Al-Hafiz

Abūʾl-Maymūn ʿAbd al-Majīd ibn Muḥammad ibn al-Mustanṣir, known as al-Ḥāfiẓ li-Dīn Allāh, was the eleventh Fatimid caliph, ruling over Egypt from one thousand one hundred thirty-two until his death in one thousand one hundred forty-nine. He ascended to power as regent following the death of his cousin, al-Amir bi-Ahkam Allah, in October one thousand one hundred thirty. With al-Amir leaving behind only an infant son, al-Tayyib, al-Hafiz, as the oldest surviving member of the dynasty, took on the regency. However, his rule faced immediate challenges, including a coup by the army under Kutayfat, who sought to replace Isma'ilism with his own regime.

After Kutayfat's regime was toppled in December one thousand one hundred thirty-one, al-Hafiz was restored to power and proclaimed himself the legitimate Isma'ili imam and caliph on January twenty-third, one thousand one hundred thirty-two. This proclamation was controversial, as the Isma'ili imamate had traditionally passed from father to son. Despite gaining acceptance in Fatimid territories, many Isma'ili followers abroad rejected his claim, leading to the Hafizi–Tayyibi schism. His reign was marked by constant uprisings and power struggles, challenging his legitimacy.

To strengthen his position, al-Hafiz focused on constructing and restoring shrines dedicated to the Alid family. While his reign was relatively quiet externally, he faced internal strife, particularly from powerful viziers. His son Hasan's appointment as vizier in one thousand one hundred thirty-four led to tyranny and his eventual overthrow by the army. The subsequent appointment of the Christian Bahram al-Armani as vizier sparked outrage among the Muslim populace, resulting in further unrest.

In one thousand one hundred thirty-seven, the Sunni Ridwan ibn Walakhshi was appointed vizier, aiming to replace the Fatimid dynasty. Al-Hafiz, with the support of the Cairo populace, successfully thwarted Ridwan's ambitions and ruled without a vizier for the next decade, relying on secretaries for administration. Despite facing numerous uprisings and natural disasters, al-Hafiz persevered until his death in October one thousand one hundred forty-nine, leaving a legacy of a weakened dynasty that would see his successors reduced to mere puppets.