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Almohads

(Encyclopedia)Almohads ălˈməhădz [key], Berber Muslim dynasty that ruled Morocco and Spain in the 12th and 13th cent. It had its origins in the puritanical sect founded by Ibn Tumart, who stirred up (c.1120) th...

Spanish Africa

(Encyclopedia)Spanish Africa, historical name for the Spanish possessions in Africa—Ceuta and Melilla (enclaves in Morocco), the Canary Islands, and Western Sahara. Spain also formerly held Ifni (now part of Moro...

Ardebil

(Encyclopedia)Ardebil ärdəbēlˈ [key], town, NW Iran, near the Republic of Azerbaijan. It is a market center for a fertile agricultural region. Carpets and rugs are produced in the t...

Szigetvár

(Encyclopedia)Szigetvár sĭˈgĕtvär [key], town (1991 est. pop. 12,280), SW Hungary. A medieval fortress, it was defended in 1566 by Nicholas Zrinyi against the Ottoman sultan Sulayman I, who died during the sie...

Rabat

(Encyclopedia)Rabat räbätˈ [key], city (1994 pop. 787,745), capital of Morocco, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Bou Regreg estuary, opposite Salé. Silting problems have diminished the city's role as a...

Primo de Rivera, Miguel

(Encyclopedia)Primo de Rivera, Miguel, 1870–1930, Spanish general and dictator. After a rapid and brilliant military career in Cuba, the Philippines, and Morocco, he became governor of Cádiz (1915), then in turn...

Atlas Mountains

(Encyclopedia)Atlas Mountains, system of ranges and plateaus in NW Africa, extending c.1,500 mi (2,410 km) from SW Morocco, through N Algeria, to N Tunisia; Jebel Toubkal (13,671 ft/4,167 m), in SW Morocco, is the ...

Malikshah

(Encyclopedia)Malikshah mälˈēkshäh [key], 1055–92, third sultan of the Seljuks (see Turks). In 1072 he succeeded his father to head an empire that controlled parts of Arabia, Mesopotamia, and areas near the P...

Qaboos bin Said Al-Said

(Encyclopedia)Qaboos bin Said Al-Said, 1940–2020, sultan of Oman (1970–2020). The only son of Sultan Said bin Taimur Al-Said, he served a year in the British army after graduating from Sandhurst. Upon his retur...

Bocskay, Stephen

(Encyclopedia)Bocskay, Stephen bôchˈkī [key], 1557–1606, Hungarian noble, voivode [governor] (1604–6) and prince (1605–6) of Transylvania. Seeking to secure the independence of Transylvania, he supported h...