Tarikh (al-Tabari) 3673
The deposition of al-Muqtadir and the accession of b. al-Mu'tazz
اسْتِيلَاءِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَى إِفْرِيقِيَّةَ وَهَرَبِ زِيَادَةِ اللَّهِ أَمِيرِهَا قَدْ ذَكَرْنَا مِنْ حَالِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ مَا تَقَدَّمَ، ثُمَّ إِنَّ زِيَادَةَ اللَّهِ لَمَّا رَأَى اسْتِيلَاءَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْبِلَادِ، وَأَنَّهُ قَدْ فَتَحَ مَدِينَةَ مِيلَةَ وَمَدِينَةَ سَطِيفَ، وَغَيْرَهُمَا، أَخَذَ فِي جَمْعِ الْعَسَاكِرِ، وَبَذْلِ الْأَمْوَالِ فَاجْتَمَعَتْ إِلَيْهِ عَسَاكِرُ عَظِيمَةٌ، فَقَدَّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنَ خُنَيْشٍ وَهُوَ مِنْ أَقَارِبِهِ، وَكَانَ لَا يَعْرِفُ الْحَرْبَ، فَبَلَغَتْ عِدَّةُ جَيْشِهِ أَرْبَعِينَ أَلْفًا، وَسَلَّمَ إِلَيْهِ الْأَمْوَالَ وَالْعُدَدَ، وَلَمْ يَتْرُكْ بِإِفْرِيقِيَّةَ شُجَاعًا إِلَّا أَخْرَجَهُ مَعَهُ، وَسَارَ إِلَيْهِ، فَانْضَافَ إِلَيْهِ مِثْلُ جَيْشِهِ، فَلَمَّا وَصَلَ قُسْطَنْطِينِيَّةَ الْهَوَاءِ، وَهِيَ مَدِينَةٌ قَدِيمَةٌ حَصِينَةٌ، نَزَلَ بِهَا، وَأَتَاهُ كَثِيرٌ مِنْ كُتَامَةَ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُطِيعُوا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، فَقَتَلَ فِي طَرِيقِهِ كَثِيرًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، وَخَافَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ مِنْهُ، وَجَمِيعُ كُتَامَةَ، وَأَقَامَ بِقُسْطَنْطِينِيَّةَ سِتَّةَ أَشْهُرٍ، وَأَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ مُتَحَصِّنٌ فِي الْجَبَلِ. فَلَمَّا رَأَى إِبْرَاهِيمُ أَنَّ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ لَا يَتَقَدَّمُ إِلَيْهِ بَادَرَ وَزَحَفَ بِالْعَسَاكِرِ الْمُجْتَمِعَةِ إِلَى بَلَدٍ اسْمُهُ كَرْمَةُ، فَأَخْرَجَ إِلَيْهِ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ خَيْلًا اخْتَارَهَا ( لِيَخْتَبِرَ نُزُولَهُ )، فَوَافَاهَا بِالْمَوْضِعِ الْمَذْكُورِ، فَلَمَّا رَأَى إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْخَيْلَ قَصَدَ إِلَيْهَا بِنَفْسِهِ، وَلَمْ يَصْحَبْهُ ( إِلَيْهَا ) أَحَدٌ مِنْ جَيْشِهِ، وَكَانَتْ أَثْقَالُ الْعَسْكَرِ عَلَى ظُهُورِ الدَّوَابِّ لَمْ تُحَطَّ، وَنَشِبَتِ الْحَرْبُ، وَاقْتَتَلُوا قِتَالًا شَدِيدًا. وَاتَّصَلَ الْخَبَرُ بِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، فَزَحَفَ بِالْعَسَاكِرِ، فَوَقَعَتِ الْهَزِيمَةُ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمَنْ مَعَهُ، فَجُرِحَ وَعُقِرَ فَرَسُهُ وَتَمَّتِ الْهَزِيمَةُ عَلَى الْجَيْشِ جَمِيعِهِ، وَأَسْلَمُوا الْأَثْقَالَ بِأَسْرِهَا، فَغَنِمَهَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَقَتَلَ مِنْهُمْ خَلْقًا كَثِيرًا، وَتَمَّ [ أَمْرُ ] إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِلَى الْقَيْرَوَانِ، فَشَاشَتْ بِلَادُ إِفْرِيقِيَّةَ، وَعَظُمَ أَمْرُ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، وَاسْتَقَرَّتْ دَوْلَتُهُ، وَكَتَبَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ كِتَابًا إِلَى الْمَهْدِيِّ، وَهُوَ فِي سِجْنِ سِجِلْمَاسَةَ يُبَشِّرُهُ، وَسَيَّرَ الْكِتَابَ مَعَ بَعْضِ ثِقَاتِهِ، فَدَخَلَ السِّجْنَ فِي زِيِّ قَصَّابٍ يَبِيعُ اللَّحْمَ، فَاجْتَمَعَ بِهِ وَعَرَّفَهُ ذَلِكَ. مسير أبو عبد الله إلى مدينة طبنة وحصارها وَسَارَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ إِلَى مَدِينَةِ طُبْنَةَ فَحَصَرَهَا، وَنَصَبَ عَلَيْهَا الدَّبَّابَاتِ، وَنَقَبَ بُرْجًا وَبَدَنَةً، فَسَقَطَ السُّورُ بَعْدَ قِتَالٍ شَدِيدٍ، وَمَلَكَ الْبَلَدَ، فَاحْتَمَى الْمُقْدِمُونَ بِحِصْنِ الْبَلَدِ، فَحَصَرَهُمْ، فَطَلَبُوا الْأَمَانَ، فَأَمَّنَهُمْ، وَأَمَّنَ أَهْلَ الْبَلَدِ، وَسَارَ إِلَى مَدِينَةِ بِلُزْمَةَ وَكَانَ قَدْ حَصَرَهَا مِرَارًا كَثِيرَةً فَلَمْ يَظْفَرْ بِهَا فَلَمَّا حَصَرَهَا الْآنَ ضَيَّقَ عَلَيْهَا، وَجَدَّ فِي الْقِتَالِ وَنَصَبَ عَلَيْهَا الدَّبَّابَاتِ، وَرَمَاهَا بِالنَّارِ، فَأَحْرَقَهَا، وَفَتَحَهَا بِالسَّيْفِ وَقَتَلَ الرِّجَالَ، وَهَدَمَ الْأَسْوَارَ. وَاتَّصَلَتِ الْأَخْبَارُ بِزِيَادَةِ اللَّهِ، فَعَظُمَ عَلَيْهِ [ ذَلِكَ ]، وَأَخَذَ فِي الْجَمْعِ وَالْحَشْدِ، فَجَمَعَ عَسْكَرًا عُدَّتُهُمُ اثْنَا عَشَرَ أَلْفًا، وَأَمَّرَ عَلَيْهِمْ هَارُونَ بْنَ الطُّبْنِيِّ، فَسَارَ، وَاجْتَمَعَ مَعَهُ خَلْقٌ كَثِيرٌ، وَقَصَدَ مَدِينَةَ دَارِ مُلُوكٍ، وَكَانَ أَهْلُهَا قَدْ أَطَاعُوا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، فَقَتَلَ هَارُونُ أَهْلَهَا، وَهَدَمَ الْحِصْنَ، وَلَقِيَهُ فِي طَرِيقِهِ خَيْلٌ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ كَانَ قَدْ أَرْسَلَهَا لِيَخْتَبِرُوا عَسْكَرَهُ، فَلَمَّا رَآهَا الْعَسْكَرُ اضْطَرَبُوا وَصَاحُوا صَيْحَةً عَظِيمَةً، وَهَرَبُوا مِنْ غَيْرِ قِتَالٍ، فَظَنَّ أَصْحَابُ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَنَّهَا مَكِيدَةٌ، فَلَمَّا ظَهَرَ أَنَّهَا هَزِيمَةٌ اسْتَدْرَكُوا الْأَمْرَ، وَوَضَعُوا السَّيْفَ، فَمَا يُحْصَى مَنْ قُتِلُوا، وَقُتِلَ هَارُونُ أَمِيرُ الْعَسْكَرِ، وَفَتَحَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ مَدِينَةَ تِيجِسَ صُلْحًا، فَاشْتَدَّ الْأَمْرُ حِينَئِذٍ عَلَى زِيَادَةِ اللَّهِ، وَأَخْرَجَ الْأَمْوَالَ، وَجَيَّشَ الْجُيُوشَ وَخَرَجَ بِنَفْسِهِ إِلَى مُحَارَبَةِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، فَوَصَلَ إِلَى الْأُرْبُسِ فِي سَنَةِ خَمْسٍ وَتِسْعِينَ وَمِائَتَيْنِ، فَقَالَ لَهُ وُجُوهُ دَوْلَتِهِ: إِنَّكَ تُغَرِّرُ بِنَفْسِكَ، فَإِنْ يَكُنْ عَلَيْكَ لَا يَبْقَى لَنَا مَلْجَأٌ، وَالرَّأْيُ أَنْ تَرْجِعَ إِلَى مُسْتَقَرِّ مُلْكِكَ، وَتُرْسِلَ الْجَيْشَ مَعَ مَنْ تَثِقُ بِهِ فَإِنْ كَانَ الْفَتْحُ لَنَا فَنَصِلُ إِلَيْكَ، وَإِنْ كَانَ غَيْرُ ذَلِكَ فَتَكُونُ مَلْجَأً لَنَا. وَرَجَعَ فَفَعَلَ ذَلِكَ، وَسَيَّرَ الْجَيْشَ، وَقَدَّمَ عَلَيْهِ رَجُلًا مِنْ بَنِي عَمِّهِ يُقَالُ لَهُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ أَبِي الْأَغْلَبِ، وَكَانَ شُجَاعًا، وَبَلَغَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْخَبَرُ، وَكَانَ أَهْلُ بَاغَايَةَ قَدْ كَاتَبُوهُ بِالطَّاعَةِ، فَسَارَ إِلَيْهِمْ، فَلَمَّا قَرُبَ مِنْهَا، هَرَبَ عَامِلُهَا إِلَى الْأُرْبُسِ، فَدَخَلَهَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، وَتَرَكَ بِهَا جُنْدًا، وَعَادَ إِلَى إِنْكِجَانَ وَوَصَلَ الْخَبَرُ إِلَى زِيَادَةِ اللَّهِ، فَزَادَهُ غَمًّا وَحُزْنًا، فَقَالَ لَهُ إِنْسَانٌ كَانَ يُضْحِكُهُ يَا مَوْلَانَا لَقَدْ عَمِلْتُ بَيْتَ شِعْرٍ، فَعَسَى تَجْعَلُ مَنْ يُلَحِّنُهُ وَتَشْرَبُ عَلَيْهِ، وَاتْرُكْ هَذَا الْحُزْنَ، فَقَالَ: مَا هُوَ ؟ فَقَالَ الْمُضْحِكُ، ( لِلْمُغَنِّينَ: غَنُّوا شِعْرًا كَذَا ) وَقُولُوا بَعْدَ فَرَاغِ كُلِّ بَيْتٍ: اشْرَبْ وَاسْقِنَا مِنَ الْقَرْنِ يَكْفِينَا فَلَمَّا غَنَّوْا طَرِبَ زِيَادَةُ اللَّهِ ( وَشَرِبَ )، وَانْهَمَكَ فِي الْأَكْلِ وَالشُّرْبِ وَالشَّهَوَاتِ، فَلَمَّا رَأَى ذَلِكَ أَصْحَابُهُ سَاعَدُوهُ عَلَى مُرَادِهِ. ثُمَّ إِنَّ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَخْرَجَ خَيْلًا إِلَى مَدِينَةِ مَجَانَةَ فَافْتَتَحَهَا عَنْوَةً، وَقَتَلَ عَامِلَهَا، وَسَيَّرَ عَسْكَرًا آخَرَ إِلَى مَدِينَةِ تِيفَاشَ، فَمَلَكَهَا وَأَمَّنَ أَهْلَهَا. وَقَصَدَ جَمَاعَةٌ مِنْ رُؤَسَاءِ الْقَبَائِلِ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ يَطْلُبُونَ مِنْهُ الْأَمَانَ فَأَمَّنَهُمْ وَسَارَ بِنَفْسِهِ إِلَى مِسْكِيَانَةَ ثُمَّ إِلَى تَبِسَّةَ، ثُمَّ إِلَى مُدْبِرَةَ، فَوَجَدَ فِيهَا أَهْلَ قَصْرِ الْإِفْرِيقِيِّ وَمَدِينَةِ مَرْمَجَنَّةَ، وَمَدِينَةِ مَجَانَةَ وَأَخْلَاطًا مِنَ النَّاسِ قَدِ الْتَجَئُوا إِلَيْهَا وَتُحَصَّنُوا فِيهَا، وَهِيَ حَصِينَةٌ، فَنَزَلَ عَلَيْهَا، وَقَاتَلَهَا، فَأَصَابَهُ عِلَّةُ الْحَصَى، وَكَانَتْ تَعْتَادُهُ، فَشُغِلَ بِنَفْسِهِ، وَطَلَبَ أَهْلُهَا الْأَمَانَ فَأَمَّنَهُمْ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْعَسْكَرِ، فَفَتَحُوا الْحِصْنَ، فَدَخَلَهَا الْعَسْكَرُ، وَوَضَعُوا السَّيْفَ، وَانْتَهَبُوا. وَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَعَظُمَ عَلَيْهِ، وَرَحَلَ، فَنَزَلَ عَلَى الْقَصْرَيْنِ مِنْ قَمُّودَةَ وَطَلَبَ أَهْلُهَا الْأَمَانَ فَأَمَّنَهُمْ، وَبَلَغَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنَ أَبِي الْأَغْلَبِ، أَمِيرَ الْجَيْشِ الَّذِي سَيَّرَهُ زِيَادَةُ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ يُرِيدُ [ أَنْ ] يَقْصِدُ زِيَادَةَ اللَّهِ بِرَقَّادَةَ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ مَعَ زِيَادَةِ اللَّهِ كَبِيرُ عَسْكَرٍ، فَخَرَجَ مِنَ الْأُرْبُسِ وَنَزَلَ دَرْدَمِينَ، ( وَسَيَّرَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ سَرِيَّةً إِلَى دَرْدَمِينَ )، فَجَرَى بَيْنَهُمَا وَبَيْنَ أَصْحَابِ زِيَادَةِ اللَّهِ قِتَالٌ، فَقُتِلَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ جَمَاعَةٌ، وَانْهَزَمَ الْبَاقُونَ. وَاسْتَبْطَأَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ خَبَرَهُمْ، فَسَارَ فِي جَمِيعِ عَسَاكِرِهِ، فَلَقِيَ أَصْحَابَهُ مُنْهَزِمِينَ، فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ قَوِيَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ، وَرَجَعُوا، وَكَرُّوا عَلَى أَصْحَابِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَقَتَلُوا مِنْهُمْ جَمَاعَةً، وَحَجَزَ اللَّيْلُ بَيْنَهُمْ. ثُمَّ سَارَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ إِلَى قَسْطِيلَةَ، فَحَصَرَهَا، فَقَاتَلَهُ أَهْلُهَا، ثُمَّ طَلَبُوا الْأَمَانَ فَأَمَّنَهُمْ ( وَأَخَذَ مَا كَانَ لِزِيَادَةِ اللَّهِ فِيهَا مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْعُدَدِ وَرَحَلَ إِلَى قَفْصَةَ، فَطَلَبَ أَهْلُهَا الْأَمَانَ فَأَمَّنَهُمْ ) وَرَجَعَ إِلَى بَاغَايَةَ، فَتَرَكَ بِهَا جَيْشًا وَعَادَ إِلَى جَبَلِ إِنْكِجَانَ. فَسَارَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ أَبِي الْأَغْلَبِ ( فِي جَيْشِهِ إِلَى بَاغَايَةَ ) وَحَصَرَهَا، فَبَلَغَ الْخَبَرُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، فَجَمَعَ عَسْكَرَهُ وَسَارَ مُجِدًّا إِلَيْهَا، وَوَجَّهَ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ أَلْفَ فَارِسٍ، وَأَمَرَ مُقَدَّمَهُمْ أَنْ يَسِيرَ إِلَى بَاغَايَةَ، فَإِنْ كَانَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ قَدْ رَحَلَ عَنْهَا فَلَا يُجَاوِزْ فَجَّ الْعَرْعَارِ، فَمَضَى الْجَيْشُ وَكَانَ أَصْحَابُ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الَّذِينَ فِي بَاغَايَةَ قَدْ قَاتَلُوا عَسْكَرَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ قِتَالًا شَدِيدًا، فَلَمَّا رَأَى صَبْرَهُمْ عَجِبَ هُوَ وَأَصْحَابُهُ مِنْهُمْ، فَأَرْعَبَ ذَلِكَ قُلُوبَهُمْ، ثُمَّ بَلَغَهُمْ قُرْبُ الْعَسْكَرِ مِنْهُمْ فَعَادَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بِعَسَاكِرِهِ، فَوَصَلَ عَسْكَرُ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَلَمْ يَرَ وَاحِدًا فَنَهَبُوا مَا وَجَدُوا وَعَادُوا. وَرَجَعَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ إِلَى الْأُرْبُسِ. وَلَمَّا دَخَلَ فَصْلُ الرَّبِيعِ، وَطَابَ الزَّمَانُ، جَمَعَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَسَاكِرَهُ، فَبَلَغَتْ مِائَتَيْ أَلْفَ فَارِسٍ وَرَاجِلٍ، وَاجْتَمَعَ مِنْ عَسَاكِرِ زِيَادَةِ اللَّهِ بِالْأُرْبُسِ مَعَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مَا لَا يُحْصَى، وَسَارَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَوَّلَ جُمَادَى الْآخِرَةِ سَنَةَ سِتٍّ وَتِسْعِينَ وَمِائَتَيْنِ، فَالْتَقَوْا وَاقْتَتَلُوا أَشَدَّ قِتَالٍ وَطَالَ زَمَانُهُ، وَظَهَرَ أَصْحَابُ زِيَادَةِ اللَّهِ فَلَمَّا رَأَى ذَلِكَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ اخْتَارَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ سِتَّمِائَةِ رَاجِلٍ، وَأَمَرَهُمْ أَنْ يَأْتُوا عَسْكَرَ زِيَادَةِ اللَّهِ مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ، فَمَضَوْا لِمَا أَمَرَهُمْ فِي الطَّرِيقِ ( الَّذِي أَمَرَهُمْ ) بِسُلُوكِهِ. وَاتَّفَقَ أَنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فَعَلَ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ، فَالْتَقَى الطَّائِفَتَانِ، فَاقْتَتَلُوا فِي مَضِيقٍ هُنَاكَ، ( فَانْهَزَمَ أَصْحَابُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَوَقَعَ الصَّوْتُ فِي عَسْكَرِهِ بِكَمِينِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ) ( وَانْهَزَمُوا، وَتَفَرَّقُوا )، وَهَرَبَ كُلُّ قَوْمٍ إِلَى جِهَةِ بِلَادِهِمْ، وَهَرَبَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ وَبَعْضُ مَنْ مَعَهُ إِلَى الْقَيْرَوَانِ، ( وَتَبِعَهُمْ أَصْحَابُ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ) يَقْتُلُونَ وَيَأْسِرُونَ، وَغَنِمُوا الْأَمْوَالَ وَالْخَيْلَ وَالْعُدَدَ، وَدَخَلَ أَصْحَابُهُ مَدِينَةَ الْأُرْبُسِ فَقَتَلُوا بِهَا خَلْقًا عَظِيمًا، وَدَخَلَ كَثِيرٌ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا الْجَامِعَ فَقُتِلَ فِيهِ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ ثَلَاثَةِ آلَافٍ وَنَهَبُوا الْبَلَدَ، وَكَانَتِ الْوَقْعَةُ أَوَاخِرَ جُمَادَى الْآخِرَةِ وَانْصَرَفَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ إِلَى قَمُّودَةَ. هروب زيادة الله إلى مصر فَلَمَّا وَصَلَ خَبَرُ الْهَزِيمَةِ إِلَى زِيَادَةِ اللَّهِ هَرَبَ ( إِلَى الدِّيَارِ الْمِصْرِيَّةِ، وَكَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ مَا تَقَدَّمَ، وَلَمَّا هَرَبَ زِيَادَةُ اللَّهِ هَرَبَ ) أَهْلُ مَدِينَةِ رَقَّادَةَ عَلَى وُجُوهِهِمْ، فِي اللَّيْلِ، إِلَى الْقَصْرِ الْقَدِيمِ، وَإِلَى الْقَيْرَوَانِ، وَسُوَسَةَ، وَدَخَلَ أَهْلُ الْقَيْرَوَانِ رَقَّادَةَ وَنَهَبُوا مَا فِيهَا، وَأَخَذَ الْقَوِيُّ الضَّعِيفَ، وَنُهِبَتْ قُصُورُ بَنِيَ الْأَغْلَبِ، وَبَقِيَ النَّهْبُ سِتَّةَ أَيَّامٍ. وَوَصَلَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ أَبِي الْأَغْلَبِ إِلَى الْقَيْرَوَانِ، فَقَصَدَ قَصْرَ الْإِمَارَةِ، وَاجْتَمَعَ إِلَيْهِ أَهْلُ الْقَيْرَوَانِ، وَنَادَى مُنَادِيهِ بِالْأَمَانِ، وَتَسْكِينِ النَّاسِ، وَذَكَرَ لَهُمْ أَحْوَالَ زِيَادَةِ اللَّهِ، وَمَا كَانَ عَلَيْهِ، حَتَّى أَفْسَدَ مُلْكَهُ، وَصَغَّرَ أَمْرَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الشِّيعِيِّ، وَوَعَدَهُمْ أَنْ يُقَاتِلَ عَنْهُمْ، وَيَحْمِيَ حَرِيمَهُمْ وَبَلَدَهُمْ، وَطَلَبَ مِنْهُمُ الْمُسَاعَدَةَ بِالسَّمْعِ وَالطَّاعَةِ وَالْأَمْوَالِ، فَقَالُوا: إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فُقَهَاءُ، وَعَامَّةٌ، وَتُجَّارٌ، وَمَا فِي أَمْوَالِنَا مَا يَبْلُغُ غَرَضَكَ، وَلَيْسَ لَنَا بِالْقِتَالِ طَاقَةٌ، فَأَمَرَهُمْ بِالِانْصِرَافِ، فَلَمَّا خَرَجُوا مِنْ عِنْدِهِ وَأَعْلَمُوا النَّاسَ بِمَا قَالَهُ صَاحُوا بِهِ: اخْرُجْ عَنَّا، فَمَا لَكَ عِنْدَنَا سَمْعٌ وَلَا طَاعَةٌ ! وَشَتَمُوهُ، فَخَرَجَ عَنْهُمْ وَهُمْ يَرْجُمُونَهُ. وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ هَرَبُ زِيَادَةِ اللَّهِ كَانَ بِنَاحِيَةِ سَبِيبَةَ، وَرَحَلَ فَنَزَلَ بِوَادِي النَّمْلِ، وَقَدَّمَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ عَرُوبَةَ بْنَ يُوسُفَ، وَحَسَنَ بْنَ أَبِي خِنْزِيرٍ، فِي أَلْفِ فَارِسٍ إِلَى رَقَّادَةَ، فَوَجَدُوا النَّاسَ يَنْهَبُونَ مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الْأَمْتِعَةِ وَالْأَثَاثِ، فَأَمَّنُوهُمْ وَلَمْ يَتَعَرَّضُوا لِأَحَدٍ، وَتَرَكُوا لِكُلٍّ وَاحِدٍ مَا حَمَلَهُ، فَأَتَى النَّاسُ إِلَى الْقَيْرَوَانِ، فَأَخْبَرُوهُ الْخَبَرَ، فَفَرِحَ أَهْلُهَا. وَخَرَجَ الْفُقَهَاءُ وَوُجُوهُ الْبَلَدِ إِلَى لِقَاءِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، فَلَقُوهُ، وَسَلَّمُوا عَلَيْهِ، وَهَنَّئُوهُ بِالْفَتْحِ، فَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِمْ رَدًّا حَسَنًا، وَحَدَّثَهُمْ، وَأَعْطَاهُمُ الْأَمَانَ، فَأَعْجَبَهُمْ ذَلِكَ وَسَرَّهُمْ، وَذَمُّوا زِيَادَةَ اللَّهِ، وَذَكَرُوا مَسَاوِئَهُ، فَقَالَ لَهُمْ: مَا كَانَ ( إِلَّا قَوِيًّا )، وَلَهُ مَنَعَةٌ، وَدَوْلَةٌ شَامِخَةٌ، وَمَا قَصَّرَ فِي مُدَافَعَتِهِ، وَلَكِنَّ أَمْرَ اللَّهِ لَا يُعَانَدُ وَلَا يُدَافَعُ ! فَأَمْسَكُوا عَنِ الْكَلَامِ، وَرَجَعُوا إِلَى الْقَيْرَوَانِ. وَدَخَلَ رَقَّادَةَ يَوْمَ السَّبْتِ، مُسْتَهَلَّ رَجَبٍ مِنْ سَنَةِ سِتٍّ وَتِسْعِينَ وَمِائَتَيْنِ، فَنَزَلَ بِبَعْضِ قُصُورِهَا، وَفَرَّقَ دُورَهَا عَلَى كُتَامَةَ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ بَقِيَ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا فِيهَا، وَأَمَرَ فَنُودِيَ بِالْأَمَانِ، فَرَجَعَ النَّاسُ إِلَى أَوْطَانِهِمْ، وَأَخْرَجَ الْعُمَّالَ إِلَى الْبِلَادِ، وَطَلَبَ أَهْلَ الشَّرِّ فَقَتَلَهُمْ، وَأَمَرَ أَنْ يُجْمَعَ مَا كَانَ لِزِيَادَةِ اللَّهِ مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ، وَالسِّلَاحِ، وَغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ، فَاجْتَمَعَ كَثِيرٌ مِنْهُ، وَفِيهِ كَثِيرٌ مِنَ الْجَوَارِي لَهُنَّ مِقْدَارٌ وَحَظٌّ مِنَ الْجَمَالِ، فَسَأَلَ عَمَّنْ كَانَ يَكْفُلُهُنَّ، فَذُكِرَ لَهُ امْرَأَةٌ صَالِحَةٌ كَانَتْ لِزِيَادَةِ اللَّهِ، فَأَحْضَرَهَا، وَأَحْسَنَ إِلَيْهَا، وَأَمَرَ بِحِفْظِهِنَّ، وَأَمَرَ لَهُنَّ بِمَا يُصْلِحُهُنَّ وَلَمْ يَنْظُرْ إِلَى وَاحِدَةٍ مِنْهُنَّ. وَلَمَّا حَضَرَتِ الْجُمْعَةُ أَمَرَ الْخُطَبَاءَ بِالْقَيْرَوَانِ وَرَقَّادَةَ، فَخَطَبُوا وَلَمْ يَذْكُرُوا أَحَدًا، وَأَمَرَ بِضَرْبِ السِّكَّةِ، وَأَنْ لَا يُنْقَشَ عَلَيْهَا اسْمٌ، وَلَكِنَّهُ جَعَلَ مَكَانَ الِاسْمِ مِنْ وَجْهٍ: بَلَغَتْ حُجَّةُ اللَّهِ، وَمِنَ الْوَجْهِ الْآخَرِ: تَفَرَّقَ أَعْدَاءُ اللَّهِ، وَنَقَشَ عَلَى السِّلَاحِ: عُدَّةٌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ، وَوَسَمَ الْخَيْلَ عَلَى أَفْخَاذِهَا: الْمُلْكُ لِلَّهِ، وَأَقَامَ عَلَى مَا كَانَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ لُبْسِ الدُّونِ الْخَشِنِ، وَالْقَلِيلِ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ الْغَلِيظِ.
Translation
✧ The seizure of power by Abū ʿAbd Allāh over Ifrīqiya and the flight of its amīr Ziyādat Allāh We have already mentioned what preceded concerning the affair of Abū ʿAbd Allāh. Then, when Ziyādat Allāh saw Abū ʿAbd Allāh's seizure of power over the lands, and that he had conquered the city of Mīla, the city of Saṭīf, and others, he set about gathering armies and spending money, and great armies assembled to him. He placed over them Ibrāhīm b. Khunaysh, one of his relatives, who knew nothing of war. The number of his army reached forty thousand. He handed over to him the funds and equipment, and did not leave in Ifrīqiya any brave man whom he did not send out with him, and he marched against him, and there joined him the like of his army. When he reached Qusṭanṭīniyyat al-Hawāʾ—an ancient, fortified city—he encamped there. Many of the Kutāma who had not obeyed Abū ʿAbd Allāh came to him, and on his way he killed many of Abū ʿAbd Allāh's companions. Abū ʿAbd Allāh and all the Kutāma feared him. He remained at Qusṭanṭīniyya for six months while Abū ʿAbd Allāh fortified himself in the mountain. When Ibrāhīm saw that Abū ʿAbd Allāh would not advance against him, he hastened and marched with the assembled armies to a place called Karma. Abū ʿAbd Allāh sent out against him a cavalry force he had selected to test his encampment, and they met him at the said place. When Ibrāhīm saw the cavalry, he headed towards them in person, with no one from his army accompanying him. The army's baggage was on the backs of the animals and had not been unloaded. Battle was joined, and they fought a fierce fight. The news reached Abū ʿAbd Allāh, and he advanced with the armies. Defeat fell upon Ibrāhīm and those with him. He was wounded and his horse was hamstrung, and the rout was complete for the entire army. They abandoned all the baggage, and Abū ʿAbd Allāh seized it as booty and killed a great number of them. Ibrāhīm's affair ended in al-Qayrawān. The lands of Ifrīqiya were thrown into confusion, and the affair of Abū ʿAbd Allāh grew great, and his rule became established. Abū ʿAbd Allāh wrote a letter to the Mahdī, who was in prison in Sijilmāsa, giving him good tidings. He sent the letter with one of his trusted men, who