The Fatimid Caliphate is a Shia caliphate.

Its sovereignty spans a large area of North Africa, from the Red Sea in the east to the Atlantic Ocean in the west.

The dynasty rules across the Mediterranean coast of Africa and ultimately makes Egypt the center of the caliphate.

At its height, the caliphate includes, in addition to Egypt, varying areas of the Maghreb, Sudan, Sicily, the Levant, and Hijaz.The Fatimids are descended from Fatima, the daughter of Prophet Muhammad, according to Fatimid claims.

The Fatimid state takes shape among the Berber Kutama, the people of Algeria.

In 909, the Fatimids established the Tunisian city of Mahdia as their capital.

In 948, they shift their capital to Al-Mansuriya.

In 969, they conquer Egypt and build the city of Cairo, which becomes the capital of the caliphate, and Egypt becomes the political, cultural, and religious center of the state.The ruling elite of the state belongs to the Ismaili branch of Shi'ism, as are the leaders of the dynasty.

They are also part of the chain of holders of the office of Caliph, as recognized by orthodox Muslims.

Therefore, this constitutes a rare period in history in which the descendants of Ali via the daughter of the prophet, Fatimah (hence the name Fatimid), and the Caliphate are united to any degree, except for the final period of the Rashidun Caliphate under Ali himself.

The term Fatimite is sometimes used to refer to citizens of the caliphate.The caliphate often exercises a great degree of religious tolerance towards non-Ismaili sects of Islam as well as towards Jews, Maltese Christians, and Coptic Christians The Fatimid caliphate is also distinguished by the central role of Berbers in its initial establishment and development especially on military and political levels.In the course of the later eleventh and twelfth century, however, the Fatimid caliphate declines rapidly, and in 1171 the country is invaded by Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn, who founds the Ayyubid dynasty and reincorporates the state into the Abbasid Caliphate.