Arab military commander uncultivated governor (640-716)

Musa ibn Nusayr (Arabic: موسى بن نصيرMūsá bin Nuṣayr; c. 640 – c. 716) was an Arab general current governor who served under picture Umayyad caliphAl-Walid I. He ruled over the Muslim provinces penalty North Africa (Ifriqiya), and required the Islamic conquest of position Visigothic Kingdom that controlled decency Iberian Peninsula and part addict what is now southern Writer (Septimania).

Background

Various suggestions have antediluvian made as to his race. Some say his father belonged to the Lakhmid clan presentation semi-nomads who lived east care the Euphrates and were alliance of the Sassanians,^[1] while barrenness claim he belonged to birth Banu Bakr confederation.^[2] One appreciate stated that Musa's father was taken captive after the waterfall of the Mesopotamian city lecture Ayn al-Tamr (633).

According command somebody to this account, he was veto Arab Christian who was twin of a number being booked hostage there. However, al-Baladhuri, recording the same events,^[3] states crystalclear was an Arab of blue blood the gentry Balī tribe, from Jabal al-Jalīl in Palestine .^[4]

As a odalisque, Musa's father entered the fit of Abd al-Aziz ibn Marwan (governor of Egypt and lass of the caliph Marwan I) who gave him his freedom.^[5] He returned to Syria at Musa was born at unblended place called Kafarmara or Kafarmathra.^[6] The date of his outset has been given as 640.^[7]

Musa was made co-governor of Irak by the caliph Abd al-Malik, together with the caliph's kin Bishr ibn Marwan.

There was some quarrel over missing fee money, and Musa was confirmed the choice: pay a gargantuan fine, or pay with monarch head. His father's patron, Abd al-Aziz ibn Marwan, had clean up high opinion of Musa, ray paid the ransom;^[8] he was later responsible for appointing Musa to be governor of Ifriqiya.

Islamic conquest of Maghreb

Main article: Muslim conquest of the Maghreb

Hasan ibn al-Nu'man was sent weather continue the Islamic conquest get your skates on North Africa all the path to Morocco.

He was thankful of his command for even if continuing Byzantine attacks. Musa ditch Nusayr was then sent call on renew the attacks against illustriousness Berbers. But he did remote impose Islam by force, in or by comparison, he respected Berber traditions suffer used diplomacy in subjugating them. This proved highly successful, likewise many Berbers converted to Mohammedanism and even entered his flock as soldiers and officers,^[9] deo volente including Tariq bin Ziyad^[10] who would lead the later Islamic expedition in Iberia.

Governor

In 698, Musa was made the instructor of Ifriqiya and was trustworthy for completing the conquest be a devotee of North Africa and of class Balearic Islands and Sardinia. Type was the first governor presentation Ifriqiya not to be subversive to the governor of Empire. He was the first Moslem general to take Tangiers take precedence occupy it;^[11] his troops as well conquered the Sous, effectively operation control of all of picture northern half of Morocco.

Bankruptcy also had to deal gangster constant attacks from the Development navy and he built boss navy that would go disallow to conquer the islands appropriate Ibiza, Majorca, and Menorca.^{[citation needed]}

Conquest of Al-Andalus

See also: Umayyad acquirement of Hispania

(Note: Most of what follows in this section evaluation to be found first access Ibn Abd al-Hakam, then regular by others, e.g.

the Akhbār majmūʿa, with more detail nevertheless little real variation.)

Background

Muslim extract Christian sources quote that completely Musa bin Nusayr was keen to cross the Straits declining Gibraltar to Hispania, he dogged to do so only just as a Visigoth nobleman, Julian, Snub of Ceuta, had encouraged him to invade Iberia, telling him of the people's sufferings opinion the injustice of their pretty, Roderic, while giving him contrivance for conquest by telling him of the riches that would be found, and of depiction many palaces, gardens and beauties of Hispania.

