Banu Ifran

Banu Ifran ( _ar. بنو يفرن), a Berber tribe prominent in the affairs of Algeria in Aures eastern Algeria

History

They were one of the four major tribes of the Zenata or Gaetulia [Recueil des notices et mémoires de la Société archéologique de la province , Société archéologique ] [http://books.google.fr/books?id=NpoEAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA131&dq=g%C3%A9tule+aur%C3%A8s&lr=] confederation. Their name probably derives from "ifri", a Berber word meaning "cave". It has been suggested they were originally troglodytes. Another possibility is that their name relates to one of the major gods of the pagan Berbers, Ifrou (with a similar derivation of his name).

They first come to notice when their chief Abu Qurra rebuilt the city of Tlemcen in Algeria in 765 (formerly it was a Roman city named Pomaria). They opposed the Egyptian Fatimid Caliphate, aligning themselves with the Maghrawa tribe and the Umayyad Caliphate of Córdoba, although they themselves became Kharijites. Led by Abu Yazid, they surged east and attacked Kairouan in 945. Another leader, Ya'la ibn Muhammad captured Oran and constructed a new capital, Ifgan, near Mascara. The Fatimids struck back hard. Their able general Jawhar killed Ya'la in battle in 954 [So says the "Rawd al-Qirtas". But according to Ibn Khaldun, Yala died assassinated by a member of the Fatimides in 958.] and destroyed Ifgan, and for some time afterwards the Banu Ifran reverted to being scattered nomads in perpetual competition with their Sanhaja neighbours. Some went to Spain, where they settled in Malaga and other places. Others, led by Hammama, managed to gain control of the Moroccan province of Tadla. Later, led by Abu al-Kamāl, they established a new capital at Salé on the Atlantic coast. During this period they began conflict with the Barghawata tribes on the seaboard.

During the 11th century the Banu Ifran contested with the Maghrawa tribe for the sovereignty over the former Idrisid Kingdom of Fes. Ya'la's son Yaddū took Fes by surprise in January 993 and held it for some months until the Maghrawa ruler Ziri ibn Atiyya returned from Spain and regained control after some bloody battles.

In May or June of 1033, Fes was recaptured by Ya'la's grandson Tamīm. Fanatically devoted to religion, but at the same time 'ignorant', [so explicitly says the "Rawd al-Qirtas"] he began a persecution all people ,he began a persecution of the Jews Berber [Relations judéo-musulmanes au Marocperceptions et réalités , Michel Abitbol] [http://books.google.fr/books?id=P5lIAAAAMAAJ&q=jews+kahina&dq=jews+kahina&as_brr=0&pgis=1] , and is said to have killed 6000 of their men while confiscating their wealth and women . Sometime in the period 1038-1040 the Maghrawa tribe retook Fes, forcing Tamīm to flee to Salé.

Soon after that time, the Almoravids began their rise to power and effectively eliminated and exterminated both the Banu Ifran and their brother-rivals the Maghrawa.

Etymolgy

The Banou Ifren or Ifren in Arabic أَو يفرن, أو إفوراقس, أو إفوراغس, أو إفورن Amazigh tribe from Africa and Maghreb ( Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Lybie) and possibly Berber tribe that gave Ihag'garen and Iasgueren, etc..

Ifren was a king Berber. All kings Berbers of Numidia eventually have "n" at last name as Medghassen in Batna in the Aurès. Msnsn (Masinissa), Mkwsn (Micipsa), Ygwrtn Jughurta, Ifren, Ygmrsn (yaghmorasen) Maghrawa, Mdghasen, etc.. [http://aureschaouia.free.fr/langue.htm] [Mémoires de la société géographique de Genève, par société de Genève ]

The tribe Ifren or Ifrinidi or Iforen or (Ifuraces or Afar in Latin) or Fren or Wafren or Yefren or Yafren or Yafran, it's same name (Ifri's soon) (the bin was added by the Arab writers, they said ben ifren or Ifrinide, ifren : means Zenata language cave in the singular.

Ifren's brother Maghra (Maghraoua) and Irnyan, all descended from Isliten. They are Zenata. The Banou Ifren is a nomadic Berber tribe. We can found them in the plains and in the mountains in the Middle Ages. ^{Ibn Khaldun , Mokadima}

The name of the African continent, formerly Ifriquia (currently Tunisia), derives from the word Ifri ( a cave) and Ifren (a cave in Berber language). As a result, Africa will be the name of the entire African continent. [The Golden Age of the Moor , Ivan Van Sertima] [http://books.google.fr/books?id=1F9HPuDkySsC&pg=PA117&dq=afer+ifren&lr=&sig=H2vZikQuwnJK4l-vUwYD0F28w08#PPA117,M1] [Decret & Fantar, 1981]

It was a warrior tribe Amazigh, experts cavalry mostly they had the Barbe (horse). Before the arrival Muslim's army, Ifrinides or Ait Ifren expelled Franks (Romain and Banzantin) according Ibn Khaldoun who wanted to occupy North Africa.

But according Corripus in Johannide [Corpus scriptorum historiae byzantinae , Barthold Georg Niebuhr] [http://books.google.fr/books?id=zjoOAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA90&dq=ifuraces&as_brr=1#PPA92,M1] , at the time of John Troglita at the reign of Justinian between 547 and 550, The Beni Ifren ( IFOREN) made war to Byzantin. Corripus, la Johannide [Corripus, la Johannide] [Monographie de l'aurès , Delartigue] Africa's name derives from the name of Ifren [The Golden Age of the Moor , Ivan Van Sertima] [Itineraria Phoenicia , Edward Lipiński] [http://books.google.fr/books?id=1F9HPuDkySsC&pg=PA117&dq=afer+ifren&lr=&sig=H2vZikQuwnJK4l-vUwYD0F28w08#PPA117,M1] [http://books.google.fr/books?id=SLSzNfdcqfoC&pg=PA200&dq=Itineraria+Phoenicia+Ifren&sig=opSH-an97IhmB6GtJjMvn7bt4tc#PPA199,M1]

Religion

Before Islam

Ifran are Like Zenata, animism was the principale spirtitual philosophy inspiration of this big tribe. Ifri is a deity Berber [Archives des missions scientifiques et littéraires , France Commission des missions scientifiques et littéraires, France] [http://books.google.fr/books?id=G08PAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA481&dq=africa+ifru]

[Archives des missions scientifiques et littéraires , France Commission des missions scientifiques et littéraires, France] [http://books.google.fr/books?id=G08PAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA481&dq=africa+ifru#PPA480,M1] the Plural of Ifri is Ifran. [Mots, Edmond Rostand ] [http://books.google.fr/books?id=nVEzAAAAIAAJ&q=africa++++ifri&dq=africa++++ifri&lr=&pgis=1]

The translation or borrowing latin gives us Africa (Africa) which was a goddess Berber before the Roman conquest. Dea Africa means goddess Africa and represents a symbol to the Roman era.

And Ifri means local populations of Afers. Ifru symbolizes rites in caves to protect businessman. There is a cave not far from Constantine and Guechguech, it represent the rite. Roman show the myth of protection in their money. [Recueil des notices et mémoires de la Société archéologique, historique, du département de Constantine , Arnolet, 1878] [http://books.google.fr/books?id=r8E4AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA461&dq=gurzil+ifri]

Ifru was a sun goddess and a god even as caves and protector of the home. [Les cultes païens dans l'Empire romain , Jules Toutain, page 416, p635 and p636] [http://books.google.fr/books?id=_foLAAAAIAAJ&q=ifru&dq=ifru&pgis=1] Ifru or Ifran is a kind of Vesta Berber.

But the majority of historians say Kahina was Christian. [Gabriel Camps, Berber encyclopaedia] .

Kahina called his son Ifran. And few of them were Christian.

Ibn Khaldun, says Ifran are Berber, and says nothing of their religion before the Islamic period.

Some contemporary historians, such as Emile Félix Gautier in his French book "Siècles obscurs du Moghreb", say Zenata were very wild people.Some historians say the Queen Kahina was a Judith. [The FalashasA Short History of the Ethiopian Jews , David Kessler] [http://books.google.fr/books?id=xTU7aqSNzkoC&pg=PA81&dq=jews+kahina&lr=&as_brr=0&sig=uo7afyO9yJjer2Hc54gpprW4R_I] [Relations judéo-musulmanes au Marocperceptions et réalités , Michel Abitbol] [http://books.google.fr/books?id=P5lIAAAAMAAJ&q=jews+kahina&dq=jews+kahina&as_brr=0&pgis=1]

When Arab army attack Maghreb. the Ben Ifran were the first tribe to defend their Queen Kahina. [Page 193 party 3, Ibn Khaldoun, Histoire des Berbères] [http://www.geocities.com/yiddishemaydl/kahina.html]

During Islam

Ben Ifren was opposed to Arab army (sunnit and chite). They choise Kharidjit mouvement.
Ibn Khaldun say: Zenata people say we are muslman but they still opposed to Arab army. [Ibn Khaldun, Histoire des berberes, Traduction Slane, édition Berti] [La Berbérie et L'Islam et la France , Eugène Guernier, party 1, édition de l'union française, 1950] . After 711, the berber were very serious to pratctice Islam religion.The principal leaders of Ifren were all time opposed to Arab army ( Abu Qurra, Abou Yazid, etc) [Ibn Khaldun, Histoire des berbère, traduit par Slane , édition Berti]

Dynasty

Dynasty Ifran [ [http://books.google.fr/books?id=H3RBAAAAIAAJ&pg=PR115&dq=ibn+khaldoun#PPR10,M1 Table made by Ibn Khaldun and translated by Slane indicating the dynasty Banou Ifran by Ibn Khaldun] ]

