or ALMOHADES, a Mahometan dynasty that flourished in Africa and in Spain during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. This title was derived from the religious sect of Al-Mou-ah-hedi, which in Arabic signifies Unitarians. Mohammed-ben-Toumert, the founder of this sect, was the son of a lamp-lighter in the great mosque at Sous-el-Aksa, and was a person of bold, subtle, and ambitious character. He prepared himself for the part he intended to play by travelling in the East; and at Baghdad he became the disciple of the famous philosopher Algazel, from whom he acquired a knowledge of those abstruse mysteries by which he hoped to impose on his superstitious countrymen. For this purpose he connected himself with Abdelmoumen, a young Mussulman of great abilities, whom he sent forth as his apostle to propagate the new doctrine; while in his own person he affected an unusual degree of piety and mortification, appearing in tattered garments, and interdicting the use of wine, music, and every gratification of the senses. His fame spread rapidly among the mountain tribes of Mahgreb, and the ignorant multitude adopted his opinions with eager zeal. Entering the city of Marocco, this new prophet foretold the downfall of the existing dynasty, and mocked the authority of the reigning prince Ali-ben-Yussef. Ali, lulled in security, despised his predictions as the mere ravings of a fanatic; and it was not without some difficulty that he was at length prevailed on to banish him from the city. Mohammed retired to the mountains, and fortified the town of Tinmal, which he defended against every assault of his enemies. Here throwing off the mask, he gave out that he was the Imam Mahdi, who had miraculously disappeared, and now was come as the vicegerent of Mahomet, invested with all temporal and spiritual authority for the purpose of restoring the true religion. His retreat became the rendezvous of a numerous sect, who assumed the title of Almouahhedi, or Almohedes, and asserted that they alone of all the Mussulmans maintained the religion of Islam in its original purity. Many Arab and Berber tribes acknowledged this impostor as their political chief, and 20,000 soldiers rallied around his standard. Ali only perceived the error he had committed when it was too late: his armies, at each encounter, were panic-struck, and fled. Yet notwithstanding the great success of the Almo- hedes, the vast empire of the Almoravides was not all at once subdued: and Mohammed, after an ineffectual attempt to reduce the city of Marocco, died in the year 1130, having failed to accomplish the object of his ambition, the possession of a throne. He was succeeded by Abdelmoumen, who assumed the title of Emir-el-Moumenin, or commander of the Faithful. During the thirty years that he reigned, and under his descendants, Yussef, and Yacoub called Almanzor-Billah, the dynasty of the Almohedes was exceedingly illustrious, and the arts flourished greatly. They rendered themselves masters of the provinces of Fez, Marocco, Tremecen, Oran, and Tunis; and passing into Spain, they overrun Andalucia, Valencia, and a part of Aragon and of Portugal, as far as the Ebro on one side, and the Tagus on the other. But this vast empire was not of long continuance: for in the year 1212, when the Moslems under Mohammed were defeated by the Christian princes of Spain in the great battle of Las Navas, near Tolosa, the governors of the several provinces took advantage of that disaster to throw off their allegiance, and declared themselves independent; an example that was the signal for a general revolt. The dynasty of the Almohedes became extinct in Spain in the year 1257, and in Africa in 1269. The last sovereign of this race, who had with difficulty maintained a shadow of power in the city of Marocco, was assassinated by a slave. They were succeeded by the dynasties of the Hassides, the Meyanides, and the Merinides. See ALMORAVIDES.