Tarikh (al-Tabari) 3157
The Year 201 AH
ذِكْرُ مَا فَتَحَهُ زِيَادَةُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْأَغْلَبِ مِنْ جَزِيرَةِ صِقِلِّيَّةَ وَمَا كَانَ فِيهَا مِنَ الْحُرُوبِ إِلَى أَنْ تُوُفِّيَ فِي سَنَةِ اثْنَتَيْ عَشْرَةَ وَمِائَتَيْنِ جَهَّزَ زِيَادَةُ اللَّهِ جَيْشًا فِي الْبَحْرِ، وَسَيَّرَهُمْ إِلَى جَزِيرَةِ صِقِلِّيَّةَ، وَاسْتَعْمَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ أَسَدَ بْنَ الْفُرَاتِ، قَاضِي الْقَيْرَوَانِ، وَهُوَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ مَالِكٍ، وَهُوَ مُصَنِّفُ الْأَسَدِيَّةِ ( فِي الْفِقْهِ عَلَى مَذْهَبِ مَالِكٍ )، فَلَمَّا وَصَلُوا إِلَيْهَا مَلَكُوا كَثِيرًا مِنْهَا. وَكَانَ سَبَبَ إِنْفَاذِ الْجَيْشِ أَنَّ مَلِكَ الرُّومِ بِالْقُسْطَنْطِينِيَّةِ اسْتَعْمَلَ عَلَى جَزِيرَةِ صِقِلِّيَّةَ بِطْرِيقًا اسْمُهُ قُسْطَنْطِينُ سَنَةَ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ وَمِائَتَيْنِ، فَلَمَّا وَصَلَ إِلَيْهَا اسْتَعْمَلَ عَلَى جَيْشِ الْأُسْطُولِ إِنْسَانًا رُومِيًّا اسْمُهُ فِيمِي، كَانَ حَازِمًا شُجَاعًا، فَغَزَا إِفْرِيقِيَّةَ، وَأَخَذَ مِنْ سَوَاحِلِهَا تُجَّارًا، وَنَهَبَ، وَبَقِيَ هُنَاكَ مُدَيْدَةً. ثُمَّ إِنَّ مَلِكَ الرُّومِ كَتَبَ إِلَى قُسْطَنْطِينَ ( يَأْمُرُهُ بِالْقَبْضِ ) عَلَى فِيمِي، مُقَدِّمِ الْأُسْطُولِ، وَتَعْذِيبِهِ، فَبَلَغَ الْخَبَرُ إِلَى فِيمِي، فَأَعْلَمَ أَصْحَابَهُ فَغَضِبُوا لَهُ، وَأَعَانُوهُ عَلَى الْمُخَالَفَةِ، فَسَارَ فِي مَرَاكِبِهِ إِلَى صِقِلِّيَّةَ، وَاسْتَوْلَى عَلَى مَدِينَةِ سَرَقُوسَةَ، فَسَارَ إِلَيْهِ قُسْطَنْطِينُ ( فَالْتَقَوْا وَاقْتَتَلُوا، فَانْهَزَمَ قُسْطَنْطِينُ ) إِلَى مَدِينَةِ قَطَانِيَةَ، فَسَيَّرَ إِلَيْهِ فِيمِي جَيْشًا، فَهَرَبَ مِنْهُمْ، فَأَخَذَ وَقَتَلَ، وَخُوطِبَ فِيمِي بِالْمَلِكِ، وَاسْتَعْمَلَ عَلَى نَاحِيَةٍ مِنَ الْجَزِيرَةِ رَجُلًا اسْمُهُ بَلَاطَهْ، فَخَالَفَ عَلَى فِيمِي، وَعَصَى، وَاتَّفَقَ هُوَ وَابْنُ عَمٍّ لَهُ اسْمُهُ مِيخَائِيلُ، وَهُوَ وَالِي مَدِينَةِ بَلَرْمَ، وَجَمَعَا عَسْكَرًا كَثِيرًا، فَقَاتَلَا فِيمِي، وَانْهَزَمَ، فَاسْتَوْلَى بَلَاطَهْ عَلَى مَدِينَةِ سَرَقُوسَةَ. وَرَكِبَ فِيمِي وَمَنْ مَعَهُ فِي مَرَاكِبِهِمْ إِلَى إِفْرِيقِيَّةَ، وَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى الْأَمِيرِ زِيَادَةِ اللَّهِ يَسْتَنْجِدُهُ، وَيَعِدُهُ بِمُلْكِ جَزِيرَةِ صِقِلِّيَّةَ، فَسَيَّرَ مَعَهُ جَيْشًا فِي رَبِيعٍ الْأَوَّلِ سَنَةَ اثْنَتَيْ عَشْرَةَ وَمِائَتَيْنِ، فَوَصَلُوا إِلَى مَدِينَةِ مَازَرَ مِنْ صِقِلِّيَّةَ، فَسَارُوا إِلَى بَلَاطَهْ، الَّذِي قَاتَلَ فِيمِي، فَلَقِيَهُمْ جَمْعٌ لِلرُّومِ، فَقَاتَلَهُمُ الْمُسْلِمُونَ، وَأَمَرُوا فِيمِي وَمَنْ مَعَهُ أَنْ يَعْتَزِلُوهُمْ، وَاشْتَدَّ الْقِتَالُ بَيْنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالرُّومِ، فَانْهَزَمَتِ الرُّومُ، وَغَنِمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ وَدَوَابَّهُمْ، وَهَرَبَ بَلَاطَهْ إِلَى قِلُّورِيَةَ، فَقُتِلَ بِهَا. وَاسْتَوْلَى الْمُسْلِمُونَ عَلَى عِدَّةِ حُصُونٍ مِنَ الْجَزِيرَةِ، وَوَصَلُوا إِلَى قَلْعَةٍ تُعْرَفُ بِقَلْعَةِ الْكُرَّاثِ وَقَدِ اجْتَمَعَ إِلَيْهَا خَلْقٌ كَثِيرٌ، فَخَدَعُوا الْقَاضِيَ أَسَدَ بْنَ الْفُرَاتِ أَمِيرَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَذَلُّوا لَهُ، فَلَمَّا رَآهُمْ فِيمِي مَالَ إِلَيْهِمْ، وَرَاسَلَهُمْ أَنْ يَثْبُتُوا، وَيَحْفَظُوا بَلَدَهُمْ، فَبَذَلُوا لِأَسَدٍ الْجِزْيَةَ، وَسَأَلُوهُ أَنْ لَا يَقْرَبَ مِنْهُمْ، فَأَجَابَهُمْ إِلَى ذَلِكَ، وَتَأَخَّرَ عَنْهُمْ ( أَيَّامًا، فَاسْتَعَدُّوا لِلْحِصَارِ، وَدَفَعُوا إِلَيْهِمْ مَا يَحْتَاجُونَ إِلَيْهِ، فَامْتَنَعُوا عَلَيْهِ )، وَنَاصَبَهُمُ الْحَرْبَ، وَبَثَّ السَّرَايَا فِي كُلِّ نَاحِيَةٍ، فَغَنِمُوا شَيْئًا كَثِيرًا، وَافْتَتَحُوا عُمْرَانًا كَثِيرًا حَوْلَ سَرَقُوسَةَ، ( وَحَاصَرُوا سَرَقُوسَةَ ) بَرًّا وَبَحْرًا، وَلَحِقَتْهُ الْأَمْدَادُ مِنْ إِفْرِيقِيَّةَ، فَسَارَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَالِي بَلَرْمَ فِي عَسَاكِرَ كَثِيرَةٍ، فَخَنْدَقَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَحَفَرُوا خَارِجَ الْخَنْدَقِ حُفَرًا كَثِيرَةً، فَحَمَلَ الرُّومُ عَلَيْهِمْ، فَسَقَطَ فِي تِلْكَ الْحُفَرِ كَثِيرٌ مِنْهُمْ، فَقُتِلُوا. وَضَيَّقَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ عَلَى سَرَقُوسَةَ، فَوَصَلَ أُسْطُولٌ مِنَ الْقُسْطَنْطِينِيَّةِ فِيهِ جَمْعٌ كَثِيرٌ، وَكَانَ قَدْ حَلَّ بِالْمُسْلِمِينَ وَبَاءٌ شَدِيدٌ، ( سَنَةَ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ وَمِائَتَيْنِ )، هَلَكَ فِيهِ كَثِيرٌ مِنْهُمْ، وَهَلَكَ فِيهِ أَمِيرُهُمْ أَسَدُ بْنُ الْفُرَاتِ، وَوَلِيَ الْأَمْرَ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ بَعْدَهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي الْجَوَارِي، فَلَمَّا رَأَى الْمُسْلِمُونَ شِدَّةَ الْوَبَاءِ وَوُصُولَ الرُّومِ، تَحَمَّلُوا فِي مَرَاكِبِهِمْ لِيَسِيرُوا، فَوَقَفَ الرُّومُ فِي مَرَاكِبِهِمْ عَلَى بَابِ الْمَرْسَى، فَمَنَعُوا الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِنَ الْخُرُوجِ. فَلَمَّا رَأَى الْمُسْلِمُونَ ذَلِكَ أَحْرَقُوا مَرَاكِبَهُمْ وَعَادُوا، وَرَحَلُوا إِلَى مَدِينَةِ مِينَاوَ، ( فَحَصَرُوهَا ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ )، وَتَسَلَّمُوا الْحِصْنَ، فَسَارَ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْهُمْ إِلَى حِصْنِ جَرْجَنْتَ، فَقَاتَلُوا أَهْلَهُ وَمَلَكُوهُ، وَسَكَنُوا فِيهِ، وَاشْتَدَّتْ نُفُوسُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ بِهَذَا الْفَتْحِ وَفَرِحُوا. ثُمَّ سَارُوا إِلَى مَدِينَةِ قَصْرِيَانَّةَ وَمَعَهُمْ فِيمِي، فَخَرَجَ أَهْلُهَا إِلَيْهِ، فَقَبَّلُوا الْأَرْضَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ، وَأَجَابُوا إِلَى أَنْ يُمَلِّكُوهُ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَخَدَعُوهُ، ثُمَّ قَتَلُوهُ. وَوَصَلَ جَيْشٌ كَثِيرٌ مِنَ الْقُسْطَنْطِينِيَّةِ مَدَدًا لِمَنْ فِي الْجَزِيرَةِ، فَتَصَافُّوا هُمْ وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ، فَانْهَزَمَ الرُّومُ، وَقُتِلَ مِنْهُمْ خَلْقٌ كَثِيرٌ، وَدَخَلَ مَنْ سَلِمَ قَصْرِيَانَّةَ. وَتُوُفِّيَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي الْجَوَارِي أَمِيرُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَوَلِيَ بَعْدَهُ زُهَيْرُ بْنُ غَوْثٍ. ثُمَّ إِنَّ سَرِيَّةَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ سَارَتْ لِلْغَنِيمَةِ، فَخَرَجَ عَلَيْهَا طَائِفَةٌ مِنَ الرُّومِ فَاقْتَتَلُوا، وَانْهَزَمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ، وَعَادُوا مِنَ الْغَدِ، وَمَعَهُمْ جَمْعُ الْعَسْكَرِ، فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِمُ الرُّومُ، وَقَدِ اجْتَمَعُوا وَحَشَدُوا، وَتَصَافُّوا مَرَّةً ثَانِيَةً، فَانْهَزَمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ أَيْضًا، وَقُتِلَ مِنْهُمْ نَحْوُ أَلْفِ قَتِيلٍ، وَعَادُوا إِلَى