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The Aleppo question: a Byzantine-Fatimid conflict of interests in Northern Syria in the later tenth century A.D.*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 January 2016

Wesam Farag
Wesam Farag*
Affiliation:
History Department, University of Kuwait
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Extract

The ambition to control Syria had always been among the serious temptations of Emperor Nikephoros Phokas (963–969). In the last year of his reign and specifically on October 28th, 969 A.D. two of his generals, Michael Bourtzes and Peter Phokas (the Stratopedarch), at last succeeded in capturing the great city of Antioch. For the first time in three centuries Byzantium reestablished its authority in Northern Syria, and soon Antioch became a seat of a doux whose responsibility was to guard the southeastern flank of the Empire. Like both the doux of Mesopotamia and that of Chaldia, the doux of Antioch had to supervise the small themes in the new Byzantine territories which came under his jurisdiction.

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Articles:
Information
Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies , Volume 14 , 1990 , pp. 44 - 61
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Copyright © The Centre for Byzantine, Ottoman and Modern Greek Studies, University of Birmingham 1990

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References

1. On the conquest of Antioch, , see Leo Diaconus (Leonis Diaconi Caloensis Historiae libri decern et liber De Velitatione Bellica Nicephori Augusti, ed. Hase, C.B. [CSHB (Bonn 1828]) 81–82 Google Scholar; Scylitzes (Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum, ed. J. Thurn [CFHB 5, Berlin/New York 1973]) 271–73; Yahya of Antioch (Histoire de Yahya ibn Sacid d’Antioche. Continuateur de Sacid ibn Bitriq, edd. and trans. 1. Kratchkov-sky and A. Vasiliev [PO XVIII, XXIII, Paris 1924–32]) 822–23; Kamāl-Dīn (Kamāl al-Dīn Ibn al-cAdīm, Zubdat al-Halab Min Tarīkh Halab, ed. S. Dahan [Damascus 1951, 1954]).

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3. On the Fatimid conquest of Egypt and their early advance on Syria, see Yahya of Antioch, Histoire, 818–21; and 350–51; Maqrīzī (Al-Maqrīzī, Itticāz al-Hunafā bi Akhbāral-A’imah al-Fatimiyin al-Khulafā, ed. J. al-Shayyāl, M.H.M. Ahmad [Cairo 1967, 1971]) I. 97–127.

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5. Kamāl al-Dīn, Zubdat (cited note 1 above) I. 163–68; cf.Freytag, G., Regnum Saahd-Aldaulae in Oppido Helebo (Regierung des Saahd-Aldaula zu Aleppo [Übersetzt und durch Anmerkungen erklärt von G. Freytag] (Bonn 1820) 7–11 Google Scholar; see the latin trans. at Leo Diaconus (cited note 1 above) 391–94; cf.French, transl, in Canard, M., Histoire de la dynastie des Hamdanides de Jazira et de Syrie ((Paris 1953) I, 833–36 Google Scholar; English trans, in Farag, W., ‘The Truce of Safar A.H. 359/December-January 969–970 A.D.’, ((Birmingham 1977) 1–8.Google Scholar

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12. Maqrīzī, Itticāz, I, 214. Cf.Walker, P.E., ‘The “Crusade” of John Tzimiskes in the light of new Arabic evidence’, B 47 (1977) 313–14.Google Scholar

13. In the very year of al-Mucizz’ death (365 A.h./A.D.975) he received another embassy from John Tzimiskes, see Maqrizi, Itticāz, I, 225.

14. Dhahabī(Ms) (Al-Dhahabī, Tā’rīkh al-Islām, BM Mss Or. 48–53), Fols. 16 r-v; Ibn Taghrībirdī (Abu al-Māhsin Ibn Taghrībirdī, Al-Nujūm al-Zāhira fi Mulūk Misr Wa-l-Qāhira, ed. A.Z. Al-’Adawi (Cairo 1348/1929–1355/1936) IV, 151–52. Cf. F. Dölger, Regesten der Kaiserurkunden des Oströmischen Reiches von 565–1453 (Corpus der griechischen Urkunden des Mittelalters und der Neueren Zeit. Reihe A: Regesten Abteilung I) (München-Berlin 1924–1965) I. No.770; Rozen, V.R., Imperator Vasilij Bolgarobojca, Izvlecenija iz Letopisi Jaxi Antioxijskago (repr. (London 1970) 202–207 note 158.Google Scholar

15. See Yahya of Antioch, Histoire (cited note 1 above) 411, 505–506; Ibn al-Qalanisi (cited note 10 above) 23, 24 and 31; Maqrizi, Itticāz, I, 254–55; II, 87.

16. Ibn al-Qalānisī, 24.

17. Ibn Hauqal (Ibn Hauqal, Kitāb Surat al- ’Ard, ed. J. H. Kramers [BGA II, Leiden 1938–39]) 177. Cf Istakhrī (Al-Istakhrī, Masalik al-Mamalik ed. M.J. De Goeje [BGA I, Leiden 1927]) 61.

