'Al-Muizz ibn Badis' () (
1008 -
1062) was the fourth ruler of the
Zirids in
Ifriqiya and reigned from
1016 to
1062.
Al-Muizz ascended the throne as a minor following the death of his father
Badis ibn Mansur (
995-
1016), with his aunt acting as regent. In
1016 there was a bloody revolt in Ifriqiya in which the
Fatimid residence
Al-Mansuriya was completely destroyed and 20,000
Shiites were massacred. The unrest forced a ceasefire in the conflict with the
Hammadids of
Algeria, and their independence was finally recognised in
1018.
Al-Muizz took over the government in
1022 following the overthrow of his aunt. The relationship with the
Fatimids was strained, when in
1027 they supported a revolt of the
Zanatas in
Tripolitania which resulted in permanent loss of control of the region. His son Abdallah shortly ruled
Sicily in 1038-1040, after intervening with a Zirid army in the civil war broke out in the island.
The political turmoil notwithstanding, the general economic wellbeing initially made possible an extensive building programme. However, the kingdom found itself in economic crisis in the 1040s, reflected in currency devaluation, epidemic and famine. This may have been related to the high level of tribute which the Zirids were compelled to pay annually to the Fatimids (one million gold dinars a year).
When al-Muizz, under the influence of
Sunni jurists in
Kairouan, recognised the
Abbasids in
Baghdad as rightful
Caliphs in
1045, the break with the Fatimids was complete.
The Fatimids then deported the
Bedouin tribes of the
Banu Hilal and the
Banu Sulaym from
Egypt to Ifriqiya. The invasion of the Bedouin (
1051-
1052) led to great hardship after the defeat at
Jabal Haydaran, severely impacting agriculture in Ifriqiya. The conquest of Kairouan in
1057 resulted in further anarchy. The Zirids lost control over the hinterland and were only able to retain the coastal areas, the capital being moved to
Mahdia. With the growth of Bedouin
Emirates and the continuing insecurity inland, the economy of Ifriqiya looked increasingly towards the
Mediterranean, with the result the coastal cities grew in importance through maritime trade and piracy.
Al-Muizz was succeeded by his son
Tamim ibn Muizz.