Aghlabid dynasty facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Aghlabid dynasty الأغالبة  (Arabic) Banū al-Aghlab
800–909
Maximum extent of Aghlabid authority
Status	Vassal of the Abbasid Caliphate
Capital	Kairouan, with royal court at: al-Abbasiyya (800–876) Raqqada (876–909)
Common languages	Arabic
Religion	Sunni Islam (Hanafi, Mu'tazila)
Government	De jure caliphal governorate Emirate De facto autonomous Emirate from Caliphate
Emir
• 800–812	Ibrahim I ibn al-Aghlab ibn Salim
• 903–909	Abu Mudhar Ziyadat Allah III ibn Abdallah
History
• Established	800
• Overthrown by the Fatimids	909
• Disestablished	909
Currency	Aghlabid Dinar
Preceded by Succeeded by Abbasid Caliphate Fatimid Caliphate

The Aghlabid dynasty (pronounced Ah-GLAH-bid) was a powerful Arab family that ruled a large area in North Africa called Ifriqiya (modern-day Tunisia) from 800 to 909 AD. They were officially under the Abbasid Caliphate, a huge Islamic empire. However, the Aghlabids acted mostly on their own. They conquered parts of Sicily, Southern Italy, and possibly Sardinia. The Aghlabids followed a branch of Sunni Islam and were known for their strong beliefs. Their rule ended in 909 when a new powerful group, the Fatimids, took over.

How the Aghlabid Dynasty Began

Becoming Independent and Strong

In the year 800, the Abbasid Caliph, Harun al-Rashid, chose Ibrahim I ibn al-Aghlab to be the ruler, or Emir, of Ifriqiya. Ibrahim's father was an Arab commander. This appointment happened because the region was in chaos.

At that time, about 100,000 Arabs lived in Ifriqiya. However, the local Berbers were still the largest group. Many Arab settlers had moved from Syria and Iraq to North Africa.

Ibrahim was given control over an area that included parts of modern-day eastern Algeria, Tunisia, and Tripolitania. Even though they were almost fully independent, the Aghlabids always recognized the Abbasid Caliph as their higher ruler. They paid a yearly tribute of 800,000 dirhams. Their loyalty was also mentioned during Friday prayers.

After bringing peace to the region, Ibrahim ibn al-Aghlab built a new capital city called al-Abbasiyya. It was built outside Kairouan between 801 and 810. He did this partly to keep a distance from religious scholars. These scholars often criticized the Aghlabids' luxurious lifestyle. They also disagreed with some of the Aghlabids' religious views.

The Aghlabids also built important defenses. These included fortresses called ribats in coastal cities like Sousse and Monastir. They also improved the irrigation systems. This helped farming. They built and improved public buildings and mosques across Ifriqiya.

The Aghlabid army had two main parts. The first was the jund, which were Arab soldiers. The second part was made up of enslaved people. This group helped balance the power of the jund. About 5,000 enslaved black people were part of the army in Abbasiya.

Under Ziyadat Allah I (who ruled from 817 to 838), the Arab troops rebelled in 824. This was a very serious challenge to the Aghlabid rulers. The rebellion was led by Mansur ibn Nasr al-Tunbudhi. The rebels took over Tunis and Kairouan. However, the Aghlabids fought back and killed Mansur. Another leader, Amir ibn Nafi', took over the rebels. But eventually, the emir won with help from the Ibadite Berbers. The rebellion was finally crushed in 827.

In 838 or 839, the southwestern province of Qastiliya (the Djerid region) revolted. This area was mostly home to Ibadi Muslims. The Aghlabids recaptured Tozeur, its main city, that same year.

Conquering Sicily

In 827, soon after Ziyadat Allah stopped the rebellion, the Aghlabids began to conquer Sicily. Asad ibn al-Furat, a judge from Kairouan, led the Aghlabid army. The reason for this invasion was a revolt in Byzantine Sicily. A military leader named Euphemios asked the Aghlabids for help.

Even though the Aghlabids and the Umayyad Emirate of Cordoba (in Spain) were rivals, the Muslims from Spain also sent ships to help. A combined force of 300 Umayyad and Aghlabid ships was recorded. The Aghlabid soldiers in Mineo contacted the Spanish Umayyads. They agreed to join forces. Together, they marched on Mineo.

The conquest of Sicily was slow and took many years. It moved from west to east. Palermo was captured in 831. It became the capital of Muslim rule on the island. Messina was taken in 842 or 843. This city became a base for attacks on the Italian mainland. Syracuse was captured in 878. The island was fully conquered by 902, when Taormina was taken. However, some local Christian resistance continued until 967. This was long after the Aghlabid dynasty had ended.

