Tarikh (al-Tabari) 4050
Then the year 336 AH began
ذِكْرُ وَلَايَةِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ صِقِلِّيَةَ فِي هَذِهِ السَّنَةِ اسْتَعْمَلَ الْمَنْصُورُ الْحَسَنَ بْنَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الْكَلْبِيَّ عَلَى جَزِيرَةِ صِقِلِّيَةَ، وَكَانَ لَهُ مَحَلٌّ كَبِيرٌ عِنْدَ الْمَنْصُورِ، وَلَهُ أَثَرٌ عَظِيمٌ فِي قِتَالِ أَبِي يَزِيدَ. وَكَانَ سَبَبُ وَلَايَتِهِ أَنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ كَانُوا قَدِ اسْتَضْعَفَهُمُ الْكُفَّارُ بِهَا أَيَّامَ عَطَّافٍ لِعَجْزِهِ وَضَعْفِهِ، وَامْتَنَعُوا مِنْ إِعْطَاءِ مَالِ الْهُدْنَةِ، وَكَانُوا بِصِقِلِّيَةَ بَنُو الطَّبَرِيِّ مِنْ أَعْيَانِ الْجَمَاعَةِ، وَلَهُمْ أَتْبَاعٌ كَثِيرُونَ، فَوَثَبُوا بِعَطَّافٍ أَيْضًا، وَأَعَانَهُمْ أَهْلُ الْمَدِينَةِ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ عِيدِ الْفِطْرِ سَنَةَ خَمْسٍ وَثَلَاثِينَ [ وَثَلَاثِمِائَةٍ ]، وَقَتَلُوا جَمَاعَةً مِنْ رِجَالِهِ، وَأَفْلَتَ عَطَّافٌ هَارِبًا بِنَفْسِهِ إِلَى الْحِصْنِ، فَأَخَذُوا أَعْلَامَهُ وَطُبُولَهُ وَانْصَرَفُوا إِلَى دِيَارِهِمْ، فَأَرْسَلَ أَبُو عَطَّافٍ إِلَى الْمَنْصُورِ يُعْلِمُهُ الْحَالَ وَيَطْلُبُ الْمَدَدَ. فَلَمَّا عَلِمَ الْمَنْصُورُ ذَلِكَ، اسْتَعْمَلَ عَلَى الْوَلَايَةِ الْحَسَنَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ، وَأَمَرَهُ بِالْمَسِيرِ، فَسَارَ فِي الْمَرَاكِبِ، فَأَرْسَى بِمَدِينَةِ مَازَرَ، فَلَمْ يَلْتَفِتْ إِلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ، فَبَقِيَ يَوْمَهُ، فَأَتَاهُ فِي اللَّيْلِ جَمَاعَةٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ إِفْرِيقِيَّةَ، وَكُتَامَةَ، وَغَيْرِهِمْ، وَذَكَرُوا أَنَّهُمْ خَافُوا الْحُضُورَ عِنْدَهُ مِنِ ابْنِ الطَّبَرِيِّ وَمَنِ اتَّفَقَ مَعَهُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبِلَادَ، وَأَنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الطَّبَرِيِّ، وَمُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَبْدُونَ، وَغَيْرَهُمَا قَدْ سَارُوا إِلَى إِفْرِيقِيَّةَ، وَأَوْصَوْا بَنِيهِمْ لِيَمْنَعُوهُ مِنْ دُخُولِ الْبَلَدِ، وَمُفَارَقَةِ مَرَاكِبِهِ إِلَى أَنْ تَصِلَ كُتُبُهُمْ بِمَا يَلْقَوْنَ مِنَ الْمَنْصُورِ، وَقَدْ مَضَوْا يَطْلُبُونَ أَنْ يُوَلِّيَ الْمَنْصُورُ غَيْرَهُ. ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ نَفَرٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ ابْنِ الطَّبَرِيِّ وَمَنْ مَعَهُ لِيُشَاهِدُوا مَنْ مَعَهُ، فَرَأَوْهُ فِي قِلَّةٍ، فَطَمِعُوا فِيهِ، وَخَادَعُوهُ وَخَادَعَهُمْ، ثُمَّ عَادُوا إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ، وَقَدْ وَعَدَهُمْ أَنَّهُ يُقِيمُ بِمَكَانِهِ إِلَى أَنْ يَعُودُوا إِلَيْهِ، فَلَمَّا فَارَقُوهُ جَدَّ السَّيْرَ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَجْمَعُوا أَصْحَابَهُمْ وَيَمْنَعُوهُ، فَلَمَّا انْتَهَى إِلَى الْبَيْضَاءِ، أَتَاهُ حَاكِمُ الْبَلَدِ وَأَصْحَابُ الدَّوَاوِينِ، وَكُلُّ مَنْ يُرِيدُ الْعَافِيَةَ، فَلَقِيَهُمْ وَأَكْرَمَهُمْ، وَسَأَلَهُمْ عَنْ أَحْوَالِهِمْ، فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ الطَّبَرِيِّ بِخُرُوجِ هَذَا الْجَمْعِ إِلَيْهِ، اضْطُرَّ إِلَى الْخُرُوجِ إِلَيْهِ، فَلَقِيَهُ الْحَسَنُ وَأَكْرَمَهُ وَعَادَ إِلَى دَارِهِ، وَدَخَلَ الْحَسَنُ الْبَلَدَ، وَمَالَ إِلَيْهِ كُلُّ مُنْحَرِفٍ عَنْ بَنِي الطَّبَرِيِّ وَمَنْ مَعَهُمْ. فَلَمَّا رَأَى ابْنُ الطَّبَرِيِّ ذَلِكَ، أَمَرَ رَجُلًا صِقِلِّيًّا، فَدَعَا بَعْضَ عَبِيدِ الْحَسَنِ وَكَانَ مَوْصُوفًا بِالشَّجَاعَةِ، فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ بَيْتَهُ، خَرَجَ الرَّجُلُ يَسْتَغِيثُ وَيَصِيحُ وَيَقُولُ: إِنَّ هَذَا دَخَلَ بَيْتِي، وَأَخَذَ امْرَأَتِي بِحَضْرَتِي غَصْبًا، فَاجْتَمَعَ أَهْلُ الْبَلَدِ لِذَلِكَ، وَحَرَّكَهُمُ ابْنُ الطَّبَرِيِّ وَخَوَّفَهُمْ وَقَالَ: هَذَا فِعْلُهُمْ، وَلَمْ يَتَمَكَّنُوا مِنَ الْبَلَدِ، وَأَمَرَ النَّاسَ بِالْحُضُورِ عِنْدَ الْحَسَنِ ظَنًّا مِنْهُ أَنَّهُ لَا يُعَاقِبُ مَمْلُوكَهُ، فَيَثُورُ النَّاسُ بِهِ، فَيُخْرِجُونَهُ مِنَ الْبَلَدِ. فَلَمَّا اجْتَمَعَ النَّاسُ، وَذَلِكَ الرَّجُلُ يَصِيحُ وَيَسْتَغِيثُ، أَحْضَرَهُ الْحَسَنُ عِنْدَهُ، وَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ حَالِهِ، فَحَلَّفَهُ بِاللَّهِ - تَعَالَى - عَلَى مَا يَقُولُ، فَحَلَفَ، فَأَمَرَ بِقَتْلِ الْغُلَامِ فَقُتِلَ، فَسُّرَّ أَهْلُ الْبَلَدِ وَقَالُوا: الْآنَ طَابَتْ نُفُوسُنَا، وَعَلِمْنَا أَنَّ بَلَدَنَا يَتَعَمَّرُ، وَيَظْهَرُ فِيهِ الْعَدْلُ، فَانْعَكَسَ الْأَمْرُ عَلَى ابْنِ الطَّبَرِيِّ، وَأَقَامَ الْحَسَنُ وَهُوَ خَائِفٌ مِنْهُمْ. ثُمَّ إِنَّ الْمَنْصُورَ أَرْسَلَ إِلَى الْحَسَنِ يُعَرِّفُهُ أَنَّهُ قَبَضَ عَلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ الطَّبَرِيِّ، وَعَلَى مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدُونَ، وَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُنَّا، وَمَنْ مَعَهُمْ، وَيَأْمُرُهُ بِالْقَبْضِ عَلَى إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ الطَّبَرِيِّ، وَرَجَاءِ بْنِ جُنَّا وَمُحَمَّدٍ.. وَمُخْلِفِي الْجَمَاعَةِ الْمَقْبُوضِينَ، فَاسْتَعْظَمَ الْأَمْرَ، ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَ إِلَى ابْنِ الطَّبَرِيِّ يَقُولُ لَهُ: كُنْتَ قَدْ وَعَدْتَنِي أَنْ نَتَفَرَّجَ فِي الْبُسْتَانِ الَّذِي لَكَ، فَتَحْضُرَ لِنَمْضِيَ إِلَيْهِ، وَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى الْجَمَاعَةِ عَلَى لِسَانِ ابْنِ الطَّبَرِيِّ يَقُولُ: تَحْضُرُونَ لِنَمْضِيَ مَعَ الْأَمِيرِ إِلَى الْبُسْتَانِ، فَحَضَرُوا عِنْدَهُ، وَجَعَلَ يُحَادِثُهُمْ وَيَطُولُ إِلَى أَنْ أَمْسَوْا، فَقَالَ: قَدْ فَاتَ اللَّيْلُ، وَتَكُونُونَ أَضْيَافَنَا، فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى أَصْحَابِهِمْ يَقُولُ: إِنَّهُمُ اللَّيْلَةَ فِي ضِيَافَةِ الْأَمِيرِ، فَتَعُودُونَ إِلَى بُيُوتِهِمْ إِلَى الْغَدِ، فَمَضَى أَصْحَابُهُمْ، فَقَبَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَأَخَذَ جَمِيعَ أَمْوَالِهِمْ، وَكَثُرَ جَمْعُهُ، وَاتَّفَقَ النَّاسُ عَلَيْهِ وَقَوِيَتْ نُفُوسُهُمْ، فَلَمَّا رَأَى الرُّومُ ذَلِكَ، أَحْضَرَ الرَّاهِبُ مَالَ الْهُدْنَةِ لِثَلَاثِ سِنِينَ. ثُمَّ إِنَّ مَلِكَ الرُّومِ أَرْسَلَ بِطْرِيقًا فِي الْبَحْرِ فِي جَيْشٍ كَثِيرٍ إِلَى صِقِلِّيَةَ ، وَاجْتَمَعَ هُوَ وَالسَّرْدَغُوسُ، فَأَرْسَلَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ إِلَى الْمَنْصُورِ يُعَرِّفُهُ الْحَالَ، فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ أُسْطُولًا فِيهِ سَبْعَةُ آلَافِ فَارِسٍ، وَثَلَاثَةُ آلَافٍ وَخَمْسُمِائَةِ رَاجِلٍ سِوَى الْبَحْرِيَّةِ، وَجَمَعَ الْحَسَنُ إِلَيْهِمْ جَمْعًا كَثِيرًا، وَسَارَ ( فِي الْبَرِّ ) وَالْبَحْرِ، فَوَصَلَ إِلَى مَسِّينِي، وَعَدَتِ الْعَسَاكِرُ الْإِسْلَامِيَّةُ إِلَى رِيُّو، وَبَثَّ الْحَسَنُ السَّرَايَا فِي أَرْضِ قِلَّوْرِيَةَ، وَنَزَلَ الْحَسَنُ عَلَى جَرَاجَةَ، وَحَاصَرَهَا أَشَدَّ حِصَارٍ، وَأَشْرَفُوا