An Episode of Betrayal

In the summer of 971 (360 ah), while the Fāṭimid court in Ifrīqiya was immersed in preparations for its imminent transfer to Egypt, an event took place that had a series of unexpected consequences. ‘Īsā al-Rāzī offers a highly detailed account of this incident and its repercussions, which in conjunction with information provided by other sources reveals what happened with a degree of detail rarely encountered in this period. The description given of this episode offers a number of insights into the conflict between the Fāṭimids and Umayyads, and, furthermore, elucidates the strategic decisions taken in al Andalus with regard to the political situation in North Africa, decisions that would eventually prove to have been mistaken.

Once the Fāṭimid armies had concluded their takeover of Egypt, and the decision had been taken to transfer the government there, Caliph al-Mu‘izz decided to nominate a governor of Ifrīqiya. He chose Zīrī b. Manād, the leader of the Ṣinhāja tribe and founder of the city of Ashīr, who was mentioned in the previous chapter. The choice of Zīrī dealt a hammer blow to the aspirations harboured by his great rival, Ja‘far b. al-Andalusī, who had settled in al-Masīla, and whose family had always been firm and loyal supporters of the Fāṭimid caliphs. Ja‘far was milk brother to Caliph al-Mu‘izz and had grown up with him, whereby if someone had been well-placed to be appointed as governor of Ifrīqiya following the caliph's departure it was him. Furthermore, Ja‘far was an Arab who had converted the city of al-Masīla into a small court where there was no lack of secretaries or renowned poets, such as the Andalusi Ibn Hānī (d. 973/362 ah), who, undoubtedly due to an excess of enthusiasm, went so far as to compare his patron's court with that of Baghdad. Caliph al-Mu‘izz himself had often praised Ja‘far in the past by pointing out that he ruled over a population consisting of ‘the most savage, stupidest, and simplest people to have ever existed, but God had made them humble thanks to his [Ja‘far’s] policy, worthy of all praise’.