Campaigns in Italy

While conquering Sicily, the Aghlabids also started campaigns on the Italian mainland. Their attacks on Calabria and Apulia were likely meant to help their conquest of Sicily. They aimed to attack other Byzantine areas in the region. The first major expeditions to the peninsula happened between 835 and 843. Amantea was taken in 839 or 846. Taranto was captured in 840. Bari was captured by Muslims around 840 or 847.

Rome was attacked by a Muslim force in 846. However, it is not certain if these attackers came from Aghlabid territory. Another attack towards Rome happened in 849. This led to a big naval battle near Ostia. A fleet of Muslim ships was destroyed. This stopped Muslim advances on the peninsula.

Many Muslim forces in Italy did not have strong ties to the Aghlabid dynasty. Some Muslim soldiers even worked for local Italian rulers. For example, the early Muslim rulers of Bari seemed to have been soldiers for Radelchis I of Benevento. The Emirate of Bari, which existed from 847 to 871, had its own rulers. Their relationship with the Aghlabids is not fully clear.

Malta, Sardinia, and Corsica

The Aghlabids also conquered the island of Malta in 870. They attacked or raided Sardinia and Corsica. Some historians believe Sardinia came under Aghlabid control around 810 or after 827. However, many modern historians and archaeologists say there isn't enough proof for a full Muslim conquest of Sardinia. They believe Muslim attacks were mostly raids.

Golden Age in Ifriqiya

The expansion into Sicily brought new wealth to the Aghlabid state. It also gave the restless Arab soldiers a new focus for their energy. At home, the Aghlabid rulers faced criticism from Maliki religious scholars. These scholars were very influential. The Aghlabids dealt with this by giving the Maliki scholars important religious jobs. They also gave money to the poor and helped build and expand mosques. This helped create more peace and stability in Ifriqiya after 827.

Farming and trade across the Sahara Desert grew under Aghlabid rule. This led to a strong economy and more people living in cities. The Aghlabid kingdom reached its peak under Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Aghlabi (who ruled from 856 to 863). Ifriqiya became a major economic power. It was a key trading point between the Islamic world, the Byzantine Empire, and Italy. The slave trade was especially profitable.

Kairouan became the most important center for learning in the Maghreb (North Africa). It was famous for theology (study of religion) and law. It was also a place where poets gathered. The Aghlabid rulers supported building projects. They rebuilt the Great Mosque of Kairouan. Their buildings combined styles from Abbasid and Byzantine architecture. In 876, Ibrahim II ibn Ahmad moved his home to a new palace-city called Raqqada. This new city had a mosque, baths, a market, and several palaces. Ibrahim II lived in a palace called Qasr al-Fath (Palace of Victory). This remained the home of future rulers.

Decline and Fall

The Aghlabid dynasty started to decline under Ibrahim II (who ruled from 875 to 902). They had to fight off an attack from Egypt. They also had to put down a large rebellion by the Berbers. In 893, a new movement began among the Kutama Berbers. This was the Isma'ili Fatimids, led by Abu Abdallah al-Shi'i. It took almost ten years for them to seriously threaten Aghlabid power.

In 902, Ibrahim II became the only Aghlabid emir to personally lead a military campaign in Sicily and Italy. While he was away, Abu Abdallah attacked and captured the city of Mila in eastern Algeria. This news caused a strong reaction from the Aghlabids. They sent 12,000 men from Tunis. Abu Abdallah's forces had to flee.

Ibrahim II died in October 902 while fighting in Italy. His son, Abdallah II, took over. On July 27, 903, Abdallah was killed. His son, Ziyadat Allah III, became ruler. He based himself in Tunis. These internal problems gave Abu Abdallah a chance to recapture Mila. He then went on to capture Setif by late 904. Other Aghlabid attempts to stop him failed.

In 907, Ziyadat Allah III moved his court back to Raqqada and made it stronger. Later in 907, the strong city of Baghaya fell to the Kutama. This created a weakness in Ifriqiya's defenses and caused panic in Raqqada. Ziyadat Allah III tried to get more support against the Fatimids. He also prepared to defend Kairouan. In 908, he led his army in a battle against the Kutama. Neither side won clearly. During the winter of 908-909, Abu Abdallah conquered the region around Chott el-Jerid. An Aghlabid counterattack failed.

On February 25, 909, Abu Abdallah set out with a huge army for a final invasion of Kairouan. The remaining Aghlabid army met them on March 18. The battle lasted all afternoon. A group of Kutama horsemen outflanked the Aghlabid army, causing them to flee. When news of the defeat reached Raqqada, Ziyadat Allah III gathered his treasures and fled towards Egypt. The people of Kairouan looted the abandoned palaces of Raqqada.

On March 25, 909, Abu Abdallah entered Raqqada and made it his home. That same year, his forces brought the Fatimid caliph, Abdallah al-Mahdi, to Ifriqiya. This marked the beginning of the Fatimid Caliphate.

