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Islamic & Medieval Era
Tariq ibn Ziyad
Early Islamic / Medieval
Warriors & ResistanceEarly 8th century (711)National / Algeria-wide
“He burned the ships and gave a strait its name.”
Historical significance
His landing in 711 began a centuries-long Muslim presence in the Iberian Peninsula.
Anchors Algeria's place in the wider Mediterranean and Andalusian story.
Their story
A Berber commander serving the Umayyad governor of North Africa, Tariq crossed the narrow strait between two continents and landed his army at the foot of a great rock. There he is said to have burned his ships, telling his soldiers there was no way back, only forward.
Did you know?
Gibraltar takes its name from Jabal Tariq — "Tariq's mountain."