Zawi ben Ziri

Zawi ben Ziri as-Sinhayi or Al-Mansur Zawi Ibn Ziri Ibn as-Manad Sanhaji (Arabic: المنصور بن زيري بن الزاوي مانادو‎‎), was a chief in the Berber Sanhaja tribe. He arrived in Spain in 1000 (391) during the reign of Almanzor. He took part in the rebellion against the Caliphate of Córdoba and settled in the with followers from his Sanhaja tribe. He founded the Taifa of Granada, and founded the Zirid dynasty of Granada as its first Emir, reigning from 1013 to 1019.

Zawi's father, Ziri ibn Manad (Ziri) was the leader of the Berber Sanhaja tribe, with allegiance to Al-Mansur Billah, leader of the Fatimid Caliphate. Ziri founded the Zirid dynasty in the Maghreb with the permission of Al-Mansur Billah in 944 and built the city of El Achir. During the ongoing revolt of the Zenata tribe against Fatimid rule, Ziri marched against the Zenata forces in 970. Following a bloody battle, the Sanhaja army was routed and Ziri's horse fell on him. With his troops having abandoned the battlefield, Ziri was left stranded amongst the Zenata tribe who cut off his head. A deputation seeking support from El-Hakem al-Mostancer, took Ziri's head to Cordoba, where it was put on display in the market place.

Zawi's brother, Buluggin ibn Ziri (Buluggin) was appointed governor of the Maghreb by the Fatimids as they transferred their capital to the newly created Cairo. The Sanhaja tribe then became responsible for holding back the Spanish Umayyads and their Zanata Berber Allies. The Sanhaja defeated the Umayyad-supported Maghrawa invasion of Morocco in 973, pushing most of the Maghrawa people into central Morocco. Following the death of Buluggin, in 984 the extensive inheritance was divided by his relatives with Buluggin's son Abul-Fat'h al-Mansur ibn Buluggin (al-Mansur) carrying on the Zirid dynasty and another son, Hammad ibn Buluggin, taking over the lands of central Maghreb west of Ifrqiya.

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