مُعَسْكَرِهِمْ، وَخَنْدَقُوا عَلَيْهِمْ، فَحَصَرَهُمُ الرُّومُ، وَدَامَ الْقِتَالُ بَيْنَهُمْ، فَضَاقَتِ الْأَقْوَاتُ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ، فَعَزَمُوا عَلَى بَيَاتِ الرُّومِ، فَعَلِمُوا بِهِمْ، فَفَارَقُوا الْخِيَمَ، وَكَانُوا بِالْقُرْبِ مِنْهَا، فَلَمَّا خَرَجَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ لَمْ يَرَوْا أَحَدًا. وَأَقْبَلَ الرُّومُ مِنْ كُلِّ نَاحِيَةٍ، فَأَكْثَرُوا الْقَتْلَ فِيهِمْ، وَانْهَزَمَ الْبَاقُونَ، فَدَخَلُوا مِينَاوَ، وَدَامَ الْحِصَارُ عَلَيْهِمْ حَتَّى أَكَلُوا الدَّوَابَّ وَالْكِلَابَ. فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ مَنْ فِي مَدِينَةِ جِرْجِنْتَ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مَا هُمْ عَلَيْهِ هَدَمُوا الْمَدِينَةَ، وَسَارُوا إِلَى مَازَرَ، وَلَمْ يَقْدِرُوا عَلَى نُصْرَةِ إِخْوَانِهِمْ، وَدَامَ الْحَالُ كَذَلِكَ إِلَى أَنْ دَخَلَتْ سَنَةُ أَرْبَعَ عَشْرَةَ وَمِائَتَيْنِ، وَقَدْ أَشْرَفَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ عَلَى الْهَلَاكِ، وَإِذْ قَدْ أَقْبَلَ أُسْطُولٌ كَثِيرٌ مِنَ الْأَنْدَلُسِ، خَرَجُوا غُزَاةً، وَوَصَلَ فِي ذَلِكَ الْوَقْتِ مَرَاكِبُ كَثِيرَةٌ مِنْ إِفْرِيقِيَّةَ مَدَدًا لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ، فَبَلَغَتْ عِدَّةُ الْجَمِيعِ ثَلَاثَمِائَةِ مَرْكَبٍ، فَنَزَلُوا إِلَى الْجَزِيرَةِ، فَانْهَزَمَ الرُّومُ عَنْ حِصَارِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَفَرَّجَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ، وَسَارَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ إِلَى مَدِينَةِ بَلَرْمَ، فَحَصَرُوهَا، وَضَيَّقُوا عَلَى مَنْ بِهَا، فَطَلَبَ صَاحِبُهَا الْأَمَانَ لِنَفْسِهِ وَلِأَهْلِهِ وَلِمَالِهِ، فَأُجِيبَ إِلَى ذَلِكَ، وَسَارَ فِي الْبَحْرِ إِلَى بِلَادِ الرُّومِ. وَدَخَلَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ الْبَلَدَ فِي رَجَبٍ سَنَةَ سِتَّ عَشْرَةَ وَمِائَتَيْنِ، فَلَمْ يَرَوْا فِيهِ إِلَّا أَقَلَّ مِنْ ثَلَاثَةِ آلَافِ إِنْسَانٍ، وَكَانَ فِيهِ لَمَّا حَصَرُوهُ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفًا، وَمَاتُوا كُلُّهُمْ. وَجَرَى بَيْنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ: أَهْلُ إِفْرِيقِيَّةَ، وَأَهْلُ الْأَنْدَلُسِ - خُلْفٌ وَنِزَاعٌ، ثُمَّ اتَّفَقُوا، وَبَقِيَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ إِلَى سَنَةِ تِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ وَمِائَتَيْنِ. وَسَارَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ إِلَى مَدِينَةِ قَصْرِيَانَّةَ، فَخَرَجَ مَنْ فِيهَا مِنَ الرُّومِ، فَاقْتَتَلُوا أَشَدَّ قِتَالٍ، فَفَتَحَ اللَّهُ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ، ( وَانْهَزَمَ الرُّومُ إِلَى مُعَسْكَرِهِمْ )، ثُمَّ رَجَعُوا فِي الرَّبِيعِ فَقَاتَلُوهُمْ، فَنُصِرَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ أَيْضًا. ثُمَّ سَارُوا سَنَةَ عِشْرِينَ وَمِائَتَيْنِ، ( وَأَمِيرُهُمْ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ إِلَى قَصْرِيَانَّةَ، فَقَاتَلَهُمُ الرُّومُ، فَانْهَزَمُوا، وَأُسِرَتِ امْرَأَةٌ لِبِطْرِيقِهِمْ وَابْنُهُ، وَغَنِمُوا مَا كَانَ فِي عَسْكَرِهِمْ وَعَادُوا إِلَى بَلَرْمَ. ثُمَّ سَيَّرَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَسْكَرًا إِلَى نَاحِيَةِ طَبَرْمِينَ )، عَلَيْهِمْ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَالِمٍ، فَغَنِمَ غَنَائِمَ كَثِيرَةً، ثُمَّ عَدَا عَلَيْهِ بَعْضُ عَسْكَرِهِ فَقَتَلُوهُ، وَلَحِقُوا بِالرُّومِ، فَأَرْسَلَ زِيَادَةُ اللَّهِ مِنْ إِفْرِيقِيَّةَ الْفَضْلَ بْنَ يَعْقُوبَ عِوَضًا مِنْهُ، فَسَارَ فِي سَرِيَّةٍ إِلَى نَاحِيَةِ سَرَقُوسَةَ، فَأَصَابُوا غَنَائِمَ كَثِيرَةً وَعَادُوا، ثُمَّ سَارَتْ سَرِيَّةٌ كَبِيرَةٌ، فَغَنِمَتْ وَعَادَتْ، فَعَرَضَ لَهُمُ الْبَطْرِيقُ مَلِكُ الرُّومِ بِصِقِلِّيَّةَ، وَجَمْعٌ كَثِيرٌ، فَتَحَصَّنُوا مِنَ الرُّومِ فِي أَرْضٍ وَعْرٍ، وَشَجَرٍ كَثِيفٍ، فَلَمْ يَتَمَكَّنْ مِنْ قِتَالِهِمْ، وَوَاقَفَهُمْ إِلَى الْعَصْرِ، فَلَمَّا رَأَى أَنَّهُمْ لَا يُقَاتِلُونَهُمْ عَادَ عَنْهُمْ، فَتَفَرَّقَ أَصْحَابُهُ وَتَرَكُوا التَّعْبِئَةَ. فَلَمَّا رَأَى الْمُسْلِمُونَ ذَلِكَ حَمَلُوا عَلَيْهِمْ حَمْلَةً صَادِقَةً، فَانْهَزَمَ الرُّومُ وَطُعِنَ الْبَطْرِيقُ، وَجُرِحَ عِدَّةُ جِرَاحَاتٍ، وَسَقَطَ عَنْ فَرَسِهِ، فَأَتَاهُ حُمَاةُ أَصْحَابِهِ، وَاسْتَنْقَذُوهُ جَرِيحًا، وَحَمَلُوهُ، وَغَنِمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مَا مَعَهُمْ مِنْ سِلَاحٍ وَمَتَاعٍ وَدَوَابَّ، فَكَانَتْ وَقْعَةً عَظِيمَةً. وَسَيَّرَ زِيَادَةُ اللَّهِ مِنْ إِفْرِيقِيَّةَ إِلَى صِقِلِّيَّةَ أَبَا الْأَغْلَبِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَمِيرًا عَلَيْهَا، فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهَا، فَوَصَلَ إِلَيْهَا مُنْتَصَفَ رَمَضَانَ، فَبَعَثَ أُسْطُولًا، فَلَقُوا جَمْعًا لِلرُّومِ فِي أُسْطُولٍ، فَغَنِمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ [ مَا فِيهِ ]، فَضَرَبَ أَبُو الْأَغْلَبِ رِقَابَ كُلِّ مَنْ فِيهِ. وَبَعَثَ أُسْطُولًا آخَرَ إِلَى قُوصَرَةَ، فَظَفِرَ بِحَرَّاقَةٍ فِيهَا رِجَالٌ مِنَ الرُّومِ، وَرَجُلٌ مُتَنَصِّرٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ إِفْرِيقِيَّةَ، فَأَتَى بِهِمْ فَضَرَبَ رِقَابَهُمْ. وَسَارَتْ سَرِيَّةٌ أُخْرَى إِلَى جَبَلِ النَّارِ وَالْحُصُونِ الَّتِي فِي تِلْكَ النَّاحِيَةِ، فَأَحْرَقُوا الزَّرْعَ، وَغَنِمُوا ( وَأَكْثَرُوا الْقَتْلَ. ثُمَّ سَيَّرَ أَبُو الْأَغْلَبِ سَنَةَ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ وَمِائَتَيْنِ سَرِيَّةً إِلَى جَبَلِ النَّارِ أَيْضًا، فَغَنِمُوا غَنَائِمَ عَظِيمَةً، حَتَّى بِيعَ الرَّقِيقُ بِأَبْخَسِ الْأَثْمَانِ، وَعَادُوا سَالِمِينَ. وَفِيهَا سَيَّرَ أَبُو الْأَغْلَبِ أَيْضًا سِرِّيَّةً إِلَى قُسْطَلْيَاسَةَ، فَغَنِمُوا وَسَبَوْا، وَلَقِيَهُمُ الْعَدُوُّ، فَكَانَتْ بَيْنَهُمْ حَرْبٌ اسْتَظْهَرَ فِيهَا الرُّومُ. وَسَيَّرَ سَرِيَّةً إِلَى مَدِينَةِ قَصْرِيَانَّةَ، فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِمُ الْعَدُوُّ، فَاقْتَتَلُوا، فَانْهَزَمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ وَأُصِيبَ مِنْهُمْ جَمَاعَةٌ. ثُمَّ كَانَتْ وَقْعَةٌ أُخْرَى بَيْنَ الرُّومِ وَالْمُسْلِمِينَ، فَانْهَزَمَ الرُّومُ، وَغَنِمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْهُمْ تِسْعَةَ مَرَاكِبَ كِبَارٍ بِرِجَالِهَا وَشَلَنْدَسَ. فَلَمَّا جَاءَ الشِّتَاءُ وَأَظْلَمَ اللَّيْلُ رَأَى رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ غِرَّةً مِنْ أَهْلِ قَصْرِيَانَّةَ، فَقَرُبَ مِنْهُ، وَرَأَى طَرِيقًا، فَدَخَلَ مِنْهُ، وَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ بِهِ أَحَدٌ، ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ إِلَى الْعَسْكَرِ، فَأَخْبَرَهُمْ فَجَاءُوا مَعَهُ، فَدَخَلُوا مِنْ ذَلِكَ الْمَوْضِعِ، وَكَبَّرُوا، وَمَلَكُوا رَبَضَهُ، وَتَحَصَّنَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ مِنْهُمْ بِحِصْنِهِ، فَطَلَبُوا الْأَمَانَ، فَأَمَّنُوهُمْ، وَغَنِمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ غَنَائِمَ كَثِيرَةً، وَعَادُوا إِلَى بَلَرْمَ. وَفِي سَنَةِ ثَلَاثٍ وَعِشْرِينَ وَمِائَتَيْنِ وَصَلَ كَثِيرٌ مِنَ الرُّومِ فِي الْبَحْرِ إِلَى صِقِلِّيَّةَ، وَكَانَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ يُحَاصِرُونَ جُفْلُوذَى، وَقَدْ طَالَ حِصَارُهَا، فَلَمَّا وَصَلَ الرُّومُ رَحَلَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ عَنْهَا، وَجَرَى بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ الرُّومِ الْوَاصِلِينَ حُرُوبٌ كَثِيرَةٌ. ثُمَّ وَصَلَ الْخَبَرُ بِوَفَاةِ زِيَادَةِ اللَّهِ ( بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ الْأَغْلَبِ )، أَمِيرِ إِفْرِيقِيَّةَ، فَوَهَنَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ، ثُمَّ تَشَجَّعُوا وَضَبَطُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ. ( سَرَقُوسَةُ بِسِينٍ مَفْتُوحَةٍ وَقَافٍ وَوَاوٍ وَسِينٍ ثَانِيَةٍ. وَبَلَرْمُ بِفَتْحِ الْبَاءِ الْمُوَحَّدَةِ وَاللَّامِ وَتَسْكِينِ الرَّاءِ وَبَعْدَهَا مِيمٌ. وَمِينَاوُ بِمِيمٍ وَيَاءٍ تَحْتَهَا نُقْطَتَانِ وَنُونٌ وَبَعْدَ الْأَلْفِ وَاوٌ. وَجُرْجَنْتُ بِجِيمٍ وَرَاءٍ وَجِيمٍ ثَانِيَةٍ مَفْتُوحَةٍ [ وَنُونٍ ] وَتَاءٍ فَوْقَهَا نُقْطَتَانِ، وَقَصْرِيَانَّةُ بِالْقَافِ وَالصَّادِ الْمُهْمَلَةِ وَالرَّاءِ وَالْيَاءِ تَحْتَهَا نُقْطَتَانِ وَبَعْدَ الْأَلْفِ نُونٌ مُشَدَّدَةٌ وَهَاءٌ ).
Translation
✧ Account of what Ziyādat Allāh b. al-Aghlab conquered of the island of Sicily and the wars that took place there until he died In the year two hundred and twelve, Ziyādat Allāh equipped an army by sea and dispatched them to the island of Sicily. He appointed over them Asad b. al-Furāt, the qāḍī of al-Qayrawān. He was one of the companions of Mālik and the compiler of the Asadiyyah (in jurisprudence according to the school of Mālik). When they reached the island, they conquered much of it. The reason for sending the army was that the king of the Byzantines in Constantinople had appointed over the island of Sicily a patrician named Constantine in the year two hundred and eleven. When he arrived there, he appointed over the fleet a Byzantine man named Phimeas, who was resolute and courageous. He raided Ifrīqiyah and seized merchants from its coasts, plundered, and remained there for a while. Then the king of the Byzantines wrote to Constantine, commanding him to arrest Phimeas, the commander of the fleet, and to punish him. The news reached Phimeas, and he informed his companions. They became angry on his behalf and helped him in rebellion. He sailed in his ships to Sicily and took control of the city of Syracuse. Constantine marched against him. They met and fought, and Constantine was defeated and fled to the city of Catania. Phimeas sent an army against him, and he fled from them, was captured, and killed. Phimeas was addressed as king. He appointed over a district of the island a man named Balatah, who rebelled against Phimeas and disobeyed him. He and his cousin Michael, the governor of the city of Palermo, agreed together. They gathered a large army and fought Phimeas, who was defeated, and Balatah took control of the city of Syracuse. Phimeas and those with him embarked in their ships for