Ismail al-Mansur

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Isma`îl al-Mansûr (913 - 953) (Arabic: إسماعيل المنصور) was the third Caliph of the Fatimids in Ifriqiya and ruled from 946 to 953.

Ismail was born in 913 in Raqqada near Kairouan and succeeded his father Abu l-Qasim al-Qaim (934-946) in 946. The Fatimid realm found itself deep in crisis due to the revolt of Abu Yazid (943-947). However, after the unity of the rebels began to crack, Ismail 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-Mansuriya near Kairouan.

Al-Mansur 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 re-occupied Sicily, from where raids into Italy were recommenced. Rule in Sicily was reinforced through the installation of the Kalbids as Emirs.

Al-Mansur died after a severe illness on 19 March 953 and left his realm to his son Al-Muizz (953-975).