Reign 946 – 953 Father al-Qa'im Bi-Amrillah Parents Al-Qa'im bi-Amr Allah Great-grandparents Rabi Abdullah Issue al-Mu'izz Li-Dinillah Role Caliph of Cairo | Successor al-Mu'izz Li-Dinillah Name Al-Mansur Billah Grandchildren Al-Aziz Billah Predecessor al-Qa'im Bi-Amrillah Mother ? Children Al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah | |
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Died March 19, 953 AD, Mahdia, Tunisia | ||
Grandparents Abdullah al-Mahdi Billah | ||
Abu Tahir Ismail al-Mansur Billah (913 – 19 March 953) (Arabic: المنصور بالله الفاطمي) was the third Caliph of the Fatimid Caliphate in Ifriqiya (r. 946-953).
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History
Ismāʿīl was born in 913 in Raqqada near Kairouan and succeeded his father Abū l-Qāṣim al-Qā'im (934-946) in 946. His upbringing took place in North Africa, in an environment of revolts and battles
The Fatimid realm found itself deep in crisis due to the revolt of Abū Yazīd (943-947). However, after the unity of the rebels began to crack, Ismāʿīl managed to put down the revolt with the help of the Berber Zirids. Following this victory he took the epithet al-Mansur, and built a new residence at al-Manṣūriyyah near Kairouan.
Al-Manṣūr concerned himself with the reorganisation of the Fatimid state until the end of his reign. He resumed the struggle with the Umayyads of Córdoba in Morocco, and reoccupied Sicily, from where raids into Italy were recommenced. Rule in Sicily was reinforced through the installation of the Kalbids as Emirs.
Al-Manṣūr died after a severe illness on 19 March 953 and left his realm to his son al-Mu‘izz (r. 953-975).
Timeline
Time line indicating the Imam amongst Shia Imams: