Mahdia

Mahdia, the Fatimid-era capital of Ifriqiya, was captured by Roger II's forces in 1148 as part of the Norman African venture. Like Tunis, the Norman hold was brief, ending by 1160 with the Almohad reconquest.

Why it mattered

• Part of Norman "Kingdom of Africa"
• Former Fatimid capital

Chronology (selected)

• 1148: Norman forces capture Mahdia
• 1160: Almohad reconquest

Hub essays

• Region context: norman sicily kingdom and the shared bibliography.
• Castles and fortification: Norman castles — motte to stone.

Caution

Scope: This pin compresses a short episode or mixed contingents. Use chronicles and secondary surveys; avoid treating a raid or crusade episode as stable “Norman rule” unless the dates and administration support it.

On the map

Use Open on map to fly to this pin in the Norman expansion era. Layers are teaching overlays — pair them with charters, excavation reports, and the works above.