In the medieval Arab world, the term Saqaliba (سقالبة, sg. siqlabi) was used to refer to the Slavs, particularly including the Slavic mercenaries and slaves of Sicily and al-Andalus. They became rulers of certain of the taifa states.
The Arab chronicler Ibn al-Faqih wrote that there were two types of saqaliba: those with swarthy skin and dark hair that live by the sea and those with light skin that live farther inland.
In the Muslim world, Saqaliba served in a multitude of ways: servants, eunuchs, craftsmen, soldiers, and even as caliph's guards.
In particular, Ibn Fadlan referred to the ruler of the Volga Bulgaria, Almış, as "King of the Saqaliba", although another likely reason for this is that there were many genuine Slavs living at that time in his domain, both slaves and ordinary settlers.
In the days of Al Andalus, Denia served as the capital of a taifa kingdom, ruling over part of the Valencian coast and Ibiza.
The Slavic slaves, saqaliba, managed to free themselves and run the taifa.
The Moors originally built the fortress, and the French, who occupied the city for four years during the War of the Spanish Succession, re-built it in the early 19th century.
Feeds |
Contact