18. Ibn al-Qalānisī, 34.

19. On this campaign see: Yahya of Antioch, Histoire, 436–39; Kamāl al-Dīn, Zub-dat (cited note 1 above) I, 185–88; Ibn al-Qalānisī, 41–42; Maqrīzī, Itticāz, I 269–76; Canard, Histoire (cited note 5 above) I, 698–700.

20. Yahya of Antioch, Histoire, 440. Cf. Ibn Zāfir (Ms) (cited note 2 above) fols. 23r-v; Canard, Histoire, I, 856; Honigmann, , Die Ostgrenze des byzantinischen Reiches von 363–1071 ((Brussels 1935) 106 Google Scholar; Schlumberger, G., L’Epopée byzantine à la fin du dixième siècle ((Paris 1896–1905) II, 80.Google Scholar

21. Maqrīzī, Itticāz, I, 277, 278.

22. Yahya of Antioch’, Histoire, 440–41; Kamãl al-Dïh, Zubdat, I, 189–90; Maqrīzī, Itticāz, I, 281.

23. Yahya of Antioch, Histoire, 441; Kamāl al-Dīn, Zubdat, I, 190. Cf. Honigmann, Ostgrenze, 106; Canard, Histoire, I, 703.

24. Yahya of Antioch, Histoire, 441; Ibn at Qalānisī, 42; Schlumberger, L’Épopée, II, 84.

25. Kamāl al-Dīn, Zubdat, I, 190.

26. Ibn al-Qalānisī, 42–43; Abu (Abu Rudhrāwarī, Dhail Tajārib al ’Umam, ed. H.F. Amedroz [Cairo 1916]) 220; The Eclipse (cited note 4 above), VI, 232.

27. Abu 220; The Eclipse, VI, 232; Ibn al-Qalānisī, 43; Kamāl al-Dīn, Zubdat, I, 190; Yahya of Antioch, Histoire, 442. Cf. Canard, Histoire, I, 704.

28. Ibn al-Qalānisī, 43.

29. In the month of Rabīc I (= 5 April-4 May 994 A.D.), cf. Yahya of Antioch, Histoire, 442.

30. Maqrīzū, Itticāz, I, 286.

31. Ibn al Dawādarī(cited note 10 above) VI, 237.

32. Yahya of Antioch, Histoire, 442–43; Kamāl al- Zubdat, I, 191; Ibn al-Qalānisī, 43–44; Ibn Taghrībirdī (cited note 14 above) IV, 120–21; cf. Honigmann, Ostgrenze, 106; Canard, Histoire, I, 705 and 858–59.

33. Kamāl al-, Zubdat, I, 191.

34. According to al-Maqrīzī, Itticāz, I, 286, the garrison was of 4,000 men. Yahya of Antioch, Histoire, 443, reports that it consisted mainly of Armenians, while Ibn Zāfir (Ms.) Fol. 24r, points out that the Emperor installed a force of his troops with some Muslims from the Mountain of b. Mascūd. Cf. Schlumberger, L’Épopée, II, 95f., Honigmann, Ostgrenze, 106; Canard, Histoire, I, 858.

35. Even Macarat al-Nucmān was not always under the power of the Hamdanid Emir. According to Kamāl al-Dīn, Zubdat, I, 192, in the year 386 A.H./A.D. 996, the governor of Macarat al-Nucmān rebelled against his master and joined the Fatimids.

36. Yahya of Antioch, Histoire, 443–44; Laurent, V., ‘La chronologie des gouverneurs d’Antioche sous la seconde domination byzantine (969–1084)’, MélUSJ 38 (1962) 234 Google Scholar; Honigmann, Ostgrenze, 106. Cf. Schlumberger, L’Épopée, II, 97.

37. Ibn al-Qalānisxy9, 50; Abu Shujāc (cited note 26 above) 226: The Eclipse (cited note 4 above) VI, 238; Ibn al-Athīr (Ibn al-Athīr, Kitāb al-kāmil fi al-Tā’rikh [Cairo 1303 A.H.]) IX, 41. Cf. Wüstenfeld, Fatimiden (cited note 10 above) 170.

38. Yahya of Antioch, Histoire, 455–56. Cf. Ibn al-Qalānisī, 50–1; Abu Shujāc , 226; The Eclipse VI, 238; Schlumberger, L’Épopée, II, 108 F.

39. Yahya of Antioch, Histoire, 454; Ibn al-Qalānisi, 50; Maqrīzī, Itticāz, II, 18; Ibn al-Athīr, IX, 41.

40. Ibn al Qalānisī, 49–50; Abu Shujāc , 225–26; The Eclipse, VI, 237–38. Cf. Yahya of Antioch, