The Islamic conquest and domination of Sicily (as well as parts of southern Italy) is a process whose origin must be traced back in the general expansion of Islam from the 7th century onwards (see Muslim conquests for more details). Islam (Arabic:  ) is a monotheistic religion based upon the teachings of Muhammad, a 7th century Arab religious and political figure. ... Sicily (Sicilia in Italian and Sicilian) is an autonomous region of Italy and the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, with an area of 25,708 km² (9,926 sq. ... Regions usually associated with the Mezzogiorno, with darker areas more closely tied to it. ... Islam (Arabic:  ) is a monotheistic religion based upon the teachings of Muhammad, a 7th century Arab religious and political figure. ... Age of the Caliphs The initial Muslim conquests (632-732) began after the death of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and were marked by a century of rapid Arab expansion beyond the Arabian peninsula under the Rashidun and Umayyad caliphs, ending with the Battle of Tours— resulting in a vast Muslim...

First attacks

The first attacks from Islamic ships to Sicily, then part of the Eastern Roman Empire, occurred in 652: they were Arabs from Syria, led by Mu'àuia ibn-Hodeig of the Kinda tribe, and remained on the island for several years. The Byzantine exarch of Ravenna Olympius also came to Sicily but were unable to oust the invaders, who returned to Syria after collecting a large booty. Islam (Arabic:  ) is a monotheistic religion based upon the teachings of Muhammad, a 7th century Arab religious and political figure. ... Sicily (Sicilia in Italian and Sicilian) is an autonomous region of Italy and the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, with an area of 25,708 km² (9,926 sq. ... Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used to describe the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered around its capital in Constantinople. ... Events Khazaria becomes an independent state (approximate date) Rodoald succeeds his father Rothari as king of the Lombards Births Clotaire III, king of the Franks Deaths Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, uncle of Muhammed, progenitor of the Abbasids Saint Ida of Nivelles, widow of Pippin of Landen, monastic foundress Rothari... Kinda can mean: Kinda Municipality - a municipality in Sweden Kinda Hundred - a hundred in Sweden Kinda - a town in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinda - an episode of Doctor Who Kinda - Kind of (Slang) This is a disambiguation page, a list of pages that otherwise might share the same... The Exarchate of Ravenna was a center of Byzantine power in Italy, from the end of the 6th century to 751 A.D., when the last Exarch was put to death by the Emperors enemies in Italy, the Lombards. ... Olympius (died 652) was an Exarch of Ravenna (649 - 652). ...

A second expedition occurred in 669. This time the strong, ravaging force consisted of 200 ships from Alexandria. They sacked Syracuse and returned to Egypt after a month of pillaging. After the Umayyad conquest of Africa (complete around 700), attacks from Muslim fleets repeated in 703, 728, 729, 730, 731, 733 and 734, the last two times meeting with a substantial Byzantine resistance. Events Theodore appointed Archibishop of Canterbury Births Justinian II, Byzantine emperor Deaths Hasan ibn Ali, grandson of Muhammad and second Shia Imam Categories: 669 ... This article is about the city in Egypt. ... Syracuse (Italian, Siracusa, ancient Syracusa - see also List of traditional Greek place names) is a city on the eastern coast of Sicily and the capital of the province of Syracuse, Italy. ... Combatants Byzantine Empire Umayyad Caliphate The Umayyad conquest of North Africa continued the century of rapid Arab Muslim expansion following the death of Mohammed in 632 CE. By 640 the Arabs controlled Mesopotamia, had invaded Armenia, and were concluding their conquest of Byzantine Syria. ... Events Births Deaths Empress Jito of Japan In Other Fields 703 is the area code for telephone numbers in the Northern Virginia region of the United States. ... Events Births Deaths The Danish king Angantyr on Samsoe Categories: 728 ... Events Births Deaths Categories: 729 ... Events Emperor Leo III of the Byzantine Empire orders the destruction of all icons. ... Events Bede completes his Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum February 11 - Pope Gregory III succeeds Gregory II Deaths February 11 - Pope Gregory II See also Unit 731 Categories: 731 ... Events Births Emperor Junnin of Japan Deaths Categories: 733 ... Events Births Deaths Bilge Khan, Gokturk emperor Categories: 734 ...

The first true expedition with true conquest aims occurred on 740: in that year the Muslim prince Habib, who participated on the 728 attack, and his son Abd-ar-Rahman, after a successful siege of Syracuse, were ready to conquer the whole island when they were called back to Tunisia by a Berber revolt. A second attack in 752 aimed only to sack the city. Events October 26 - An earthquake strikes Constantinople, causing much damage and death. ... Habib or Habeeb In some countries (Hadhramaut, Indonesia, Malaysia and India), the word habib is used to describe an Islamic scholar who is a descendant of Muhammad, especially from his grandson Husayn bin Ali. ... The Berbers (also called Amazigh people or Imazighen, free men, singular Amazigh) are an ethnic group indigenous to Northwest Africa and speak various Berber languages. ...

In 805 the Imperial patrician of Sicily, Constantine, signed a ten years truce with Ibrahim I ibn al-Aghlab, Emir of Ifriqiya, but this did not prevent other Muslim fleet from other area of Africa and Spain to attack Sardinia and Corsica in 806-821. In 812 Ibrahim's son, Abdallah I, set an invasion force to conquer Sicily. His ships were however pushed back first by the intervention of Gaeta and Amalfi, and later by a tempest which destroyed much of them. However, they managed to conquer the islands of Lampedusa and, in the Tyrrhennian Sea, to ravage Ponza and Ischia. A further agreement between the new patrician Gregorius and the Emir established the freedom of commerce between southern Italy and Ifriqiya. After a further attack by Mohammed ibn-Adballad, cousin of Emir Ziyadat Allah I in 819, no news of subsequent Muslim attack to Sicily are known until 827. Events Emperor Nicephorus I of Byzantium suffers a major defeat against the Saracens at Crasus. ... Ibrahim I ibn al-Aghlab (756-812) was the first Emir of the Aghlabids in Ifriqiya (800-812) He was the son of al-Aghlab, who successully quelled the revolt of the Kharijites in Ifriqiya at the end of the 8th century. ... Entrance to the emirs palace in Bukhara. ... Sardinia (pronounced ; Italian: Sardegna; Sardinian: Sardigna or Sardinna) is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily). ... (Territorial collectivity flag) (Territorial collectivity logo) Location Administration Capital Ajaccio President of the Executive Council Ange Santini (UMP) (since 2004) Departments Corse-du-Sud Haute-Corse Arrondissements 5 Cantons 52 Communes 360 Statistics Land area1 8,680 km² Population (Ranked 25th)  - January 1, 2006 est. ... Events Births April 12 - Muhammad at-Taqi, Shia Imam (d. ... Sicily (Sicilia in Italian and Sicilian) is an autonomous region of Italy and the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, with an area of 25,708 km² (9,926 sq. ... Gaeta (ancient Latin name Caieta) is a city in Province of Latina, in Lazio, Italy. ... Amalfi is a town and commune in the province of Salerno, in the region of Campania, Italy, on the Gulf of Salerno, 24 miles southeast of Naples. ... The Mediterranean island of Lampedusa ( ) is the largest of the Pelagie Islands and is situated 205 km from Sicily and 113 km from Tunisia. ... Ponza and the Pontine Islands. ... The island of Ischia near Naples, Italy. ... Ziyadat Allah I (Arabic: ‎) (d. ...

Conquest of Sicily and Southern Italy

The Muslim conquest of Sicily and Southern Italy lasted 75 years. According to some sources, the conquest was spurred by the Byzantine commander on the island, Eufemius, who feared the punishment from Emperor Michael II for a sexual misfit. After a short-lived conquest of Syracuse, during which he was proclaimed emperor, he was compelled by the loyal forces to flee to Africa at the court of Ziyadat Allah. The latter accepted to conquer Sicily, with the promise to leave it to Eufemius in exchange of a yearly tribute, and entrusted its conquest to the 70 years old qadi Asad ibn al-Furat. The Muslim force counted 10,000 infantry, 700 cavalry and 100 ships, reinforced by Eufemius' ships and, after the landing at Mazara del Vallo, knights. A first battle against the Byzantine loyal troops occurred on July 15 near Mazara, resulting in an Aghlabid victory. Michael II, called Psellus, the stammerer, or the Amorian (770-829) reigned as Byzantine emperor 820 - 829. ... Asad ibn al-Furat (759-828) was an important jurist and theologian in Ifriqiya, who began the Muslim conquest of Sicily. ... Mazara del Vallo is a town in South-Western Sicily, Italy, which lies mainly on the left bank at the mouth of the Mazaro river, administratively part of the province of Trapani. ... July 15 is the 196th day (197th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 169 days remaining. ...

Asad subsequently conquered the southern shore of the island and laid siege to Syracuse. After a year of siege, and an attempted mutiny, his troops were however able to defeat a large army sent from Palermo, also backed by a Venetian fleet led by doge Giustiniano Participazio. But when a plague killed much of the Muslim troops, as well as Asad himself, the Muslism retread to the castle of Mineo. Later they returned to the offensive, but failed to conquer Castrogiovanni (the modern Enna, where Eufemius died) and retreated back to Mazara. In 830 they received a strong reinforcement of 30,000 African and Spanish troops. The Spanish Muslim defeated the Byzantine commander Teodotus in the July-August of that year, But again a plague forced them to return to Mazara and then to Africa. The African Berber units, which had been sent to besiege Palermo, managed to capture it after a year-long siege in the September 831.^[1] For other uses, see Palermo (disambiguation). ... Giustiniano Participazio (also Partecipazio or Particiaco, English Justinian) (died 829) was the eleventh (traditional) or ninth (historical) Doge of Venice briefly from 827 to his death. ... Mineo is a town and commune in the Province of Catania, part of the Sicily region in southern Italy. ... Enna, the ancient Haenna, is a city located in the center of Sicily in the province of Enna, towering above the surrounding countryside. ... Events Christian missionary Ansgar visits Birka, trade city of the Swedes. ... For other uses, see Palermo (disambiguation). ... Events Malamir succeeds Omurtag as Khan of Bulgaria The Saracens capture Palermo. ...

Ziyadat Allah sent his cousin on the island in Abu-Fihr in 833. The Byzantines were defeated in the early 834 and in the following year, his troops reaching as far as Taormina. The war dragged on for several years with minor Ahglabid victories, the Byzantines resisting in their strongholds of Castrogiovanni and Cefalù. New troops arrived in the island by the new Emir Al-Aghlab Abu Affan, which occupied Platani, Caltabellotta, Corleone, Marineo and Geraci, granting the Muslim the total control of western Sicily. Isola Bella from the North Isola Bella Bay from the south Greek theatre in Taormina Taormina is a small town in the island of Sicily in Italy. ... The Cathedral of Cefalù by night Lungomare Boardwalk beach in Cefalù Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Cefalù Cefalù is an ancient city in the province of Palermo, in Sicily, Italy. ... Country Italy Region Sicily Province Province of Agrigento (AG) Mayor Elevation 949 m Area 123. ... Corleone is a small town of approximately 12,000 inhabitants in the province of Palermo in Sicily, Italy. ... Country Italy Region Sicily Province Province of Palermo (PA) Mayor Elevation 550 m Area 33. ...

In 836 Muslim ships helped Andrew II of Naples, their ally, besieged by Beneventan troops, ^[2] and with Neapolitan support in 843 Messina was also conquered. In 845 also Modica fell and the Byzantines suffered a crushing defeat near Butera, losing c. 10,000 men. Lentini was conquered in 846. In 847 Bari on the coast of Puglia was dominated by the Arabs. It became its own Emirate and regulated Saracen rule throughout Southern Italy except for Sicily who was its own Emirate also. Bari received great Saracen influence and became a very moorish style city. Ragusa was conquered in 848. Andrew II was the duke of Naples from 834 to 840. ... The Duchy of Benevento was the southernmost Lombard duchy in medieval Italy, centred on Benevento, a city central in the Mezzogiorno. ... Messina, Italy Strait of Messina, Italy. ... Events March 28 - Paris is sacked by Viking raiders, probably under Ragnar Lodbrok, who collect a huge ransom in exchange for leaving. ... Country Italy Region Sicily Province Ragusa (RG) Mayor Pietro Torchi Lucifora (since May 28, 2002 Elevation 296 m Area 290. ... Butera is an Italian town and comune in the province of Caltanissetta, in the southwestern part of the island of Sicily. ... Leontini (mod. ... Events The Moors temporarily recapture León. ... Events Succession of Pope Leo IV, (847 - 855) Births Alfred the Great (d. ... Location within Italy Bari is the capital of the province of Bari and of the Apulia (or Puglia) region, on the Adriatic sea, in Italy. ... Apulia is a region of Italy (called Puglia in Italian), bordering on Molise to the north-west, Campania to the south-west, Basilicata to the south, the Adriatic Sea to the east and the Ionian Sea to the south-east. ... Etymologically an emirate or amirate (Arabic: إمارة Imarah, plural: إمارات Imarat) is the quality, dignity, office or territorial competence of any Emir (prince, governor etc. ... Etymologically an emirate or amirate (Arabic: إمارة Imarah, plural: إمارات Imarat) is the quality, dignity, office or territorial competence of any Emir (prince, governor etc. ... Ragusa can refer to: The city of Ragusa in Sicily, Italy. ... Events The Borobudur is completed. ...

In 851 the governor and general Al-Aghlab Abu Ibrahim, whose rule had been highly appreciated by his new Palermitan and Sicilian subjects, especially if compared to the former Byzatine vessations, died. He was succeded by Abbas ibn-Fadhl, the ferocious victor of Butera. he started a campaign of ravages against the lands still in Byzantine hands, capturing Butera, Gagliano, Cefalù and, most of all, Castrogiovanni (winter 859). All the Christian survivors from that fortress were executed, children and women sold as slaves at Palermo. The fall of the most importan fortress in the island pushed the emperor to send a large army in 859-860, but this was defeated by Abbas, as well as the fleet which had carried it. The Byzantines reinforces led many of the cities subjugated by the Muslim to revolt, and Abbas devoted the years 860-861 to reduce them. Abbas died in 861, replaced by his uncle Ahmed ibn-Jakub and, from February 862, by Abdallah, son of Abbas; the latter was in turn replaced by the Aghlabids with Khafagia ibn-Sofian, who captured Noto, Scicli and Troina. In the summer of 868 the Byzantines were defeated near Syracuse. Events Vikings plunder London Charles the Bald, Louis the German and Lothar meet in Meersen Oldest known mention of the Andaman Islands Garcia Iñiguez succeeds his father Iñigo Arista as king of Navarra Births Deaths March 7 - Nominoe, Duke of Brittany Categories: 851 ... Gagliano is the surname of: Alfonso Gagliano (born 1942), a Canadian Liberal Party politician, Quebec MP, Canadian Labour Minister, and Deputy House Leader. ... Scicli is a city in the Province of Ragusa in the south east of Sicily. ... Country Italy Region Sicily Province Enna (EN) Mayor Elevation m Area km² Population  - Total  - Density /km² Time zone CET, UTC+1 Coordinates , Gentilic Dialing code Postal code Website: http://www. ... Events 11 May: Printing of The Diamond Sutra, the oldest dated printed book. ...

