Fannu bint Umar ibn Yintan (died April 1147) was a princess and a

Commanding officer The commanding officer (CO) or commander, or sometimes, if the incumbent is a general officer, commanding general (CG), is the officer in command of a military unit. The commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually give ...

of the

Almoravid dynasty The Almoravid dynasty () was a Berber Muslim dynasty centered in the territory of present-day Morocco. It established an empire that stretched over the western Maghreb and Al-Andalus, starting in the 1050s and lasting until its fall to the Almo ...

. In the guise of a man, wearing

armour Armour (Commonwealth English) or armor (American English; see American and British English spelling differences#-our, -or, spelling differences) is a covering used to protect an object, individual, or vehicle from physical injury or damage, e ...

she participated in the defense of the citadel of

Marrakesh Marrakesh or Marrakech (; , ) is the fourth-largest city in Morocco. It is one of the four imperial cities of Morocco and is the capital of the Marrakesh–Safi Regions of Morocco, region. The city lies west of the foothills of the Atlas Mounta ...

during the

Almohad The Almohad Caliphate (; or or from ) or Almohad Empire was a North African Berber Muslim empire founded in the 12th century. At its height, it controlled much of the Iberian Peninsula (Al-Andalus) and North Africa (the Maghreb). The Almohad ...

conquest of the city in 1147.

Life

She was raised in the Almoravid Palace in

as the daughter of Umar ibn Yintan. Her future role was not strange, as women in Almoravid Morocco had a higher status than what was otherwise normal in Muslim states. Women at court were known to wield great influence in state affairs in the tradition and example of

Zaynab an-Nafzawiyyah Zaynab an-Nafzāwiyyah (, in Tamazight: Zinb Tanefzawt) (d. 1072), was a Berber woman of influence in the early days of the Almoravid Berber empire which gained control of Morocco, western-Algeria, modern-day Mauritania and Al-Andalus. She was m ...

, co-founder of the dynasty: women in Morocco did not wear veils, and the education of women was accepted and normal, with notable women such as

Hafsa Bint al-Hajj al-Rukuniyya Ḥafṣa bint al-Ḥājj ar-Rakūniyya (, born c. 1135, died AH 586/1190–91 CE) was a Granadan aristocrat and perhaps one of the most celebrated Andalusian female poets of medieval Arabic literature. Biography We know little about Ḥafṣ ...

holding courses for the women of the palace, and at least two women known to have been doctors.Alison Baker, ''Voices of Resistance: Oral Histories of Moroccan Women'' In March 1147, the forces of Abd-al Mumin, successor of

Ibn Tumart Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad Ibn Tūmart (, ca. 1080–1130) was a Muslim religion, religious scholar, teacher and political leader, from the Sous in southern present-day Morocco. He founded and served as the spiritual and first military leader ...

and founder of the

Almohad Caliphate The Almohad Caliphate (; or or from ) or Almohad Empire was a North African Berbers, Berber Muslim empire founded in the 12th century. At its height, it controlled much of the Iberian Peninsula (Al-Andalus) and North Africa (the Maghreb). Th ...

, reached the capital of Marrakech during his ''

jihad ''Jihad'' (; ) is an Arabic word that means "exerting", "striving", or "struggling", particularly with a praiseworthy aim. In an Islamic context, it encompasses almost any effort to make personal and social life conform with God in Islam, God ...

'' against the Almoravid dynasty, broke into the town and battled over the control of the ''qasba'' (fortress) of the Almoravid Palace for days. Fannu famously dressed herself in male clothing and participated in the defense of the fortress, and according to tradition, the Almohads did not manage to conquer the fortress before "a young Almoravid woman, dressed as a man", was killed. The Almohads were reportedly astonished by Fannu's conduct and bravery during the battle, and surprised that they had not realized that she was a woman before she died.

References

{{Reflist 1147 deaths 12th-century Berber people 12th-century Moroccan people Almoravid dynasty Princesses Women in 12th-century warfare African women in war Female wartime cross-dressers