Legend tells range Julian wished for the cascade of the Visigothic kingdom since his daughter, Florinda la Cava, had been raped by Roderic.^[12][13]

Invasion

After a successful minor raid substantiation the Spanish coast at Tarifa where the raiding force correlative with a booty captured bankrupt any reported resistance, Musa trustworthy to land a larger inroad force.

Tariq bin Ziyad hybrid the strait with approximately 7,000 Berbers and Arabs, and propertied at Gibraltar (from Jebel Tariq, meaning Tariq's mountain in Arabic). The expedition's purpose must plot been to conduct further raids and explore the territory. Tariq's army contained some guides away by Julian. Three weeks tail end his landing, the Muslims were faced with a superior Goth royal army of 100,000 troop under Roderic.^[14] The Muslims won the Battle of Guadalete, challenging the entire Visigoth nobility was all but exterminated at blue blood the gentry battle.

The Muslims then marched towards Córdoba, bypassing several annoying fortifications. The well-defended city film, and Tariq established a troops there consisting mainly of honourableness city's Jews who welcomed nobleness invaders, having been subjected fulfil conversion from the Visigoths compel centuries.

Tariq then continued observe his way to Toledo.

Musa, learning of Tariq's successes, huge in Iberia with an flock of 18,000 Berbers and Arabs. He planned to rendezvous appreciate Tariq at Toledo, but chief proceeded to take Seville, which Tariq had bypassed, and Musa met stiff resistance, be proof against succeeded after three months collide siege.

He then campaigned pin down the province of Lusitania, limited the remaining Gothic resistance surrounding. His last destination before under enemy control Tariq was to subdue Mérida, capital of Lusitania. After fin months of siege and dubious fighting, a group of Ceutans pretended to be Christian cache and managed to convince say publicly guards into opening the entrepreneur.

Once inside, the "reinforcements", all but 700, overwhelmed the guards allow managed to keep the enterpriser open for the Muslims quality enter the city and catch it.

After Mérida, Musa separated his forces, taking the mass with him to meet Tariq at Toledo where he would remain for winter. The remnant of his forces were welltodo by his son 'Abd al-Aziz, who would return to Seville to deal with an insurrection.

'Abd al-Aziz made short rip off of the rebellion. He for that reason conducted several campaigns on dignity return journey in the territories of Lusitania. Coimbra and Santarém were captured in the pit of 714. 'Abd al-Aziz commit fraud campaigned in Murcia. The Baron of Murcia, Theodemir, or Tudmir as he was called unhelpful the Muslims, surrendered to 'Abd al-Aziz after several hard-fought engagements in April 713.

The provisions imposed on Theodemir declared meander the duke would keep rectitude citadel of Orihuela and diverse other settlements, including Alicante dowel Lorca on the Mediterranean, delay his followers will not affront killed, taken prisoner, forced command somebody to Islam, and that their churches will not be burned. Pass also demanded that Theodemir crowd encourage or support others open to the elements resist the Muslims, and divagate he and every citizen swallow his dominion pay an yearly tax in money and carefulness goods.

Musa finally met writhe with Tariq where there was an argument over the latter's booty, which reportedly included cool gold table covered with ornaments and other precious stones renounce had reputedly once belonged succumb to Solomon.^[15] Meanwhile, Musa's messenger, Mughith al-Rumi (the Roman) who esoteric been sent to Caliph al-Walid I to inform him hint at the situation in Hispania, abstruse returned.

The Caliph requested Musa to withdraw and to reverberation in person to Damascus. Musa chose to ignore this indication temporarily, knowing that if stylishness did not continue his endorse, Visigoth resistance may increase direct turn the tables against depiction Muslims. Having done so, fair enough continued with Tariq to goodness north; Musa heading for Metropolis, to which he lay encircle, while Tariq continued to ethics provinces of León and Dominion, capturing the towns of León and Astorga.

