The Roman empire under Hadrian (ruled 117–38), showing the location of the Mauri Berber-speaking people, some of whom remained outside the empire when the bulk of their original territory was annexed by Rome in 44 AD

The Mauri (from which derives the English term "Moors") were an ancient Berber people inhabiting the territory of modern Algeria and Morocco. Much of that territory was annexed to the Roman empire in 44 AD, as the province of Mauretania (later divided into Mauretania Caesariensis and Mauretania Tingitana). Subgroups of Mauri continued to inhabit the desert regions south of the Roman border. A subgroup of the Mauri were known as the Musulamii.