Abû 'Umar ibn Sa'îd facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Abû ‘Umar ibn Sa’îd
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| Born |
Tavira, Portugal
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| Died | 1287 |
Abû ‘Umar ibn Sa’îd (Arabic: أبو عمر بن سعيد) was the last ruler, or ra’îs, of Manûrqa (which is now Menorca). He was the son of Abû 'Uthmân Sa'îd ibn Hakam al Qurashi. Abû ‘Umar ruled from 1282 until his death around 1287.
Contents
Abû ‘Umar's Early Challenges
In his first year as ruler, Abû ‘Umar faced a big challenge. King Peter III of Aragon and his fleet sailed past Manûrqa. They were on their way to Constantine in North Africa. Peter had a secret plan with Bugron, the Lord of Constantine. Bugron was going to become a Christian and give his city to the Crown of Aragon.
Abû ‘Umar found out about this secret plan. He quickly sent messengers to North Africa to warn everyone. Because of his warning, Bugron was caught and executed. King Peter's surprise attack was also stopped.
The Invasion of Menorca
Years later, King Peter and King James II of Majorca had a disagreement. James II was the "vassal lord" of Menorca. This meant he was a powerful lord who had some control over the island.
King Alfons III of Aragon, Peter's son, decided to get involved. He left Salou on November 22, 1286, with a large army. His goal was to invade Manûrqa. This was partly to get revenge for Abû ‘Umar ibn Sa’îd and also for James II.
Alfons's forces arrived on January 5, 1287. Abû ‘Umar ibn Sa’îd had prepared for this. He hired soldiers from North Africa to help defend his island.
The Battle for Manûrqa
The first big battle happened on January 17. King Alfons won this fight. Abû ‘Umar ibn Sa’îd and some of his loyal followers had to escape. They fled to a strong fortress near Madina al Jazira. Today, this fortress is known as the fortress of Santa Àgueda.
Surrender and Final Journey
On January 21, Abû ‘Umar ibn Sa’îd realized his situation was hopeless. His forces were greatly outnumbered. He decided to surrender and signed a peace agreement. This agreement was called the Treaty of San Agayz.
The treaty allowed Abû ‘Umar to leave the island. He could take two hundred of his followers with him. He also took his father's remains, his personal library, and fifty swords. King Alfons gave him a ship, which was sailed by a man from Genoa.
Sadly, according to historical accounts, the ship ran into a terrible storm off the coast of North Africa. The ship was destroyed, and there were no survivors. Abû ‘Umar ibn Sa’îd was the last independent ruler of Manûrqa.
See also
In Spanish: Abu-Úmar ibn Saíd para niños
