Battling for Islam Umayyad Power February 3 The

Battling for Islam – Umayyad Power: February 3

The Umayyad Caliphate Prophet Muhammad, 622– 632 Rashidun Caliphate, 632– 661 Umayyad Caliphate, 661– 750

The Umayyad Caliphate

The Umayyad Caliphate The Umayyad Dynasty: n had really begun with Uthman as Caliph, Mu’awiya as military commander n ‘officially’ seen as beginning with Mu’awiya 661 and his designated heir, Yazid 680 n short lived: Yazid died 683 n his son in turn died four months later n Mu’awiya’s ‘family line’ ended

The Umayyad Caliphate Challenges 680 -683: [video] n opposition to Yazid marked beginning of dozen years civil war n Medina: sons of key figures in first civil war among those amassing followings

The Umayyad Caliphate Who were they? n Abdallah (son of Az-Zubayr who had challenged Ali for power) n Hussein (son of former Caliph, Ali) n both refused to give ‘baya’ – oath of allegiance to Yazid

The Umayyad Caliphate The Massacre: n Hussein: took army to Kufa (Iraq): set up capital n soon challenged by Yazid n Karbala: Yazid’s forces trapped Hussein -killed him and most of family n momentary ‘block’ on Alid family shia [sect] but NOT the end n Karbala still commemorated by shiites [see ‘Islam Divided’ video and lecture Feb. 6 for discussion]

The Umayyad Caliphate Abdallah: ‘the one who seeks sanctuary’ n went to Mecca: ‘saved’ from Yazid’s forces by Caliph’s early death n 683: proclaimed himself Caliph

The Umayyad Caliphate Damascas: n Mu’awiya, son of Yazid elected Caliph n died few weeks later [at this point Hoyland’s account begins]

The Umayyad Caliphate “Power Vacuum”: two main contenders n Abdallah – remained in Mecca n underlined commitment to Prophet on coinage n recognized in some Eastern provinces: “commander of the faithful” (coins) n but Mecca ‘far away’

The Umayyad Caliphate Second contender: n Marawan ibn al-Haim, Umayyad (same family as Mu’awiya) n strategically based Damascus: drew on army, networks build up by Mu’awiya

The Umayyad Caliphate “God turned a blind eye” [Hoyland]: n army brought Marawan to power n negotiated ‘truce’ with Byzantium: focused on building up power n named son Abd al-Malik as successor n 9 months later, Marawan died, Abd al-Malik became Caliph

The Umayyad Caliphate Legitimacy Challenged outside of Syria: n many continued to fight for son of Ali (‘Alids’) [critical moment in evolution of Islam itself – lecture Monday on ‘Islam Divided’] n Kharijites (“rebels”): opposed all dynastic government – Caliph should be most competent to enact God’s will

The Umayyad Caliphate Civil War 683 – 692: n Abd al-Malik allowed competing groups to fight each other: eventually became weakened by 692: caliph’s forces able to successfully take on Abdullah n with his death, Civil War ended

The Umayyad Caliphate Abd al-Malik: n recognized need to re-build, re-unite Arabs torn apart by over decade of civil war n tried to ‘harmonize’ systems of administration across region: - uniform coinage [note significance of coins to articulating power, unity – much more than currency] - Arabic made ‘official language’

The Umayyad Caliphate Renewed Mu’awiya’s earlier policy of having ‘Viceroy’ manage Eastern Territories: n was to enforce allegiance to Umayyads [these were territories where support for Alids strong, shia islam grew – see ‘Islam divided’, lecture Mon. Feb. 6] n crush any remaining ‘dissenters’

The Umayyad Caliphate Islam ‘elevated’: n policy of putting Islam ‘front and centre’ in all aspects of administration, bureaucracy [will return to with discussion of ‘Islam Evolving’, lecture Mon. Feb. 6]

The Umayyad Caliphate New Impetus to Empire: return to Conquest (most under son al-Walid) n first forays West: return to North Africa – conquered ‘to the shores of the Atlantic’ (Morocco) n moved into Spain: ‘Andalusia’ – to the frontiers of the Franks n then moved East: south-east frontier of Iran, Transoxania ‘to the borders of China’

The Umayyad Caliphate Within twenty-years, Umayyads had won submission from Spain, North Africa, Northern and Southern Iran, most of central Asia: n largest empire ever. . . Even compared to Roman Empire!

The Umayyad Caliphate North Africa: n region had remained marginal to Arab interests n much power had remained in hands of local Berbers (‘Moors’ of earlier lecture) n now turned Westwards to finally take control – all the way to the Atlantic!

The Umayyad Caliphate 650: shows remaining Byzantine control in North Africa

The Umayyad Caliphate Major Battles: Carthage n “the Prophetess”: fascinating story of ‘queen’ who was also prophet n when captured, gave her children into care of Arab ‘conqueror’ n he became their ‘protector’ (patron): when grown acquired posts in Arab army n because of her action, both her family and her ‘people’ survived, prospered under Arab rule

The Umayyad Caliphate Major Battles: Mauritania (western Algeria, Morocco) n most interesting aspect: undertaken by son of man captured, enslaved in conquest of Southern Iraq n he had been put to work in the new administration established there n he converted, was manumitted and ‘had risen quickly’ through the army ranks

The Umayyad Caliphate His Son: n followed same career path n served as Umayyad bureaucrat in key cities n became first Governor of Africa (North Africa) n captured Tangiers 708: most important settlement in region n command in hands of Berber freed man: Tariq ibn Ziyad [video: led army into Andalusia - later]

The Umayyad Caliphate Qayrawan: n now became centre of functioning government n implemented taxation system n tax payers were Africans and Berbers – all devoted Christians!

The Umayyad Caliphate South East Iran: n difficult region: ‘recalcitrant’ n 697: Military Commander told to ‘annihilate all opposition’ (to the caliphate) and enslave the people n he was son of Freed Slave (of Muhammad) who had already been Governor of Sistan 671 -3

The Umayyad Caliphate Poor strategy: disaster n“lured on by hopes of booty and glory” [Hoyland], over-extended availability of provisions for men and horses n forced to submit to humiliating peace n had to leave many hostages behind n died soon after (dishonour of failure? )

The Umayyad Caliphate Area remained beyond Arab control: two further attempts failed n interesting case: Commander made decision to ‘suspend further advance’ because of likelihood of failure n Caliph humiliated him, saw decision as ‘cowardly’ and insisted on continuing action

The Umayyad Caliphate Response: revolt n Commander organized men to revolt against Caliph n also sought support of local opposition n revolt failed but showed growing weakness, divisions in dynasty n thereafter, left region mostly alone: local elites ruled with relative autonomy

The Umayyad Caliphate To be continued. . . [See ‘Islam: Divided’ and ‘Islam: Evolution’, Lecture Mon. Feb. 6 for discussion specific aspects of this era and these events on the Religion of Islam]