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Sack of Kairouan (1057)

The Sack of Kairouan occurred in 1057, marking a pivotal moment in the decline of the Zirid dynasty control over Ifriqiya (modern-day Tunisia and parts of Algeria and Libya). The event was part of a series of upheavals that followed the Zirid rulers' decision to renounce allegiance to the Fatimid Caliphate in Cairo and declare loyalty to the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad. [3][4]

Sack of Kairouan
Part of Hilalian invasion of Ifriqiya
Date1057
Location
Kairouan, Ifriqiya (modern-day Tunisia)
Result Decisive Banu Hilal victory
Belligerents
Zirid dynasty Banu Hilal
Commanders and leaders
Al-Mu'izz ibn Badis Unknown
Strength
small Number of garrisons [1] Unknown, mostly large number of tribes mans
Casualties and losses
Significant civilian casualties, many taken captive [2] Unknown

Background

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Kairouan, established in 670 CE, was a major Islamic cultural and religious center in North Africa. By the 11th century, the Zirids had ruled the region for over a century as governors for the Fatimid Caliphate. However, in 1048, Al-Mu'izz ibn Badis, the Zirid ruler, rejected Fatimid authority and proclaimed loyalty to the Sunni Abbasids. This decision alienated Fatimids, who encouraged migration of the arab tribes to zirid areas as a punishment, particularly the Banu Hilal and Banu Sulaym.[5]The Hilalian migration brought devastation to Ifriqiya. The nomadic tribes pillaged towns, destroyed agricultural lands, and weakened Zirid defenses.[6] In the year 1052, Al-Mu'izz wanted to stop the wars between him and the Banu Hilal, so he allowed them to enter Kairouan while he remained in Al-Mansuriyya. When the Arabs entered, the people began to curse and insult them, so the Arabs became angry and killed them. The number of Arabs in that incident was 7,500 knights,After that incident, Al-Mu'izz built a wall around Kairouan.[7] In 1054, the Arabs besieged Kairouan again for a very long period.[8] In 1055 Africa entered a famine and the people were very tired.[8]

The attack

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In 1057, Al-mu'izz left the city and mobved to kairouan.[5][9][10] When arabs noticed, Banu hilal, led by tribal chieftains seeking plunder, launched a decisive assault on Kairouan. The city's defenses, already weakened by years of economic decline and internal strife, collapsed under the pressure. The invaders looted the city, desecrated mosques, and enslaved many inhabitants.The city was mostly destroyed.[11] The Zirids, unable to mount an effective defense, abandoned Kairouan entirely, leaving it to its fate.[5][12]

The sack effectively marked the end of Kairouan's status as a political and cultural hub in North Africa. The city's surviving population either fled or lived under harsh conditions.[12][13]

Animals did not survive the attack as 750 cows were slaughtered in the city.[8] Even the antiquities were not spared from vandalism, as the Mushaf al-Madinah was torn up. [14]

Aftermath

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After hilalians entered Kairouan, Ifriqiya entered in a mess, Arabs attacked many cities, Many cities gained independence from the rule of the Zirids like: Sousse,Sfax,Gabes. And changed their loyality to Nasir ibn Alnas and Hammadid dynasty as they were stronger.[15] Even tamim ibn al-Mu'izz decided to hand kairouan to Nasir and became loyal to him.[16][17][18]

Following the sack, the Zirid dynasty continued to rule a diminished state from Mehdia, focusing on maritime trade and piracy to sustain their economy (They succeded in restoring some authirity in Ifriqiya). However, their power waned further, leading to the eventual conquest of their territories by the Normans in the 12th century [3].

Kairouan never recovered its former glory. While it remained an important religious site, its political significance was permanently diminished. The sack symbolized the fragmentation of central authority in North Africa and the rise of tribal powers that would dominate the region for centuries. [5]

Refrences

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  1. ^ Tunisia: Crossroads of the Islamic and European Worlds. Avalon. 26 August 1986. ISBN 978-0-86531-591-4.
  2. ^ Causes and Consequences of Human Migration: An Evolutionary Perspective. Cambridge University Press. 8 November 2012. ISBN 978-1-139-85150-3.
  3. ^ a b Amira K, Bennison (2016). The Great Caliphs: The Golden Age of the 'Abbasid Empire. Yale University Press. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-15227-2.
  4. ^ Trudy Ring, Noelle Watson, Paul Schellinger (2014). Middle East and Africa International Dictionary of Historic Places. Routledge. p. 37. ISBN 978-1-134-25986-1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ a b c d Abun-Nasr, Jamil M.; al-Naṣr, Ǧamīl M. Abū; Abun-Nasr, Abun-Nasr, Jamil Mirʻi (1987-08-20). A History of the Maghrib in the Islamic Period. Cambridge University Press. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-521-33767-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Frontiers, Museum With No (2002). Ifriqiya: Thirteen Centuries of Art and Architecture in Tunisia. Museum With No Frontiers. ISBN 978-1-874044-44-4.
  7. ^ عذاري, ابن. البيان المغرب في أخبار الأندلس والمغرب (in Arabic). Rufoof. ISBN 9786387989732.
  8. ^ a b c عذاري, ابن. البيان المغرب في أخبار الأندلس والمغرب (in Arabic). Rufoof. ISBN 9786387989732.
  9. ^ Idris, Hady Roger (1968). "L'invasion hilālienne et ses conséquences". Cahiers de civilisation médiévale. 11 (43): 353–369. doi:10.3406/ccmed.1968.1452. ISSN 0007-9731.
  10. ^ IslamKotob. الحروب الصليبية في المشرق والمغرب (in Arabic). IslamKotob.
  11. ^ Goff, Jacques Le (2009-02-04). The Birth of Europe. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-4051-3726-3.
  12. ^ a b Perkins, Kenneth J. (2016-10-12). Historical Dictionary of Tunisia. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-4422-7318-4.
  13. ^ Talbi, M. "The Zirids and the Fatimids." The Cambridge History of Africa: Volume 3, c. 1050-c. 1600 (Cambridge University Passe ed.).
  14. ^ Making Gender in the Intersection of the Human and the Divine. Cambridge Scholars. 7 February 2019. ISBN 978-1-5275-2794-2.
  15. ^ IslamKotob. ديوان المبتدأ والخبر في تاريخ العرب والبربر ومن عاصرهم من ذوي الشأن الأكبر - ج 6 (in Arabic). IslamKotob.
  16. ^ خلدون, ابن. ديوان المبتدأ والخبر في تاريخ العرب والبربر ومن عاصرهم من ذوي الشأن الأكبر - ج 6 (in Arabic). IslamKotob.
  17. ^ IslamKotob. الكامل في التاريخ - 8 - 389 - 488 (in Arabic). IslamKotob.
  18. ^ عذاري, ابن. البيان المغرب في أخبار الأندلس والمغرب (in Arabic). Rufoof. ISBN 9786387989732.
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