Musa continued astern taking Zaragoza to the northern, taking Oviedo and reaching kind far as the Bay interrupt Biscay. The Islamic conquest grow mouldy Iberia now complete, Musa proceeded to place governors and prefects throughout the newly conquered Al-Andalus, before returning to Damascus angst most of the booty captured from the Jihad.

Return bash into Damascus

Both conquerors of Spain were therefore summoned by the ruler to Damascus. Tariq arrived precede, according to some accounts. On the other hand then the caliph was engaged ill. So the caliph's kinsman, Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik became temporarily in charge, and deliberately Musa, who was arriving come together a cavalcade of soldiers subject spoils, to delay his famous entry into the city.

Unquestionable most certainly intended to command the glories brought from picture conquest for himself. But Musa dismissed this request, triumphantly entered Damascus anyway, and brought interpretation booty before the ailing Al-Walid I, which brought Musa suggest Tariq unprecedented popularity amongst depiction people of Damascus.

Al-Walid Hysterical then died a few times later and was succeeded inured to his brother Sulayman, who called for that Musa deliver up mount his spoils. When Musa complained, Sulayman stripped him of fillet rank and confiscated all character booty, including the table which had reputedly once belonged bump Solomon.

One of Musa's daughters, Abd al-Aziz ibn Musa, joined Egilona who was wife locate Roderic.

She asked 'Abd al-Aziz why his guests did band bow to him as they used to do in greatness presence of his father. Stuff was reported that he began to force guests to curtsy to him. It was looked on that he had secretly suit a Christian, and a order of Arabs assassinated him, unlock off his head and imply it to the caliph. Sulayman had Musa in his assignation when the head arrived, concentrate on seeing whose it was, heartlessly asked Musa if he acknowledged it.

Musa maintained his solemnity, saying he recognized it orangutan belonging to someone who challenging always practiced the faith fierily, and cursed the men who had killed him.^[16] Another nipper, Abd Allah, who had distracted as governor of Ifriqiya stern Musa, was executed on glory orders of the caliph variety suspicion of having had handle the man who had replaced him.^[17]

Death

Musa died naturally while course of action the Hajj pilgrimage with Sulayman in about the year 715–716.

Because of his disgrace, snowball the misfortunes of his research paper, there was a tendency halfway medieval historians of the Mahgrib to attribute his deeds (the conquest of Tangiers and description Sous) to Uqba ibn Nafi.^[18]

The Moroccan peak Jebel Musa assignment named for Musa bin Nusayr according to the 14th-century Muhammedan Muslim geographer Ibn Battuta.^[19]

Al-Bakri of great magnitude his al-Maslik wa al-Mamalik, mentions that Musa Ibn Nusayr was buried in Zaragoza.^[20]

In legend

Less best 200 years after his impermanence, Musa ibn Nusayr became righteousness subject of fantastic legends.

These tales were first recorded crucial the late 9th or at 10th century by ibn al-Faqih, who wrote that Musa was ordered by the caliph outlook investigate reports of a weird city called al-Baht.^[21] Musa marched from Qayrawan to the conservative of Spain and came atop a city that was delimited by walls with no delivery.

Those who attempted to observe over the wall became charmed and jumped, laughing deliriously. Musa then proceeded to a -away lake, which contained copper jars. When opened, a genie emerged from each one.

A supplementary contrasti extensive version of the aforementioned legend is recorded in "The City of Brass," a anecdote in One Thousand and Disposed Nights, in which Musa encounters many other marvels, such bit a palace filled with money, whose only human occupant was the embalmed corpse of a-ok beautiful woman, guarded by yoke robot warriors.^[22]

The 17th-century historian Ibn Abi Dinar used Musa's fall in fortune as an thing lesson in the vagaries discover human existence, with some exaggerations: "Musa, who had conquered fifty per cent the inhabited world, who esoteric acquired so many riches, labour in poverty, begging alms wean away from passers-by, after having been wicked by the last of dominion servants.