entered the prison in the guise of a butcher selling meat, met with him, and informed him of that. The march of Abū ʿAbd Allāh to the city of Ṭubna and its siege Abū ʿAbd Allāh marched to the city of Ṭubna and besieged it. He set up siege engines against it and undermined a tower and a curtain wall, and the wall fell after a fierce battle. He took the town. The leading fighters took refuge in the citadel of the town, and he besieged them. They sought safe-conduct, and he granted it to them, and he granted safe-conduct to the people of the town. He marched to the city of Biluzma, which he had besieged many times without success. When he now besieged it, he pressed it hard, exerted himself in fighting, set up siege engines against it, and hurled fire at it, burning it. He took it by the sword, killed the men, and demolished the walls. The reports reached Ziyādat Allāh, and that distressed him greatly. He set about gathering and mobilizing troops, and gathered an army twelve thousand strong, over which he appointed Hārūn b. al-Ṭubnī. He marched, and a great crowd joined him. He headed for the city of Dār Mulūk, whose people had obeyed Abū ʿAbd Allāh. Hārūn killed its people and demolished the fort. On his way he was met by a cavalry force of Abū ʿAbd Allāh, which he had sent to test his army. When the army saw them, they fell into confusion, raised a great cry, and fled without fighting. Abū ʿAbd Allāh's companions thought it was a ruse, but when it became clear that it was a rout, they took matters in hand, drew the sword, and those killed could not be counted. Hārūn, the commander of the army, was killed. Abū ʿAbd Allāh conquered the city of Tījis by treaty. Then the matter became severe for Ziyādat Allāh. He brought out funds, mobilized armies, and went out in person to fight Abū ʿAbd Allāh. He reached al-Urbus in the year 295. The notables of his state said to him: "You are endangering yourself; if anything happens to you, no refuge will remain for us. The right course is that you return to the seat of your kingdom and send the army with someone you trust. If victory is ours, we will join you; if otherwise, you will be a refuge for us." He returned and did that. He sent the army and placed over it a man from his cousins called Ibrāhīm b. Abī al-Aghlab, a brave man. The news reached Abū ʿAbd Allāh. The people of Bāghāya had written to him offering obedience, so he marched to them. When he drew near it, its governor fled to al-Urbus. Abū ʿAbd Allāh entered it, left troops there, and returned to Inkijān. The news reached Ziyādat Allāh, increasing his grief and sorrow. A man who used to make him laugh said to him: "O our master, I have composed a line of poetry; perhaps you will have someone set it to music and drink to it, and put aside this sorrow." He said: "What is it?" The jester said to the singers: "Sing such-and-such a poem," and after each line say: Drink and give us to drink from the cup; it suffices us. When they sang, Ziyādat Allāh became enraptured and drank, and gave himself over to eating, drinking, and pleasures. When his companions saw that, they supported him in his desire. Then Abū ʿAbd Allāh sent out a cavalry force to the city of Majāna and conquered it by force, killing its governor. He sent another army to the city of Tīfāsh, and took it and granted safe-conduct to its people. A group of tribal chiefs came to Abū ʿAbd Allāh seeking safe-conduct, and he granted it to them. He marched in person to Miskīyāna, then to Tibissa, then to Mudbira. There he found the people of Qaṣr al-Ifrīqī, the city of Marmajanna, the city of Majāna, and mixed groups of people who had fled there and fortified themselves in it—it was a strong fortress. He encamped against it