Ibn Tumart
The Almohads were led by ibn Tumart, regarded by historians as a fundamentalist who was convinced that it was his destiny to reform Islam. Ibn Tumart claimed to be the "mahdi", a title which elevated him to something similar to a messiah or leader of a redemption of righteous Islamic order. He was an intelligent and charismatic man; he claimed to be a direct descendant of Muhammad. He had studied in Alexandria, Córdoba, Mecca, and Baghdad, and his charismatic preaching earned him a devoted group of followers.