THE EMPIRE OF "THE TWO SHORES" 55 constrain the world to accept it. He gave to his disciples the name of ** Morabites," or *' Champions of the Faith," afterwards known as *'A1 Moravides," and proceeded to preach a Holy War. To ''maintain the truth, to repress injustice, and to abolish all taxes not based on law " was the formula of faith with which this religious movement started from the extreme south of the then known Western world. The Emir Yahya assumed command, and under his leadership the Almoravides began that triumphant march to the north which was to end only on the throne of Spain. Yahya died in 1056 after a successful campaign which established his power in South- Western Morocco.

He was succeeded by his brother Abou Bekr, who led the Almoravides to further conquest. Their dominion spread across the Atlas Mountains to the sea, and they subdued all the territory to the western coast.

In 1 06 1 dissensions breaking out amongst the tribes in the south, Abou Bekr returned to his Desert Kingdom, leaving his cousin Yusuf Tachefin in command in the north. This proved to be a final division. Abou Bekr succeeded in reconciling his unruly tribes, and to give an outlet to their energies he led them to the conquest of Negroland, the northern border of which he overran for a distance of ninety days' march from his own territory. This should have carried him to the Haussa States. But he returned no more to take command in the north. In the year 1062 Yusuf laid the foundation of the town of Morocco with his own hands, and not long afterwards declared the independence of the northern kingdom of which it was to become the capital. Abou Bekr acquiesced, and Yusuf, left to himself, continued the conquest of North-Western Africa. By the year 1082 he had long been the supreme ruler of that portion of the world. His court had begun to attract the learning and civilisation which civil war was driving out of Spain, and we are told that it was filled with Arabs from the frontier towns which had submitted to Alfonso. These men, "with tears in their eyes and sorrow in their hearts, had come to Yusuf to implore