and fought it. He was afflicted with an attack of the stone, which used to afflict him, and he was distracted by his own condition. Its people sought safe-conduct, and some of the army granted it to them. They opened the fortress, and the army entered and drew the sword and plundered. That reached Abū ʿAbd Allāh and distressed him greatly. He departed and encamped at al-Qaṣrayn in Qammūda. Its people sought safe-conduct, and he granted it to them. It reached Ibrāhīm b. Abī al-Aghlab, the commander of the army that Ziyādat Allāh had sent, that Abū ʿAbd Allāh intended to head for Ziyādat Allāh at Raqqāda, and that Ziyādat Allāh did not have a large army with him. So he went out from al-Urbus and encamped at Dardamīn. Abū ʿAbd Allāh sent a raiding party to Dardamīn, and fighting took place between them and Ziyādat Allāh's companions. A group of Abū ʿAbd Allāh's companions were killed, and the rest fled. Abū ʿAbd Allāh found their news slow in coming, so he marched with all his armies and met his companions in flight. When they saw him, their hearts were strengthened, and they turned back and attacked Ibrāhīm's companions again, killing a group of them, and night separated the two sides. Then Abū ʿAbd Allāh marched to Qasṭīla and besieged it. Its people fought him, then sought safe-conduct, and he granted it to them. He took the funds and equipment that had belonged to Ziyādat Allāh there, and departed to Qafṣa. Its people sought safe-conduct, and he granted it to them. He returned to Bāghāya, left an army there, and went back to the mountain of Inkijān. Ibrāhīm b. Abī al-Aghlab marched with his army to Bāghāya and besieged it. The news reached Abū ʿAbd Allāh, so he gathered his army and marched urgently towards it. He dispatched twelve thousand horsemen and ordered their commander to march to Bāghāya; if Ibrāhīm had already departed from it, he should not go beyond Fajj al-ʿArʿār. The army went on. Abū ʿAbd Allāh's companions who were in Bāghāya had fought Ibrāhīm's army fiercely, and when he saw their endurance, he and his companions marveled at them, and that struck fear into their hearts. Then news reached them that the army was near, and Ibrāhīm withdrew with his forces. Abū ʿAbd Allāh's army arrived and found no one, so they plundered what they found and returned. Ibrāhīm returned to al-Urbus. When spring came and the season was pleasant, Abū ʿAbd Allāh gathered his armies, which reached two hundred thousand horse and foot. Ziyādat Allāh's forces gathered at al-Urbus with Ibrāhīm in numbers beyond count. Abū ʿAbd Allāh marched at the beginning of Jumādā al-Ākhira in the year 296. They met and fought the fiercest of battles, and it lasted a long time. Ziyādat Allāh's companions gained the advantage. When Abū ʿAbd Allāh saw that, he chose six hundred foot soldiers from among his companions and ordered them to come upon Ziyādat Allāh's army from behind. They went as he ordered along the route he had commanded them to take. It happened that Ibrāhīm did the same. The two parties met and fought in a narrow pass there. Ibrāhīm's companions were routed, and the cry went up in his army of an ambush by Abū ʿAbd Allāh, and they fled and scattered, each group fleeing towards their own lands. Ibrāhīm and some of those with him fled to al-Qayrawān, and Abū ʿAbd Allāh's companions pursued them, killing and capturing, and seizing as booty money, horses, and equipment. His companions entered the city of al-Urbus and killed a great number in it. Many of its people entered the mosque, and more than three thousand were killed in it, and they plundered the town. The battle took place at the end of Jumādā al-Ākhira. Abū ʿAbd Allāh departed to Qammūda. The flight of Ziyādat Allāh to Egypt When