Decline

In 1002, the Venetian fleet defeated the Muslims at Bari, and in 1005, the Pisans won a battle against Muslims off Reggio in the Strait of Messina. In 1016, under Papal instigation, Genoa and Pisa drove Mujahid, King of Denia from the coast of Sardinia. In 1087, the two powers captured the port of Mahdiya on the coast of modern-day Tunisia, and burnt its shipping.^[3] Events November 13 - English king Ethelred gives order to kill all Danes in England, leading to the St. ... Events Malcolm II succeeds Kenneth III as king of Scotland. ...

Robert Guiscard ("the cunning"), son of Tancred, a Norman vavassor, invaded Sicily in 1060. The island was split between three Arab emirs, and the sizeable Christian population insurrected against the ruling Muslims. One year later Messina fell, and in 1072, Palermo was taken by the Normans. The loss of the cities, each with a splendid harbor, dealt a severe blow to Muslim power on the island. Eventually all of Sicily was taken. In 1091, Malta, the last Arab stonghold, fell to the Christians. By the eleventh century Muslim power in the Mediterranean had began to wane.^[4] Etymologically an emirate or amirate (Arabic: إمارة Imarah, plural: إمارات Imarat) is the quality, dignity, office or territorial competence of any Emir (prince, governor etc. ...

Muslims today

Muslim communities in southern Italy have survived until today. During the 1970s, a prosperous Italian ecomony saw immigration of Muslims from Jordan, Syria and Palestine. Recently, many Muslims from war-stricken Bosnia and Kosovo have tried to illegally enter the Mediterranean country.^[5] The Holy Land or Palestine Showing not only the Old Kingdoms of Judea and Israel but also the 12 Tribes Distinctly, and Confirming Even the Diversity of the Locations of their Ancient Positions and Doing So as the Holy Scriptures Indicate, a geographic map from the studio of Tobiae Conradi... Bosnia or Bosnian may refer to: Places: Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country in south-eastern Europe The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as defined by the Dayton Agreement Bosnia (region), a region in south-eastern Europe Bosnia Province, Ottoman Empire, from the 15th to 20th centuries People: Bosnians, people of... Kosovo (Serbian: Косово и Метохија or Kosovo i Metohija, also Космет or Kosmet; Albanian: Kosovë or Kosova) is a province in southern Serbia which has been under United Nations administration since 1999. ...

The Islamic and Arabic influence

Ibn Hawqal, the eminent Arab traveler, visited Sicily in year 972 and described the city of Palermo in his book “Al-Masalik wal Mamlik” as "the city of the 300 mosques". This Islamic and Arabic identity of the island was still preserved even 100 years after the arrival of the Normans as described by the Spanish-Arab geographer Ibn Jubair who landed in the island after returning from a pilgrimage to Mecca in 1184. To his surprise, Ibn Jubair enjoyed a very warm reception by the Norman Christians. He was further surprised to find that even the Christians spoke Arabic, that the government officials were still largely Muslim, and that the heritage of some 200 previous years of Muslim rule of Sicily was still intact ^[6] 10th century map of the World by Ibn Hawqal. ... Ibn Jubayr (also Jabair, 1145-1217), Arabian geographer, was born in Valencia. ... Ibn Jubayr (also Jabair, 1145-1217), Arabian geographer, was born in Valencia. ...

Notes

1. ^ Previte-Orton (1971), vol. 1, pg. 370
2. ^ Previte-Orton (1971), pg. 370
3. ^ Previte-Orton (1971), pg. 371
4. ^ Previte-Orton (1971), pg. 507-11
5. ^ Haddad (1999), pg. 608
6. ^ AramcoWorldMagazine.

References

• Previte-Orton, C. W (1971). The Shorter Cambridge Medieval History. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

See also

• Emirate of Sicily
• Kalbid
• History of Italy
• History of Sicily
• Muslim conquests
• Umayyad conquest of North Africa