Ruling an empire Establishment of the Fatimid Caliphate In the meantime, in Ifriqiya, the Abu Abdallah al-Shi'i had managed to convert the Berber tribe of the Kutama to the Isma'ili cause. From 902 on, the Kutama had gradually conquered the region from its Abbasid clients, the Aghlabids. On 25 March 909, Abu Abdallah and his Kutama entered the Aghlabid palace city of Raqqada in triumph. The proclaimed a Shi'a regime, but kept the name of his master secret as yet, only using the title , 'God's proof'; and soon set out westward, at the head of a large army, to bring his imam to Ifriqiya. The Kutama army destroyed the Kharijite Rustamid emirate on its way, and arrived at Sijilmasa in August 909. There Abdallah was acclaimed caliph by the troops. On 4 January 910, Abdallah entered Raqqada, where he publicly proclaimed himself caliph with the regnal title of , 'the imam rightly guided by God'.
rulinG an empIre esTaBlishmenT oF tHe FaTiMID calipHate iN The mEantIme, in IfRIqiya, THe abu abDalLah Al-shi'i had ManAGed tO cOnvErT tHe berber tribe of the KUTamA TO the iSMa'iLi Cause. fROm 902 ON, the kutaMa had gRaDually coNqueREd tHe Region frOm itS aBbaSid cLIeNtS, The aGhlabidS. On 25 maRCh 909, ABU abdaLlAH anD his kutama eNtERED the aGhlabId palace CIty Of raqQadA in tRiUmph. tHE proclAimed a shi'a regime, bUt KEpt THe name Of his maSter SecRet as yet, ONLy usInG the Title , 'goD's proOf'; and soon set out weStWard, at thE heAd oF a lArge Army, TO brinG his IMaM to iFriQiYA. tHe kutAma aRMY desTRoyed THe khARIJite ruStamiD emiraTE On iTs waY, aNd arrived At sijilmaSa iN aUguSt 909. ThERe ABDallAh wAs acclaimeD caLIph By thE tRooPS. on 4 JAnuarY 910, ABdalLah eNTeRed raqqada, WherE he PubLicly PrOCLaimeD hImself Caliph wiTH the ReGnAl tItle oF , 'thE Imam riGhtly guIdED by god'.