Zineb: An exceptional woman from medieval Morocco

The city of Aghmat, located 30 km from Marrakech on the road to the Ourika Valley, where Zineb grew up, was a city of the upper class, known for their refined tastes and their interest in the sciences and the arts.

Aghmat City

They were often very fortunate because of their significant participation in the caravan traffic with Africa.

Their luxurious homes, surrounded by gardens watered by the cool waters of the Ourika, are admired by the inhabitants of the region.

As a young girl, Zineb was noticed for her beauty. Several suitors asked her hand. But very ambitious, she repeated everywhere that she would marry only with the King of medieval Morocco. So she rejected the advances from several Masmouda chiefs and princes and others.

But one day a prince appeared from the top of the Atlas, whose name history didn't remember, and Zineb changed her mind. Was it his beauty, his wealth, his courage, or all at the same time that made her accept? It is difficult to say, especially since it is a matter of the heart where the analysis can get lost in guesswork.

Still, Zineb consented to leave the beautiful city of Aghmat to roost with her prince on the heights of the Atlas.

After the beautiful nights of the wedding life, Zineb felt alone in the midst of the snows and this hostile nature. She needed emotional support and an environment where she holds court like a princess. If it were not for the love she had for her husband, she would have left these austere places a long time ago.

But love cannot withstand so much annoyance and disappointment. No doubt there were stormy scenes between Zineb and her husband. But the latter, like a good prince, finally showed understanding and gave her back freedom.

She returned to Aghmat, imbued with this first experience, and determined to think twice before giving in to the movement of her heart. She was more beautiful than ever.

This time it was the Prince of Aghmat himself, Laqqut Ibn Youssef Al Maghraoui, who asked for her hand. She tied her fate with him. No doubt she was happy with this union which enabled her to be the first lady of the principality and among the most privileged in the city of Aghmat.

Laqqut was part of this pleiad of Maghraoua princes who had settled in various regions and cities of Morocco.

The province over which he ruled was one of the most vital for Morocco. It was spotted by the Almoravids (1060 - 1147) as an essential area to their advance in the part of Morocco, in the north of the Atlas.

Medieval Morocco

The fate of Laqqut was sealed: The Maghraoua, as part of the zenata, were treated as enemies by the Almoravids; Laqqut therefore had to hand over power to the new masters. But he preferred to fight and died with weapons in hand in the Tadla.

This time, it was death that separated Zineb from her second husband. No doubt she cried. In any case, the heroism and virility that he had shown, by refusing to submit and by agreeing to die to safeguard his honor, had indeed earned tears from a woman who had the sense of greatness and who knew how to appreciate the chivalrous spirit.

Over time, Zineb was able to overcome her grief and listen favorably to the offer made by the leader of the Almoravids, Prince Abu Bakr Ibn Omar El Lamtouni, to become his wife; which she accepted without hesitation.

In an uncertain situation as a widow whose husband had borne arms against the masters of the day, she could not reject that proposal out of hand, especially since it came from a leader known for his righteousness and piety. Maybe, in contracting such a marriage, Abu Bakr looked for not only having a beautiful and intelligent wife, but also for becoming closer to the people of Aghmat and the masmouda. Marriage has always favored and sealed political alliances.

It seems that Zineb was satisfied at the start of this union. She tried to serve her husband and make him happy. But Abu Bakr did not know how to deal with a woman of Zineb's caliber, who could not be content with being a beloved wife, but kept on the fringes of business and somewhat neglected.

With his simplicity, his austere manners of a nomadic chief, Abu Bakr knew how to deal with business, the interests of the sanhaja, their internal quarrels. But he was not the man to enjoy living room conversations with a woman, or intimate, charming, and witty dialogues. Responding to Nietzche's example, the woman was for him the warrior's rest. The divorce was therefore inevitable. But fate arranged things well for the couple.

As Zineb was considering ending the relationship with Abu Bakr, the latter received alarming news from the Sahara, which forced him to go there suddenly.

He acts, on this occasion, as a great lord to Zineb. Not only, he showed understanding and gave her freedom, but he even recommended to his cousin and successor, Youssef Ibn Tashfine, 1st King of medieval Morocco (1061), to marry her in very laudatory terms. He knew she was ambitious. He thus succeeded in fulfilling her desire: to be the wife of the man who would rule Morocco.

This is how Zineb became the wife of Youssef Ibn Tashfine, her fourth and last husband.

Finally, she had achieved what she wanted: Love and glory. The sources don't give details about the behavior of Youssef Ibn Tashfine in the family and marital intimacy. But everything suggests that he had a very endearing personality. He was loved by all, and during his long reign, there was no opposition, no revolt against him. By his human qualities, his open-mindedness, he was able to conquer Zineb's heart, and it was not his easiest conquest.

Zineb was brought to play a decisive role in the career of Youssef Ibn Tashfine. In principle, he was only replacing his cousin Abu Bakr as the head of Morocco, during his absence in the Sahara. But he achieved his mission very conscientiously, developed the conquests, reorganized the army, set up an efficient administration, continued the construction of Marrakech.

Zineb assisted him with her valuable advice and supported him in his arduous task.

The absence of Abu Bakr had lasted too long for Youssef Ibn Tashfine. He didn't feel that he was the real architect of Almoravid power; he imposed himself on his subordinates as the beloved and respected master.

But the day came when Abu Bakr's sudden return became an extremely difficult issue: Youssef felt a moral obligation to hand over power to him. It was on this occasion that Zineb's intervention was decisive.

Youssef Ibn Tashfine was torn between what he believed was his duty to his cousin and the feeling of having deserved to become the leader himself by his work and his exploits. He was about to hand the scepter to Abu Bakr, when Zineb forcefully intervened:

Zineb: Why are you so upset over your cousin's return? Your face tells me that you want to hand over the power to him, she told him.

Youssef Ibn Tashfine: Alas! What else can I do? He is my cousin who left his own sons behind and trusted me to lead Morocco in his stead. If it was someone else, I wouldn't have hesitated to fight him.

Zineb: Anyway, I swear by God he'll never re-occupy the prince's place.

Youssef Ibn Tashfine: You swear Zineb, but what is it in your power to do ?!

Zineb: It's in my power to do a lot of things, as long as you listen to me well.

Youssef Ibn Tashfine: I am listening to you and I know you have a happy hand.

Zineb: Please keep calm. Abu Bakr will not go back to being the leader he was. Then, you must not welcome him as his subordinate. You'll just send him a few gifts.

Youssef Ibn Tashfine: Good. But what if he insists on recovering his legitimacy?

Zineb: You'll wait for his reaction first. Then you will show him that you have become a great King, with an invincible army. He will then understand that his initial position is no longer here. Believe me, this plan will work.

Youssef Ibn Tashfine: I don't know what to tell you, Zineb! You delivered me from a weight on my heart and my shoulders.

Youssef Ibn Tashfine followed the advice of his wife Zineb whose forecasts came true almost in detail.

When Abu Bakr saw the impressive procession accompanying Youssef Ibn Tashfine as the latter approached him, he could only cry out:

You are, oh Youssef my cousin, I love you like a brother. As far as I am concerned, it is essential that I return to the Sahara to help my brothers. I realize that there is no one other than you who can rule Morocco and who deserves it. I am relieving myself of this mission and investing it in you. Take care, therefore, of your Kingdom of which you are so worthy!

All columnists are unanimous in recognizing Zineb's role in the happy outcome of this issue, which could have gone wrong. Thanks to her intervention, Youssef Ibn Tashfine was one of the most important men who presided over the destinies of medieval Morocco.