The Role of the Ganiya Family in the Political-Military Struggle against Al-Mowahdeen State in Maghrib and Andalusia

This paper talks about the rise of Banu Ghanyah family which had been established by Abu-Zakaryah Yahyah Bin Ali Bin Ghanyah Al-Sahrawi. He is one of Masufa tribe, the second tribe of the Great Sunhajyah after the tribe of lamtuna in East Al-Geria in Andalusia (Island of Mayûrka, Monorka and Yabisa) during the period (520-633 H / 1126 – 1236 A.D.) His family reigned and led the revolt against Al-Mowahdeen for one century and Banu Ghanyah polyed a significant political and mili-tary role in Moghrib and Andalusia by allying with the Arabs of Bani Hilal and Al-Ghaz of Egypt once and with the Christians against the Mowhadeen once again. The most dangerous revolt made by them against Al-Mowahdeen was invading Africa and getting control over its cities one after the other and finally fell upon their hands. The controlled the cities of Bajayah, Kafsa, Kabs Casantina and the lands of Al-Jareed. They stayed there until they had been dismis-sed by the Caliph Yakub Al-Mansur (580-095H/1184–1199A.D). Al-Mowahdeen recognized non of them but during the reign of the Caliph Mowohdeened Al-Nasir (595-610H/1199–1213A.D) when he took over them inside their country in Andalusia the Eastern Is-lands in 604H/1207A.D. They kept on this position trying to make revolts until the last leader of them known Yahyah Bin Eshaq Bin Ghanyah in 633H/1236A.D. and by his death the role of Banu Ghan-yah ended with their family in which they spent most of their lives by severe battles with Al-Mowadeen.