Yazaman al-Khadim facts for kids

Yazaman (also spelled Yazman), known as al-Khadim (meaning "the eunuch"), was a brave military leader and governor of Tarsus. He worked for the Abbasids, a powerful empire at the time. From 882 until his death in 891, he was the main military commander in the Muslim border areas near the Byzantine Empire in a region called Cilicia. Yazaman was famous for leading many attacks against the Byzantines.

His Life and Battles

Yazaman first appears in history around September or October 882. At that time, he was a mawla (a type of servant or follower) to a leader named al-Fath ibn Khaqan. He was attacked and put in prison by Khalaf al-Farghani, who was the governor of the Cilician borderlands. This governor was appointed by Ahmad ibn Tulun, a ruler who had taken control of Egypt and Syria.

However, the local people of Tarsus freed Yazaman. They then rebelled against Ibn Tulun's rule. They chose Yazaman as their new leader and decided to support the Abbasid empire again. Ibn Tulun marched towards Tarsus to fight them, but the people were clever. They opened the water gates and flooded the land around the city. This forced Ibn Tulun to go back to Damascus without achieving anything.

Facing the Byzantines

In 883, Yazaman faced a large Byzantine army. This army was sent to attack Tarsus and was led by a general named Kesta Stypeiotes. Yazaman decided to surprise them. During the night of September 11, he attacked the Byzantine camp, which was about 12 kilometers from Tarsus.

The Byzantines were caught off guard and scattered. Stypeiotes and other important Byzantine generals were killed. Yazaman's forces captured a lot of valuable goods.

Soon after this victory, Yazaman led a major naval raid. He took 30 large ships and sailed to attack the fortress of Euripos (Chalkis). However, this attack did not go well. The local governor of Hellas, Oineiates, fought them off. Yazaman's forces suffered heavy losses.

The historian al-Tabari wrote that Yazaman also led a land raid in early 886. He went far into enemy territory and returned to Tarsus with no losses, but with many captured goods and prisoners. Later that same year, he probably led another naval raid and captured four Byzantine ships.

Later Years and Death

Even though he had opposed them before, Yazaman swore loyalty to the Tulunids in 890. This was under Khumarawayh, Ibn Tulun's son.

On October 4, 891, a Tulunid officer named Ahmad ibn Tughan al-Ujayfi arrived in Tarsus. Together, Yazaman and al-Ujayfi led another raid against Byzantine lands. The Muslim forces began to surround a Byzantine fortress called Salandu. But on October 22, Yazaman was badly hurt by a stone thrown from a catapult.

Because their leader was wounded, the Muslim forces had to stop their attack. Yazaman died the very next day on the way back to Tarsus. His soldiers carried his body back to the city and buried him at a place called the "Gate of Jihad." Ahmad ibn Tughan al-Ujayfi took over as governor after him. Tarsus remained under Tulunid control until 897, when the Abbasids took it back.

Yazaman's Legacy

Yazaman's death was a big loss for the Muslims. They saw him as one of their bravest heroes, alongside other great leaders like Umar al-Aqta and Ali al-Armani. Arab writings mention that the sailors who served under him were known for their courage.

According to a 10th-century account by al-Mas'udi, a Greek man who converted to Islam told him something amazing. He said that Yazaman was one of ten famous Muslim leaders whose pictures were displayed in some Byzantine churches. This was done to honor their bravery, even though they were enemies.

Sources

• Fields, Philip M., ed. (1987). The History of al-Ṭabarī, Volume XXXVII: The ʿAbbāsid Recovery: The War Against the Zanj Ends, A.D. 879–893/A.H. 266–279. SUNY Series in Near Eastern Studies.. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press. ISBN 978-0-88706-054-0. https://books.google.com/books?id=igltYwUE764C.