Almohades, a Moslem dynasty of northern Africa and Spain, which reigned in the latter half of the 12th century and in the earlier half of the 13th. The term is an abbreviation of Al-Mo\vahedun, which means the Unitarians. The origin of their power is traced to a certain Mohammed, or, with his full name, Abu Ab-dillah Mohammed ben Yumert, who travelled to Cordova for education, and thence to Cairo and Bagdad to complete his studies. On his return from the east, Mohammed became conspicuous by the austerity of his life and the boldness of his preaching, He was made tutor of Abd-el-Mumen, a youth of high birth, whose mind he tilled with a belief that he was reserved to inaugurate a purified Moslem creed. At Morocco he took up his abode in a burial ground, where he preached to the people the coming of the great Mahdi (director), who was to establish the reign of universal justice and peace upon the earth. One day as he was thus preaching, Abd-el-Mumen remarked, "You are yourself the great Mahdi," and immediately swore allegiance to him, in which he was followed by 50, and soon after by 70 others.

They retreated to the mountains, preaching the unity of God, and soon their number was swelled to 20,000; and a victory over the king's brother established the inflnence of the Almohades. The war was kept up against them with varying success, but about 1130 they marched against Morocco, and obtained a complete victory. The Mahdi now summoned his followers, and, announcing his approaching departure, laid down his power, and was said to have been translated. Abd-el-Mumen was then elected sovereign. He overran Oran and Fez, and about 1147 reduced Morocco, the last refuge of the Almoravides, to extremities. After a desperate defence, the city was taken, and Abd-el-Mumen massacred the inhabitants and razed the town. In Spain the Almohades were equally successful. The Almoravides were defeated at every point. Abd-el-Mumen proclaimed a holy war, but died in the midst of his preparations, in 1103. His son Yusuf succeeded, at the age of about 24, and reigned until about 1184, when he died, while besieging Santarem in Portugal. - Yacub ibn Yusuf or Al-Mansour, his successor, carried on the war against the Christians, and in 1195 defeated Alfonso VIII. of Castile at Alarcos. He died in Africa in 1199. Mohammed Abu-Abdallah, his son, succeeded him.

He levied a vast army against the Christians. Pope Innocent III.