Ifrīqiyah. He sent to the emir Ziyādat Allāh seeking his aid and promising him dominion over the island of Sicily. He sent an army with him in Rabīʿ al-Awwal of the year two hundred and twelve. They reached the city of Mazara in Sicily and marched against Balatah, who had fought Phimeas. A force of Byzantines met them. The Muslims fought them and ordered Phimeas and those with him to keep apart from them. The fighting between the Muslims and the Byzantines grew fierce, and the Byzantines were defeated. The Muslims captured their wealth and mounts. Balatah fled to Cagliari and was killed there. The Muslims took control of several fortresses on the island. They reached a fortress known as the Fortress of the Leek, where many people had gathered. They deceived the qāḍī Asad b. al-Furāt, the Muslims' commander, and humbled themselves before him. When Phimeas saw them, he inclined toward them and corresponded with them to hold firm and defend their land. They offered Asad the jizyah and asked him not to approach them. He granted them that and withdrew from them for days. They prepared for a siege and gave them what they needed, then refused to submit to him. He waged war against them and sent out raiding parties in every direction. They captured much booty and conquered many settlements around Syracuse. They besieged Syracuse by land and sea. Reinforcements reached him from Ifrīqiyah. The governor of Palermo marched against them with many troops. The Muslims dug a trench against them and dug many pits outside the trench. The Byzantines charged them, and many of them fell into those pits and were killed. The Muslims tightened their grip on Syracuse. A fleet arrived from Constantinople with a large force. A severe plague had struck the Muslims in the year two hundred and thirteen, in which many of them perished, including their commander Asad b. al-Furāt. Command over the Muslims passed after him to Muḥammad b. Abī al-Jawārī. When the Muslims saw the severity of the plague and the arrival of the Byzantines, they embarked in their ships to depart. The Byzantines stood in their ships at the harbor entrance and prevented the Muslims from leaving. When the Muslims saw that, they burned their ships and returned. They marched to the city of Mineo and besieged it for three days. They took the fortress. A group of them marched to the fortress of Agrigento, fought its people, and captured it. They settled there. The Muslims' spirits were strengthened by this conquest, and they rejoiced. Then they marched to the city of Castrogiovanni, with Phimeas among them. Its people came out to him, kissed the ground before him, and agreed to make him king over them, but they deceived him and then killed him. A large army arrived from Constantinople as reinforcements for those on the island. They and the Muslims drew up in lines. The Byzantines were defeated, and many of them were killed. Those who survived entered Castrogiovanni. Muḥammad b. Abī al-Jawārī, the Muslims' commander, died, and Zuhayr b. Ghawth took command after him. Then a raiding party of the Muslims went out for booty. A group of Byzantines came out against them, and they fought. The Muslims were defeated. They