Draft:Idris II
| Name | Abu al-Qasim, Idris ibn Idris I ibn Abdullah ibn Hasan al-Muthanna ibn Hasan al-Sibt ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib |
|---|---|
| Other names | Idris II or Idris al-Asghar |
| Father's name | Idris |
| Born | 177 AH |
| Died | 213 AH |
| Activities | Second king of the Idrisid dynasty of Morocco |
Idris II was one of the prominent figures of the Al Idris dynasty and the second king of the Idrisid dynasty, who succeeded in bringing the land of Maghreb under his rule. He ultimately died in 213 AH at the age of 36.
Al Idris
The Al Idris was a Shia sect dynasty, descended from Idris ibn Abdullah, the grandson of Hasan ibn Ali (peace be upon him), who ruled in the Far Maghreb (Morocco and parts of Algeria) from 172 to 375 AH (789 to 985 CE).
Lineage and Ancestry
Abu al-Qasim, Idris ibn Idris I ibn Abdullah ibn Hasan al-Muthanna ibn Hasan al-Sibt ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him), was the second king of the Idrisid family. He was also known as Idris al-Asghar. At the time of his father's death, he was still in his mother Kanza's womb. Upon his birth, he was named Idris.
Allegiance of the People
When his father was poisoned in 177 AH through a conspiracy orchestrated by Ibn al-Aghlab, Idris had not yet been born. After his birth, "Rashid," his father's slave, assumed guardianship and named him after his father. The Berbers pledged allegiance to him while he was still an infant. When he reached the age of eleven, a second oath of allegiance was sworn to him at the Great Mosque of the city of "Volubilis." Abu Khalid ibn Yazid ibn Ilyas al-Abdi (regency: 186–192 AH / 802–808 CE) managed state affairs until Idris reached maturity, took control himself, secured the allegiance of major tribes, and consolidated his rule.
Expansion of the State
Regarded as the true founder of the Al Idris state, Idris attained such influence in the Maghreb that the region came to be known as the land of Idris ibn Idris. During this period, the Aghlabids, who had been established by the Abbasids specifically to counter the Al Idris, strove to overthrow their state. However, the support of major Maghrebi tribes such as the Awraba, Zenata, Zarawa, and Miknasa for Idris prevented overt aggression by both the Aghlabids and even the Abbasids. Due to his generosity, he was beloved by the people. The inhabitants of Tunis and Tripolitania developed an affinity for him, despite these regions being under Abbasid rule and governed by Aghlabid governors. Gradually, the Berbers united behind him, and the entire Maghreb came under his control. Yahya al-Barmaki, who dissuaded Harun al-Rashid from launching a direct attack on Idris, had likely recognized this reality. Similarly, when Ibrahim ibn al-Aghlab intended to assault him, his own companions prevented him. Ultimately, Idris's growing power led the Aghlabids to abandon any hope of confronting him, causing them to offer excuses and delays in response to the Caliphs.
Foundation of the City of Fez
Shortly after ascending the throne, Idris completed the construction of the city of "Fez" and established within it a settlement for Andalusians who had migrated to the Maghreb during the reign of Al-Hakam ibn Hisham, the Umayyad ruler of Al-Andalus. He then embarked on jihad against the non-Muslim tribes of the Maghreb. In 197 AH (813 CE), he attacked the Masamuda, conquered their lands, and subsequently suppressed the Kharijites of Tlemcen, who had long held influence in that region, thereby severing Abbasid influence there.
Death
Idris ibn Idris died after 21 years of rule in 213 AH (828 CE), or according to another account, in 214 AH (829 CE), at the age of 36. Idris II left behind twelve sons, the eldest of whom was Muhammad al-Muntasir, who succeeded his father on the throne. Ibn Idhari al-Marrakushi, Ahmad ibn Muhammad, Al-Bayan al-Mughrib fi Akhbar al-Muluk al-Andalus wa al-Maghrib, Vol. 1, p. 103.