news of the defeat reached Ziyādat Allāh, he fled to the Egyptian lands. His affair was as previously mentioned. When Ziyādat Allāh fled, the people of the city of Raqqāda fled in all directions by night to al-Qaṣr al-Qadīm, to al-Qayrawān, and to Sūsa. The people of al-Qayrawān entered Raqqāda and plundered what was in it; the strong despoiled the weak. The palaces of the Banū al-Aghlab were plundered, and the plundering continued for six days. Ibrāhīm b. Abī al-Aghlab reached al-Qayrawān and headed for the palace of the emirate. The people of al-Qayrawān gathered to him, and his crier proclaimed safe-conduct and calmed the people. He mentioned to them the conditions of Ziyādat Allāh and what he had been upon until he corrupted his kingdom, and he belittled the affair of Abū ʿAbd Allāh the Shīʿī. He promised them that he would fight on their behalf and protect their families and their land, and he asked them to assist him with obedience, loyalty, and funds. They said: "We are only jurists, common people, and merchants, and our funds cannot reach your aim, and we have no strength for fighting." He ordered them to depart. When they left him and informed the people of what he had said, they shouted at him: "Leave us! We owe you no obedience or loyalty!" and they reviled him. He departed while they threw stones at him. When news of Ziyādat Allāh's flight reached Abū ʿAbd Allāh, he was in the region of Sabība. He departed and encamped at Wādī al-Naml. He sent ahead ʿArūba b. Yūsuf and Ḥasan b. Abī Khinzīr with a thousand horsemen to Raqqāda. They found the people plundering what remained of the goods and furnishings, and they granted them safe-conduct and did not interfere with anyone, leaving each person what he carried. The people came to al-Qayrawān and reported the news, and its people rejoiced. The jurists and notables of the town went out to meet Abū ʿAbd Allāh. They met him, greeted him, and congratulated him on the victory. He gave them a fine reply, spoke with them, and granted them safe-conduct. That pleased and delighted them. They condemned Ziyādat Allāh and mentioned his faults. He said to them: "He was none other than strong, with might and a towering state, and he did not fall short in his defense; but the command of God cannot be opposed or repelled!" They fell silent and returned to al-Qayrawān. He entered Raqqāda on Saturday, the first of Rajab in the year 296. He lodged in one of its palaces and distributed its houses among the Kutāma. None of its original inhabitants remained in it. He ordered a proclamation of safe-conduct, and the people returned to their homes. He sent governors to the provinces. He sought out the troublemakers and killed them. He ordered that what had belonged to Ziyādat Allāh of funds, weapons, and other things be collected. A great deal was gathered, including many slave girls of considerable beauty. He asked who had been in charge of them, and he was told of a righteous woman who had belonged to Ziyādat Allāh. He summoned her, treated her kindly, ordered that the girls be guarded, and provided for their upkeep. He did not look at a single one of them. When Friday came, he ordered the preachers in al-Qayrawān and Raqqāda, and they delivered the sermon without mentioning anyone. He ordered the minting of coinage, and that no name be inscribed on it. Instead, on one side he put: "God's proof has been delivered," and on the other side: "God's enemies have been scattered." He inscribed on weapons: "Equipment in the path of God," and branded the horses on their thighs: "Sovereignty belongs to God." He remained as he had been, wearing coarse, rough clothing and eating little, coarse food.
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