Al-Qaim Bi-Amr Allah

Al-Qâ' im Bi-Amr Allah is the son of `Ubayd Allah Al-Mahdi. It was born in 894 and succeeded his father like Caliph fatimide in 934. He died the May 19th 946.

Biography

During the reign of `Ubayd Allah Al-Mahdi

Forwardings against Egypt

In 913, Al-Qâ ' im orders a fleet which skirts the coast of the Egypt then takes Tripoli before returning.

During the following year Hubasa Ben Yusûf moves towards the east, it takes Syrte. February 6th, 914 it enters Barqah (Benghazi). July 7th, 914, Al-Qâ' im leaves in its turn towards Egypt with an important army. But contrary to the received orders, Hubasa Ben Yusûf does not await the Al-Qâ' im arrival to continue its projection and to take Alexandria on August 27th, 914. The army of the Abbassides manages to prevent Fatimides to enter front to Egypt. The armies fatimides are withdrawn, but Al-Qâ' im leaves a garrison to Barqah.

`Ubayd Allah Al-Mahdî builds its new capital Mahdia to have a fleet able to attack Egypt by the sea.

In 919, Al-Qâ' im fact a second attempt at invasion of Egypt. The army fatimide under its command leaves on April 5th, 919. As of on July 9th, 919, before guard of its army arrives at Alexandria. The armies fatimides circumvent the city to move towards the capital. They are again pushed back and are folded up towards Barqah.

`Ubayd Allah Al-Mahdî dies on February 22nd 934

The reign

Forwardings against Italy

In 935, Italian pirates make incursions on the coasts under controls of Fatimides. Al-Qâ' im then turns its attention towards Europe. It sends a squadron of twenty ships under the command of the admiral Yaqûb Ben Ishâq At-Tamimî. This one makes a success of some attacks against Italy and the south of France. The area of Genes, the Calabria and part of the Lombardy must be subjected. During these forwardings Fatimides use catapults sending of the stones on their targets, the most modern weapon of the time. At this period: The currency fatimide had course in all Italy of the south: Dinar S and especially quarters of dinar (or rub') circulated and was imitated (tarin), similar phenomenon has that which one observes in the Christian kingdoms of the north of Spain and in the county of Barcelona which, with, imitated the Moslem gold currencies of the south of the péninsule.

Whereas they are about to conquer Italy, Fatimides are brought to return to Africa because of the rebellion of Abû Yazîd. The fleet fatimide continues its forwardings towards the Sardinia, the Corsica , Malta the Crete and for little time Cyprus.

In 937, Khâlid Ben Ishâq, governor of Sicily, poses the foundations of a named new city Al-Khâlisa become a district of Palermo (Kalsa).

The rebellion of Abû Yazîd (943-945)

See also: Abu Yazid, Abû Yazîd

The heart of the revolt was certain a Abû Yazîd called “the man with the ass”. Abû Yazîd was a lame scholar of theology kharijite ibadite what led it to preach the inversion of fatimide Al-Mahdî. After the death of Al-Mahdî, Abû Yazîd leaves to shift, with his wife and her four sons with the head of the tribes Zénètes. He proposes the shape of government made of a council of Sheik S to replace the caliphate fatimide. He succeeds in amalgamating all the oppositions to the Chiisme of the fatimides. He obtains the support of the sunnites malékites of Kairouan and the indifference of the caliph de Cordoue `Abd Al-Rahman.

The legend wants that Mahdî had envisaged a revolt inspired by the Kharijisme and that it would come to break on the walls of Mahdia, also Al-Qâ' im waits he the moment when prophecy will be carried out. Abû Yazîd puts the seat at Mahdia (944). A rescue party carried out by a chief Sanhadja, Ziri ibn Menad, allowed besieged to hold. In January 945, the revolt undergoes a first crushing argument during this head office of Mahdia in 945.

The chiefs of the tribes Kétama and Sanhadja gather a army to help Fatimides. With the accesses of Béja, They must face Ayûb, one of wire of Abû Yazîd, which takes them by surprised and disperses them. Ayûb, encouraged by this easy victory, moves towards Tunis which it takes again in Fatimides.

In January 946, Ayûb leaves to the conquest Sousse. It follows a keen seat. The May 19th, during this seat, the caliph Al-Qâ' im dies. The combat begins again with Al-Mansûr which succeeds his/her father.

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