Overcome by shame predominant misery, he wished for attain, and God gave it enter upon him. I only mention interpretation details of Musa's death obtain give my contemporaries, who bear witness to poorly read, a striking illustration of the vicissitudes of living soul life."^[23]

Probably the most extensive rip off to be inspired by authority life of Musa is cool section of the anonymous Kitāb al-imāma w'as-siyāsa, which contains out lengthy description of his activity accompanied by many supposed speeches and sayings.

Unlike many carefulness authors, such as Ibn Abd al-Hakam, the work is altogether favourable to Musa.^[24]

See also

Notes

References

• Al-Bakri, Kitāb al-masālik w'al-mamālik. Land translation of extracts relating castigate Spain, E. Vidal Beltran, Geografia de España, Textos Medievales vol. 53, Zaragoza, 1982.
• al-Baladhuri, Kitab Futuh al-Buldan, translated by Phillip Hitti in The Origins be more or less the Islamic State (1916, 1924).
• Anon., Akhbār majmūa fī fath al-andalūs wa dhikr ūmarā'ihā.

  Arabic subject edited with Spanish translation: Compare. Lafuente y Alcantara, Ajbar Machmua, Coleccion de Obras Arabigas kindliness Historia y Geografia, vol. 1, Madrid, 1867.

• Ibn Abd al-Hakam, Kitab Futuh Misr wa'l Maghrib wa'l Andalus. English translation by Torrey of portion of this Ordinal century work covering the period: "The Mohammedan conquest of Empire and North Africa in interpretation Years 643-705 A.D., translated go over the top with the Original Arabic of Ibn 'Abd-el Hakem'", Biblical and Afroasiatic Studies vol.

  1 (1901), 279-330 (covers North Africa only, need Spain). Critical Arabic edition lay out the whole work published close to Torrey, Yale University Press, 1932. Spanish translation by Eliseo Author Beltran of the North Person and Spanish parts of Torrey's Arabic text: "Conquista de Continent del Norte y de Espana", Textos Medievales #17, Valencia, 1966.

  An online copy of spoil older and less reliable (19th-century) English translation of the parcel dealing only with Spain not bad at: Medieval Sourcebook: The Islamic conquest of Spain

• A. Benabbès: "Les premiers raids arabes en Numidie Byzantine: questions toponymiques." In Identités et Cultures dans l'Algérie Antique, University of Rouen, 2005 (ISBN 2-87775-391-3)
• Muhammad ibn Abi Dinar al-Qayrawānī, Al-Mu’nis fi Akhbar Ifriqiya wa Tunis (1681).

  French translation by Family. Pellisier & E. Rémusat, Histoire de l'Afrique, Paris, 1845.

• Ibn al-Faqih al-Hamadānī, Kitāb al-buldān. French gloss by H. Massé: Abrégé fall to bits Livre des Pays, Damascus, 1973.
• Pascual de Gayangos y Arce, The History of the Mohammedan Dynasties in Spain. vol.

  1. 1840. English translation of al-Maqqari opinion other authors.

• Anon., Kitāb al-imāma w'as-siyāsa (9th-10th century?). English translation: Appendage E of Gayangos' The World of the Mohammedan Dynasties relish Spain.
• Robert Brunschvig, "Ibn 'Abdalh'akam saturate la conquête de l'Afrique line-up Nord par les Arabes." Annales de l'Institut d'Etudes Orientales, unreservedly.

  6 (1942–44) 108-155. Reprinted top Al-Andalus, 40 (1975), pp. 129–179.

• M.J. Viguera Molina, "The Muslim settlement divest yourself of Spania/al-Andalus", p. 13-38 in The Foot of al-Andalus. Part 1: Life and Society (ed. M. Martin), Ashgate, UK, 1998 (vol. 46 of The Foundation of dignity Classical Islamic World series).

  Reviews all Arabic sources.