Aghlabid Religion

The Aghlabids followed the Mu'tazilite way of thinking within Hanafi Sunni Islam. This rationalist idea became the official belief of the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad during the rule of Caliph Al-Ma'mun (813–833). However, most people in Ifriqiya followed the Maliki school of thought. They strongly disagreed with the Mu'tazilite idea that the Qur'an was created and not eternal.

Even though the Aghlabids knew the Maliki religious leaders were powerful, they did not change their government system to match Maliki beliefs. The main judge (qāḍī) of Kairouan followed the Hanafi school. He supported the idea that the Qur'an was created. The Aghlabids often chose people from Iraq to be their high-ranking judges.

Still, the Aghlabids tried to improve their religious standing. Some Malikis were treated badly for not accepting Mu'tazilite beliefs. For example, Sahsun was persecuted during the rule of Muhammad I ibn al-Aghlab (841–856). The Aghlabids also spent a lot of money on religious buildings. They rebuilt the Al-Zaytuna Mosque by 864.

As Sunni Muslims, the Aghlabids were loyal to the Abbasid caliphs in Baghdad. This showed the Abbasids' influence in Ifriqiya. The Aghlabids had difficult relations with the Rustamid dynasty of Tahert. The Rustamids followed a different branch of Islam called Kharijite Ibadi. Their relations with the Idrisid dynasty of Fez were also tense. The Idrisids were Zaydi Shi'ites and wanted to expand their territory. The Aghlabids also had a hostile relationship with the Umayyads in the Emirate of Cordoba (Spain).

Aghlabid Architecture

An Aghlabid cistern in Kairouan

The Aghlabids were great builders. They created many of the oldest Islamic buildings in modern-day Tunisia. These include military structures like the Ribat of Sousse and the Ribat of Monastir. They also built religious buildings like the Great Mosque of Sousse and the Great Mosque of Sfax. They also created useful structures like the Aghlabid Reservoirs in Kairouan. Many of their buildings, even mosques, looked strong and almost like fortresses. They left behind an important artistic style.

The Great Mosque of Kairouan, rebuilt by Ziyadat Allah I in 836

One of the most important Aghlabid buildings is the Great Mosque of Kairouan. Emir Ziyadat Allah I completely rebuilt it in 836. The mosque has a huge rectangular courtyard. It also has a large prayer hall with many columns. Its thick, three-story minaret (tower for the call to prayer) is the oldest surviving one in North Africa. Its shape might have been inspired by old Roman lighthouses.

The mihrab (a niche showing the direction of prayer) in the prayer hall is one of the oldest of its kind. It is beautifully decorated with marble panels. These panels have carved plant designs. It also has ceramic tiles with special glazes. Next to the mihrab is the oldest surviving minbar (pulpit) in the world. It is made of richly carved teakwood panels. Both the carved panels and the ceramic tiles are thought to have come from Abbasid Iraq. A beautiful dome in front of the mihrab wall is a highlight of this period's architecture. Its light design is different from the heavy look of the rest of the mosque. The dome's base is decorated with arches and carved designs.

The Mosque of the Three Doors has an outside wall with carved writings in Kufic script and plant designs. Some experts say this is the oldest decorated outside wall in Islamic architecture. It might also have the oldest inscription that credits a private person, not a ruler, for building a mosque. The al-Zaytuna Mosque in Tunis was founded earlier, around 698. However, its current shape is mostly thanks to the Aghlabid emir Abu Ibrahim Ahmad (who ruled from 856 to 863).

Aghlabid Rulers

Gold dinar of Ibrahim I ibn al-Aghlab (184–196 AH), anonymous (but dynastic motto 'Ghalab' on the reverse), no mint name (probably Kairouan, Ifriqiya). Struck in 192 AH (807/808 AD). Preserved at the Musée national d'art islamique de Raqqada [fr].

Here is a list of the Aghlabid rulers and when they reigned:

• Ibrahim I ibn al-Aghlab ibn Salim (800–812)
• Abdallah I ibn Ibrahim (812–817)
• Ziyadat Allah I ibn Ibrahim (817–838)
• al-Aghlab Abu Iqal ibn Ibrahim (838–841)
• Abu 'l-Abbas Muhammad I ibn al-Aghlab Abi Affan (841–856)
• Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Aghlabi (856–863)
• Ziyadat Allah II ibn Abil-Abbas (863)
• Abu 'l-Gharaniq Muhammad II ibn Ahmad (863–875)
• Abu Ishaq Ibrahim II ibn Ahmad (875–902)
• Abu 'l-Abbas Abdallah II ibn Ibrahim (902–903)
• Abu Mudhar Ziyadat Allah III ibn Abdallah (903–909)

Family Tree

See also

• Battle of Manu
• History of medieval Tunisia
• History of Islam in southern Italy
• List of Sunni dynasties
• History of Algeria
• History of Libya
• Early Caliphate navy