عَلَى الْهَلَاكِ مِنْ شِدَّةِ الْعَطَشِ، فَوَصَلَهُمُ الْخَبَرُ أَنَّ الرُّومَ قَدْ زَحَفُوا إِلَيْهِ، فَصَالَحَ أَهْلَ جَرَاجَةَ عَلَى مَالٍ أَخَذَهُ مِنْهُمْ، وَسَارَ إِلَى لِقَاءِ الرُّومِ، فَفَرُّوا مِنْ غَيْرِ حَرْبٍ إِلَى مَدِينَةِ بَارَّةَ، وَنَزَلَ الْحَسَنُ عَلَى قَلْعَةِ قِسَّانَةَ، وَبَثَّ سَرَايَاهُ إِلَى قِلَّوْرِيَةَ، وَأَقَامَ عَلَيْهَا شَهْرًا، فَسَأَلُوهُ الصُّلْحَ، فَصَالَحَهُمْ عَلَى مَالٍ أَخَذَهُ مِنْهُمْ. وَدَخَلَ الشِّتَاءُ، فَرَجَعَ الْجَيْشُ إِلَى مَسِّينِي، وَشَتَّى الْأُسْطُولُ بِهَا، فَأَرْسَلَ الْمَنْصُورُ يَأْمُرُهُ بِالرُّجُوعِ إِلَى قِلَّوْرِيَةَ، فَسَارَ الْحَسَنُ، وَعَدَا الْمَجَازَ إِلَى جَرَاجَةَ، فَالْتَقَى الْمُسْلِمُونَ وَالسَّرْدَغُوسُ وَمَعَهُ الرُّومُ يَوْمَ عَرَفَةَ سَنَةَ أَرْبَعِينَ وَثَلَاثِمِائَةٍ، فَاقْتَتَلُوا أَشَدَّ قِتَالٍ رَآهُ النَّاسُ، فَانْهَزَمَتِ الرُّومُ، وَرَكِبَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ أَكْتَافَهُمْ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ، وَأَكْثَرُوا الْقَتْلَ فِيهِمْ، وَغَنِمُوا أَثْقَالَهُمْ وَسِلَاحَهُمْ وَدَوَابَّهُمْ. ثُمَّ دَخَلَتْ سَنَةُ إِحْدَى وَأَرْبَعِينَ [ وَثَلَاثِمِائَةٍ ] فَقَصَدَ الْحَسَنُ جَرَاجَةَ فَحَصَرَهَا، فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى قُسْطَنْطِينَ مَلِكِ الرُّومِ يَطْلُبُ مِنْهُ الْهُدْنَةَ، فَهَادَنَهُ، وَعَادَ الْحَسَنُ إِلَى رِيُّو وَبَنَى بِهَا مَسْجِدًا كَبِيرًا فِي وَسَطِ الْمَدِينَةِ، وَبَنَى فِي أَحَدِ أَرْكَانِهِ مِئْذَنَةً، وَشَرَطَ عَلَى الرُّومِ أَنَّهُمْ لَا يَمْنَعُونَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِنْ عِمَارَتِهِ، وَإِقَامَةِ الصَّلَاةِ فِيهِ، وَالْأَذَانِ، وَأَنْ لَا يَدْخُلَهُ نَصْرَانِيُّ، وَمَنْ دَخَلَهُ مِنَ الْأَسَارَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ، فَهُوَ آمِنٌ سَوَاءً كَانَ مُرْتَدًا أَوْ مُقِيمًا عَلَى دِينِهِ، وَإِنْ أَخْرَجُوا حَجَرًا مِنْهُ، هُدِمَتْ كَنَائِسُهُمْ كُلُّهَا بِصِقِلِّيَةَ وَإِفْرِيقِيَّةَ، فَوَفَى الرُّومُ بِهَذِهِ الشُّرُوطِ كُلِّهَا ذِلَّةً وَصَغَارًا. وَبَقِيَ الْحَسَنُ بِصِقِلِّيَةَ إِلَى أَنْ تُوُفِّيَ الْمَنْصُورُ وَمَلَكَ الْمُعِزُّ، فَسَارَ إِلَيْهِ وَكَانَ مَا نَذْكُرُهُ.
Translation
✧ Mention of the governorship of al-Ḥasan b. ʿAlī over Sicily In this year al-Manṣūr appointed al-Ḥasan b. ʿAlī b. Abī al-Ḥasan al-Kalbī as governor over the island of Sicily. He held a high position with al-Manṣūr and had played a great role in the fight against Abū Yazīd. The reason for his appointment was that the Muslims there had been weakened by the infidels during the days of ʿAṭṭāf, due to his inability and weakness; they had refused to pay the tribute money. In Sicily, the Banū al-Ṭabarī were among the notables of the community and had many followers. They also rose against ʿAṭṭāf, and the people of the city helped them against him on the day of ʿĪd al-Fiṭr in the year 335 [AH]. They killed a number of his men, while ʿAṭṭāf escaped, fleeing with his life to the fortress. They seized his banners and drums and returned to their homes. Abū ʿAṭṭāf then sent to al-Manṣūr informing him of the situation and requesting reinforcements. When al-Manṣūr learned of that, he appointed al-Ḥasan b. ʿAlī as governor and ordered him to set out. He traveled by ship and anchored at the city of Māzar. No one paid attention to him, so he remained there that day. At night, a group of people from Ifrīqiya, Kutāma, and others came to him and mentioned that they had feared to come to him because of Ibn al-Ṭabarī and those who had agreed with him among the people of the country. They also said that ʿAlī b. al-Ṭabarī, Muḥammad b. ʿAbdūn, and others had gone to Ifrīqiya and had instructed their sons to prevent him from entering the city and from leaving his ships until their letters arrived reporting what they encountered with al-Manṣūr. They had gone to request that al-Manṣūr appoint someone else. Then a group of Ibn al-Ṭabarī's companions and those with him came to him to observe how many men he had with him. They saw that he had only a few, so they became greedy regarding him and tried to deceive him, while he also deceived them. Then they returned to the city, and he had promised them that he would remain in his place until they came back to him. When they left him, he hastened his march to the city before they could gather their companions and prevent him. When he reached al-Bayḍāʾ, the governor of the town, the officials of the registers, and everyone who sought safety came to him. He met them, honored them, and asked them about their conditions. When Ismāʿīl b. al-Ṭabarī heard that this group had gone out to him, he was compelled to go out to him. Al-Ḥasan met him, honored him, and he returned to his house. Al-Ḥasan then entered the city, and everyone who was opposed to the Banū al-Ṭabarī and their associates inclined toward him. When Ibn al-Ṭabarī saw that, he ordered a Sicilian man to summon one of al-Ḥasan's slaves, a man known for his bravery. When the slave entered the man's house, the man went out crying for help and shouting, saying: "This man entered my house and seized my wife by force in my presence." The people of the city gathered because of that, and Ibn al-Ṭabarī incited them and frightened them, saying: "This is what they do, and they have not yet taken control of the city." He ordered the people to assemble at al-Ḥasan's residence, thinking that al-Ḥasan would not punish his slave, and that the people would then rise against him and expel him from the city. When the people gathered and that man was crying out and seeking help, al-Ḥasan brought him before him and asked him about his situation. He made him swear by God—Exalted is He—to the truth of what he said. The man swore, so al-Ḥasan ordered the slave to be killed, and he was executed. The people of the city rejoiced and said: "Now our hearts are at ease, and we know that our city will prosper and that justice will prevail in it." Thus the matter turned against Ibn al-Ṭabarī, and al-Ḥasan remained, though he was wary of them. Then al-Manṣūr sent to al-Ḥasan informing him that he had arrested ʿAlī b. al-Ṭabarī, Muḥammad b. ʿAbdūn, Muḥammad b. Junnā, and those with them, and ordering him to arrest Ismāʿīl b. al-Ṭabarī, Rajāʾ b. Junnā, and Muḥammad... and the remaining members of the arrested group. Al-Ḥasan considered the matter grave. Then he sent to Ibn al-Ṭabarī saying to him: "You had promised me that we would go out to your garden for recreation, so come so that we may go there." He also sent to the group on