Moslem Conquest of the Maghreb

This article treats Histoire of the Moslem conquest with the Maghreb , Tunisian Ifriqiya to the rock of Gibraltar, which owes its current name with this event.

There are still difficult to apprehend the bonds which were tied between the people of North Africa and the Islam, the historical materials remain rare. The topicality returns the delicate subject. The Colonisation revived the Arab tensions between and Berbères, that the centuries had alleviated. The idea of a phenomenon of conversion and acculturation remains with the state of assumption. It is necessary nearly one century, indeed, to alleviate the political tensions related to the conquest. The conversion of the tribes was not held uniformly, and knew specific resistances, apostasies, or the adoption of syncretisms. The Arabisation was done in a slower way still.

The Berber populations of the Maghreb contributed as well to the radiation of the civilization arabo-Moslem woman, as with the defense of certain particularisms; there exists thus a Maghrebian identity in the medieval world, for the study of which the sources miss. There is indeed no direct testimony of the time of the conquest. It is necessary to be satisfied with posterior accounts, like those of ibn Al-Hakam (849) or Baladhûrî (823). It is delicate to propose a theory of the conquest, a critical glance on the sources being necessary.

The history of the Maghreb does not begin with the conquest: this one already knew a Roman presence, on the littoral of the Morocco and the Tunisia, and up to 200 kilometers of depth in the grounds; Christianity was in the past established there, with a Christian Church of very active Africa (Saint Augustin, for example, of Berber origin). At the time of the Arab conquest, the Maghreb is a dependence of the Byzantine Empire, quasi autonomous, and which diverges from with the remainder from the Empire on interpretation from the Christianisme.

Stages of the Moslem conquest (647-800)

In 642, the Arab are present at Barqa and Tripoli; the Egypt is conquered, the Christian Coptes accommodate the Arabs as liberators. Al-Fustât is founded, which will be used as a basis back for the conquest. Omar refuses to annex the Ifriqiya, which he considers mufarriqa (perfidious), and is opposed to any forwarding. He dies into 644, and Uthmân, as of 647, authorizes the first raids.

In 647 - 648, first conquests, carried out by the governor of Egypt, `Abd Allâh Its `D, which take the form of a raid. The Byzantine governor, Gregoire, are killed. The capital is taken. However, the winners do not wish to settle, and withdraw themselves into 648, against a pecuniary request. There will remain to them the conscience of the great weakness of the Byzantine position in the Maghreb.

However, the disorders having followed the death of `Uthmân and the caliphate of `Ali (656-661), divert covetousnesses and energies of this area; period that the Byzantine will not make profitable to be reinforced, and on the contrary, they put at back a good portion Christians of Africa by awkward tax measures. In 661, Mu' âwiyya reaches the Califat (661 - 680); the Ifriqiya will consequently be the subject of projects of installation Omeyyades.

In 670, the forwarding of Oqba Ibn Nafaa, made mythical, leads to the foundation of Kairouan; it is the first establishment of the Islam in Occident, the intention is conquering and founder. Kairouan is at the same time an Islamic city, a head of bridge for new forwardings, and a stake on the road between the Egypt and the the Maghreb. `Uqba will receive the support of the first quotas of converts (mawlâ/mawâlî), slaves resulting from the Berber tribes, and which remain dependant, in spite of their stamping, by the bond of the walâ; claims will be dawning, quickly, in this new class which cannot reach the key positions. Indeed, the levelling ideology of Islam enters perpetually in contradiction with the reality of the Arab tribal structures. However `Uqba is relieved, and replaced by Abû Al-Mujâhid, which decides to follow a policy of Islamization of the Berbères, and considers that its principal enemies are the Byzantines

In 681, the political risks bring back `Uqba in Ifriqiya, which makes stop its predecessor, and follows a policy of humiliation towards the Berber chiefs captured, including those which were Islamized, like Kusayla. The question which is put, is the new statute which one wants - or not - to give to the new converts; it seems that those were generally treated into vassal, subjected with the tax.

In 682 - 683, `Uqba directs a great ride which carries out its quota to the shore Atlantique; on the way, the Berber tribes are hustled violently. It is not known if this forwarding were connected with a reconnaissance mission, or a raid. However, it will cause many Berber risings. On the return, the column of `Uqba is attacked by an army which Kusayla directs, and is put in rout. At the time of this battle, which will bear the name of Biskra, `Uqba is killed (it will be sanctified, and its tomb will become the first Moslem monument in the Maghreb). The rising, which gathers the Berber ones, Islamized or not, and probably of the remainders of the Byzantine army, will manage to occupy Kairouan; the Arabs evacuate the Ifriqiya.

In the East, the caliphate of `Abd Al Malik begins into 685 until 707; important Caliphate, which marks the provisional end of the political disturbances in the East, and under which will be carried out reforms of the administration and capacity). This one names Hassan B. Al-naked `man governor in the Maghreb, which will carry out the reconquest into 686. Kairouan is taken again, killed Kusayla. The Arabs take Carthage with the Byzantines, who will manage to recover it of 695 and 698.

In 701, the Kahina is overcome and killed. This Berber, Jewish or Christian woman, directed the revolt of the Berbères Chawis, surrounded by one will have mystical. She will become an icon of Berber resistance. As of 702, Arab base is sufficient in Ifriqiya, to consider new conquests.

In 705, Musa Ibn Nosseyr becomes the first official governor of the Wilaya of Ifriqiya. Until 713, a phase of control of space takes place, until Tangier; the capacity is consolidated.

In 711 is the date of the “official” completion of the conquest; the first Berber quotas pass in Andalusia, directed by Tariq ibn Ziyad. They will unload with Gibraltar (Jabal Tariq). To the military phase of organization of the conquest, will substitute the administration of a territory still partially unsubdued, and not converted.

See too

Internal bonds

History of the Maghreb
History of the expansion of Islam

Moslem Conquest of the Maghreb
Moslem Conquest of Hispanie

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