Kingdom of Nekor

The Kingdom of Nekor (Berber: Tagldit n Nkor) was an emirate in the Rif area of modern day Morocco, with its capital initially at Temsaman but later at Nekor. It was founded by an immigrant of Yemen, Salih I ibn Mansur al-Himyarī in 710 AD, by Caliphal grant. He converted the local Berber tribes to Islam; they soon tired of the restrictions of the religion, and deposed him in favor of a person known as az-Zaydi from the Nafza tribe, but then changed their mind and took him back, and his dynasty, the Banū Sālih, ruled the region until 1019.

In 859 the kingdom became subject to a 62 ship-strong group of Vikings who defeated a Moorish force in Nekor that had attempted to interfere with their plunderings in the area. After staying for eight days in Morocco, the Vikings went back to Spain and continued up the east coast.

This kingdom comprised most of the Moroccan Rif. On the east, it included the tribes of Zouagha and Djeraoua of Ibn Abī l-ʻAys, about five days' journey from Nekor, bordering on the territory of the Matmata, Kebdana, Mernissa, Ghassasa of Mt. Herek and Quluʻ Jarra belonging to the Banū Urtendi. On the west, it extended to the Banū Marwan of Ghomara and the Banū Humayd and bordered the Mestassa and Senhaja. Behind these lay the Awraba, the band of Ferhun, the Banū Walīd, the Zenata, the Banū Irnian and the Banū Merasen of the band of Qāsim, Lord of Sa. In the north, it was bounded by the sea, some five miles from Nekor.