the tongue of Ibn al-Ṭabarī, saying: "Come so that we may go with the amir to the garden." They came to him, and he kept conversing with them and prolonging the discussion until evening fell. Then he said: "The night has come; you will be our guests." He sent to their companions, saying: "Tonight they are guests of the amir, so return to your homes until tomorrow." Their companions left, and then al-Ḥasan arrested them and seized all their wealth. His following grew, and the people united behind him, and their spirits were strengthened. When the Byzantines saw that, the monk brought the tribute money for three years. Then the king of the Byzantines sent a patrician by sea with a large army to Sicily. He and al-Sardaghūs (the strategos) joined forces. Al-Ḥasan b. ʿAlī sent to al-Manṣūr informing him of the situation. Al-Manṣūr sent him a fleet containing seven thousand cavalry and three thousand five hundred infantry, besides the sailors. Al-Ḥasan gathered a large force to join them and marched by land and sea. He reached Messina, and the Islamic armies crossed over to Reggio. Al-Ḥasan dispatched raiding parties into the land of Calabria. He encamped before Gerace and besieged it with the severest siege. They were on the verge of perishing from intense thirst when news reached them that the Byzantines had marched against them. So he made peace with the people of Gerace for money he took from them, and marched to meet the Byzantines. They fled without fighting to the city of Bari (? Barrah). Al-Ḥasan encamped before the castle of Cassano and sent his raiding parties into Calabria. He remained there for a month. They sought peace from him, and he made peace with them for money he took from them. Winter set in, so the army returned to Messina, and the fleet wintered there. Al-Manṣūr sent orders for him to return to Calabria. Al-Ḥasan marched and crossed the strait to Gerace. The Muslims and al-Sardaghūs with the Byzantines met on the day of ʿArafah in the year 340 AH. They fought the fiercest battle people had ever seen. The Byzantines were routed, and the Muslims pursued them until nightfall, killing great numbers of them and capturing their baggage, weapons, and mounts. Then the year 341 AH began. Al-Ḥasan headed for Gerace and besieged it. He sent to Constantine, the king of the Byzantines, seeking a truce from him. The king granted him a truce, and al-Ḥasan returned to Reggio and built there a large mosque in the center of the city. He built a minaret in one of its corners. He stipulated to the Byzantines that they would not prevent the Muslims from maintaining it, performing prayers in it, and giving the call to prayer; that no Christian would enter it; and that any Muslim prisoner who entered it would be safe, whether he was an apostate or remained in his religion. He stipulated that if they removed a single stone from it, all their churches in Sicily and Ifrīqiya would be demolished. The Byzantines fulfilled all these conditions in humiliation and abasement. Al-Ḥasan remained in Sicily until al-Manṣūr died and al-Muʿizz became ruler. He then went to him, and what happened is what we shall mention.
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