African Kingdoms

Adrar (Mauritanian Tribal State) (Africa)
c.AD 1050s? - 1932?

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The continent of Africa forms a vast collection of varying communities and cultures. North Africa is very different to sub-Saharan Africa, but Mauritania sits across the two boundaries. Located at the western end of the Sahara, it has absorbed a great deal of North African influence whilst also being deeply connected with West Africa by being situated at the north-western corner of this geographical divide.

The Mauritania region was converted to Islam in the ninth century, probably through contact with the powerful Aghlabids of Ifriqiyya, but the various tribes here were rarely united or powerful. An interlude of about a century in the typical in-fighting was the result of the rise of the native Almoravid empire. This united the entire north-western corner of Africa from AD 1061 onwards but it was overwhelmed by the rival Almohads in the mid-twelfth century.

The Adrar tribal confederation formed in what is now Mauritania during the eleventh century. Its rise as a tribal state occurred either immediately before that of the Almoravids or during their own rise, but details are hard to come by. It was located to the north-west of another poorly-recorded Mauritanian tribal state, that of Taganit.

The state's paramount chiefs were classed as emirs, meaning 'princes' in the Islamic empire's ranking categories of local rulers. Information about actual rulers are minimal and not especially detailed. Little is known about any point in the confederation's history or the lengths of rule of each of the emirs.

This state survived into a north-western corner of West Africa which had experienced regional boom and bust under the Almoravids between 1061-1147, but which had since lapsed into regional obscurity following the Almoravid eclipse by the Almohads after 1147.

Principal author(s): Page created: Page last updated:

(Information by Peter Kessler and the John De Cleene Archive, from The Cambridge Ancient History, John Boardman, N G L Hammond, D M Lewis, & M Ostwald (Eds), from The History of Islam (Vol 2), Akbar Shah Najeebabadi (Revised Edition), from The New Atlas of African History, G S P Freeman-Grenville (Rex Collins, London, 1991), from Times Atlas of World History (Maplewood, 1979), from Urban Africa; Histories in the Making (Africa's Urban Past), David M Anderson & Richard Rathbone (Eds), and from External Links: Saharan and trans-Saharan contacts and trade in the Roman era, Dr Caitlin R Green, and Encyclopaedia Britannica, and Mauritania (Rulers.org).)

A Berber of the Sanhaji tribe who has studied the Koran becomes a fiery, charismatic teacher. Abdullah ibn Yasin wants to change his fellow Berbers into 'proper' Muslims, ending their rather relaxed following of Islam's rites and teachings.

The city of Sijilmasa in southern Morocco was one of the very first Almoravid targets for attack and defeat in the building of their empire

His mission begins in the western Sahara, where he forges an alliance of local tribes and appoints himself their spiritual leader (potentially Adrar could be involved here). He plans to export his redefined brand of fundamental Islam to the other Berbers whom he considers to be heretics, and the only way to do that is through 'holy war' by the Almoravids.

fl c. 1820s?

Emir of Adrar?

fl c. 1830s?

Son. Emir of Adrar.

fl c. 1850s?

Relation. Emir of Adrar.

fl c. 1860s?

Brother? Emir of Adrar.

? - 1871

Son of Sidi. Emir of Adrar.

1871 - 1891

Son of Muhammad. Emir of Adrar.

1891 - 1899

Son. Emir of Adrar.

1899 - 1909

Emir of Adrar.

1905

The regional tribal confederations of Adrar and Trarza come under French control from 1900-1920 while the Taganit tribal confederation may also be French-dominated from 1905. Mauritania has already become a French civil territory (in 1904), part of French West Africa.

Despite the loss of Commandant Lamy, in 1900 the French managed to join up all of their West African possessions at the Battle of Kousséri, which took place on the banks of the River Chari, dividing modern Chad and Cameroon

1905 - 1918

The position of ruler of Taganit is vacant during this period. The likelihood is that the French colonial authorities suppress the state or refuse to allow a successor to be selected, at least until the end of the First World War forces changes to be made. Sidi Ahmad of Adrar quickly suffers the same fate.

1909 - 1913

Emir of Adrar. Removed by French?

? - 1932

Emir of Adrar for the second time.

1948?

The fate of Sidi Ahmad wuld Ahmad 'Ayda is unknown, as is that of the ruler of Taganit. Mauritania has already become a French colony in 1920, switching to a French overseas territory on 27 October 1946.

The post-Second World War era is a time of reforms within the French colonial system, leading to increasing internal autonomy and a move away from direct rule. This particular region remains an overseas territory until modern Mauritania achieves full independence in 1960.

Mauritania in 1979 signed an agreement with the so-called 'Polisario Front' regarding its terminated presence in Western Sahara