Fatimid Caliphate

Fatimid Islamic Caliphate الدولة الفاطمية
909–1171
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Chronological map of the Fatimid Caliphate
Capital	Mahdia (909-969) Cairo (969-1171)
Religion	Ismaili Shi'a Islam
Government	Monarchy
Caliph
• 909-934 (first)	Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi Billah
• 1160-1171 (last)	Al-'Āḍid
History
• Established	5 January 909
• Foundation of Cairo	August 8, 969
• Disestablished	1171
Area
5,100,000 km2 (2,000,000 sq mi)
Population
•	62000000
Currency	Dinar
Preceded by Succeeded by Abbasid dynasty Ayyubid dynasty Almohad dynasty

The Fatimid Caliphate was ruled by the al-Fātimiyyūn (Arabic: الفاطميون) dynasty from 5 January 909 to 1171. It was an Arab Shi'a dynasty It ruled the fourth and final Arab caliphate. In different times different areas of the Maghreb, Egypt, and the Levant belonged to the caliphate.

The Egyptian city of Cairo was made the capital. The term Fatimite is sometimes used to refer to the citizens of this caliphate as well. The ruling elite belonged to the Ismaili branch of Shi'ism. The leaders were also Shia Ismaili Imams. They had a religious significance to Ismaili Muslims. They are also part of the chain of holders of the office of Caliph, as recognized by most Muslims, the only period in which the Shia Imamate and the Caliphate were united to any degree. There was only one other exception: the Caliphate of Ali himself.

The Fatimids were famous for religious tolerance towards non-Ismaili sects of Islam as well as towards Jews, Maltese Christians and Coptic Christians,^[1] but there were some exceptions nevertheless.

1. ↑ Wintle, Justin (2003). History of Islam. London: Rough Guides. pp. 136-7. ISBN 184353018X.