Emigration To The Maghreb
The Maqils entered the Maghreb during the wave of emigration of the Arabian tribes (Banu Hillal and Banu Sulaym) in the 11th century. Their original number was extremely small and has been reported as less than 200 individuals. The Banu Sulaym opposed their arrival and fought them off. They later allied with the Banu Hillal and entered under their protection. Which enabled them to wander in the Moroccan Saharan wolds between Moulouya River and the Tafilalet oases. A tiny group of them however stayed in Tunisia, during their westward transit in the Maghreb, and briefly worked as viziers of the victorious Hillalians and Banu Sulaym, who had freshly defeated the powerful Zirids.
The Maqils quickly grown in numbers, this is due to the fact that parts of many other Arabian tribes joined them, which included:
- The Fezara of Asheja
- The Chetha of Kurfa
- The Mehaya of Iyad (or Ayad)
- The Shuara of Hassin
- The Sabah of al-Akhdar
- Some of The Banu Sulaym
Once in Morocco, they allied with the Zenata nomadic groups that neighbored them in the wolds. After the decline of the Almohad authority, the Maqil took advantage of the civil war between the different Zenata groups and seized control of various Ksours and oases in the Sous, Draa, Tuat and Taourirt upon which they imposed taxes, whereas giving a certain amount of the collected money to the local competing Zenata kings.
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