu Dabbus landed in Tripolitania with the support of Aragon and claimed rule in Ifriqiya. Although he achieved some successes, he was ultimately unsuccessful, although Aragon used the conflict to occupy Djerba and the Kerkennah Islands.

Abu Hafs Umar was unable to prevent the division of the empire into two dynasties. During the usurpation of Ibn Abi Umara, Abu Zakariyya, son of his predecessor Abu Ishaq Ibrahim I, had taken Béjaïa with tribal support and had later also gained control over Constantine. In 1285 there was a break with Abu Hafs Umar I when Zakariyya attacked Tunis and Tripoli. Although this attack was neutralized by an alliance with the Abdalwadids of Tlemcen, Béjaïa became independent from the rulers in Tunis.

Abu Hafs Umar I died in 1295. He was succeeded in Tunis by Abu Asida Muhammad II (1295–1309), a son of Yahya II Al-Wathiq.