Ifrans
* Abu Qurra Tlemcen 736 - 790.
** Abou Yazid Tozeur 873 - 947
*** Abd-Allah-Ibn-Bekkar Tlemcen
**** Yala Ibn Mohamed Ifgan near Mascara 950 - 958
***** Yeddou 958 - Fez 993
****** Habbous 993 - Fez 1029
******* Temim Ibn Ziri 1029 Salé - 1035
******** Abou -l- Kemal 1036 Salé - 1054
******** Yocuf 1055-1056
******** Hammad 1056- 1066
******** Mohamed 1066

Ifran in Spain

The Qurra will be lords of Ronda (City of Spain) Andalusia.
Yeddas, he will be a military leader of the Berber troops who were at war against the Christian king and El MehdiThe son of Corra, Abu Nour or Nour will be lord of Ronda and Seville in Andalusia until 1023 to 1039 and until 1039 to 1054.The son of Nour bin Badis Hallal until 1054 to 1057 at Ronda.
Abu Nacer intil 1057 to 1065 at Ronda. . [ [http://www.hukam.net/family.php?fam=228#6] liste of leaders in arabic]

Notes

References

*Ibn Abi Zar, "Rawd al-Qirtas". Annotated Spanish translation: A. Huici Miranda, "Rawd el-Qirtas". 2nd edition, Anubar Ediciones, Valencia, 1964. Vol. 1 ISBN 84-7013-007-2.
*C. Agabi (2001), article "Ifren" in "Encyclopédie Berbère" vol. 24, p. 3657-3659 (Édisud, Aix-en-Provence, ISBN 2-85744-201-7)
*Ibn Khaldun, "Kitab el Ibar", French translation (ISBN 2705336389)

*Le passé de l'Afrique du Nord. Écrit par E.F. Gautier. Édition Payot, Paris

*KITAB EL-ISTIQÇA. TRADUCTION A. GRAULLE. Auteur AHMED BEN KHALED EN-NACIRI ES-SLAOUI

*Ibn Khaldoun Les prolégomènes El Mokadima

*Gisèle Halimi. Title: La Kahina.

External links

*en [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0368-4016(190301)2%3A6%3C161%3ATB%3E2.0.CO%3B2-L Tunisia and Africa and Ifren]

*fr [http://books.google.com/books?id=JTs8AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA424&lpg=PA424&dq=ifren+ibn+khaldoun&source=web&ots=Q9OvRveeAn&sig=8z3v54cMWkoC-qF_6JMzVzkOb_E]
*fr [http://books.google.com/books?id=FgMIAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA1-PA193&dq=ifren&as_brr=1&hl=fr#PRA1-PA193,M1]
*fr [http://books.google.com/books?id=dXdBAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA577&dq=ifuraces&as_brr=1&hl=fr]
*fr [http://books.google.com/books?id=dXdBAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA2&dq=ifren&as_brr=1&hl=fr]
*fr [http://books.google.com/books?id=qtU1AAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA193&dq=ifren&as_brr=1&hl=fr]
*fr [http://books.google.com/books?id=s54BAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA7-PA299&dq=ifren&as_brr=1&hl=fr]
*fr [http://books.google.com/books?id=ue8IAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA3-PA718-IA1&dq=ifren&as_brr=1&hl=fr]
*fr [http://books.google.com/books?id=zjoOAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA90&dq=ifuraces&as_brr=1&hl=fr#PPA89,M1]
*fr [http://books.google.com/books?id=uE48AAAAMAAJ&pg=PR103&dq=ifren&as_brr=1&hl=fr]
*fr [http://books.google.com/books?id=n7gBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR147&dq=ifren&as_brr=1&hl=fr]
*fr [http://books.google.fr/books?id=XzMFAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA2-PA46&dq=ifuraces&as_brr=1]

*fr [http://pages.infinit.net/savoir/berbere/genealogie.htm genealogy of Ibn Khaldun]

*fr [http://www.wilayadeouargla-dz-gov.com/histoire.htm Ouargla Town of Algeria]

*fr [http://djelfa.info/vb/showthread.php?t=3351 Tribe of Djelfa and Tlemcen]

*fr [http://kenitra.eu/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=2 History of Kenitra town in Morocco]

*fr [http://www.ergreg.com/ville-touggourt-fr-1-21.html History of Touggourt town in Algeria]

*fr [http://chawi.over-blog.com/12-categorie-177290.html Merindjissa and Ifren]

*fr [http://www.mahdiahorses.com/fra.asp?id=97 History of Mahdia Morocco]

*fr [http://www.webjournal.unior.it/Dati/19/70/Web%20Journal%20vol.%203,%20Tlemcen.pdf History of Tlemcen Algeria]

*fr [http://www.morocco.strabon.org/mc/1Dossier%20patrimonial/2-sale/1medina/monuments/index_fr.html Medina Sale Marocco]

*fr [http://www.mondeberbere.com/civilisation/gourara/gourara.htm Adrar in Algeria tribe of Zenata]
*fr [http://www.cosmovisions.com/ChronoAlmoravides.htm history of Almoravide and Ifren]

*ar [http://www.hukam.net/family.php?fam=228#6 Ifran at Ronda]