The Almoravid ruler who founded Marrakesh, united the Maghreb, and crossed into Spain to halt the Christian Reconquista at the Battle of Sagrajas.
Life
Yusuf ibn Tashfin (reigned 1061–1106) built the Almoravid empire across Morocco and the western Sahara, founding the city of Marrakesh as his capital. Summoned by the Muslim princes of al-Andalus against the advancing Castilians, he crossed the strait and crushed Alfonso VI at Sagrajas (Zallaqa) in 1086, then annexed the fractious taifa kingdoms himself. His empire united the Maghreb and Muslim Spain and checked the Reconquista for a generation.