returned the next day with the entire army. The Byzantines came out against them, having assembled and gathered their forces. They drew up in lines a second time, and the Muslims were again defeated. About a thousand of them were killed. They returned to their camp and dug a trench around themselves. The Byzantines besieged them, and fighting continued between them. Provisions became scarce for the Muslims. They resolved to attack the Byzantines by night, but the Byzantines learned of them and left their tents, remaining nearby. When the Muslims came out, they saw no one. The Byzantines came from every direction and killed many of them. The survivors fled and entered Mineo. The siege against them continued until they ate their mounts and dogs. When the Muslims in the city of Agrigento heard of their plight, they demolished the city and marched to Mazara, unable to aid their brothers. The situation remained thus until the year two hundred and fourteen. The Muslims were on the brink of destruction when a large fleet arrived from al-Andalus, having set out as raiders. At that same time, many ships arrived from Ifrīqiyah as reinforcements for the Muslims. The total number reached three hundred ships. They landed on the island, and the Byzantines were defeated and lifted the siege of the Muslims. God relieved them. The Muslims marched to the city of Palermo and besieged it, pressing hard on those inside. Its ruler sought safe-conduct for himself, his family, and his wealth. He was granted that and sailed to the lands of the Byzantines. The Muslims entered the city in Rajab of the year two hundred and sixteen. They found in it fewer than three thousand people, whereas at the start of the siege it had held seventy thousand, all of whom had died. Discord and dispute arose between the Muslims of Ifrīqiyah and those of al-Andalus. Then they came to an agreement. The Muslims remained until the year two hundred and nineteen. The Muslims marched to the city of Castrogiovanni. The Byzantines inside came out, and they fought a fierce battle. God granted victory to the Muslims, and the Byzantines fled to their camp. Then they returned in the spring and fought them, and the Muslims were again victorious. Then in the year two hundred and twenty they marched, their commander being Muḥammad b. ʿAbd Allāh, to Castrogiovanni. The Byzantines fought them and were defeated. A woman of their patrician and his son were taken captive, and they captured what was in their camp and returned to Palermo. Then Muḥammad b. ʿAbd Allāh sent an army to the district of Taormina, commanded by Muḥammad b. Sālim. He captured much booty. Then some of his own troops attacked and killed him and joined the Byzantines. Ziyādat Allāh sent al-Faḍl b. Yaʿqūb from Ifrīqiyah to replace him. He went out in a raiding party to the district of Syracuse. They captured much booty and returned. Then a large raiding party went out, captured booty, and returned. The patrician, king of the Byzantines in Sicily, and a large force intercepted them. They fortified themselves against the Byzantines in rough terrain with thick trees, so he could not engage them in battle. He faced them until the afternoon. When he saw that they would not fight, he withdrew from them. His troops dispersed and abandoned their formation. When the Muslims saw that, they launched a determined charge. The Byzantines were defeated. The patrician was stabbed and wounded several times. He fell from his horse, but his bodyguards came to him, rescued him wounded, and carried him off. The Muslims captured the weapons, baggage, and mounts they had with them. It was a great victory. Ziyādat Allāh sent from Ifrīqiyah to Sicily Abū al-Aghlab Ibrāhīm b. ʿAbd Allāh as its governor. He set out and arrived there in mid-Ramaḍān. He sent a fleet, and they met a Byzantine force in a fleet. The Muslims captured what was in it, and Abū al-Aghlab struck the necks of all who were in it. He sent another fleet to Ustica. It seized a fire ship carrying Byzantine men and a Christian convert from Ifrīqiyah. He brought them and struck their necks. Another raiding party went to Mount Etna and the fortresses in that area. They burned the crops, captured booty, and killed many. Then in the year two hundred and twenty-one, Abū al-Aghlab sent a raiding party to Mount Etna as well. They captured enormous booty, to the point that slaves were sold at the cheapest prices, and they returned safely. In that year, Abū al-Aghlab also sent a raiding party to Cefalù. They captured booty and took captives. The enemy met them, and there was a battle in which the Byzantines prevailed. He sent a raiding party to the city of Castrogiovanni. The enemy came out against them, and they fought. The Muslims were defeated, and a group of them was killed. Then there was another battle between the Byzantines and the Muslims. The Byzantines were defeated, and the Muslims captured from them nine large ships with their crews and a chelandion. When winter came and the night grew dark, a Muslim man noticed a moment of carelessness among the people of Castrogiovanni. He approached it and found a path. He entered through it without anyone noticing, then returned to the army and informed them. They came with him, entered through that place, shouted "Allāhu akbar," and captured the outer suburb. The polytheists among them fortified themselves in the citadel and sought safe-conduct. They were granted it. The Muslims captured much booty and returned to Palermo. In the year two hundred and twenty-three, many Byzantines arrived by sea in Sicily. The Muslims were besieging Cefalù, and the siege had lasted long. When the Byzantines arrived, the Muslims withdrew from it. Many battles took place between them and the arriving Byzantines. Then news arrived of the death of Ziyādat Allāh b. Ibrāhīm b. al-Aghlab, the emir of Ifrīqiyah. The Muslims wavered, then took courage and steadied themselves. (Syracuse: with an unvoweled sīn, a qāf, a wāw, and a second sīn. Palermo: with fatḥah on the bāʾ, lām, sukūn on the rāʾ, then mīm. Mineo: with mīm, yāʾ with two dots below, nūn, then alif, then wāw. Agrigento: with jīm, rāʾ, a second jīm with fatḥah, nūn, and a tāʾ with two dots above. Castrogiovanni: with qāf, unpointed ṣād, rāʾ, yāʾ with two dots below, then after the alif a doubled nūn and hāʾ.)
Grades by grader
No grade is recorded for this wording.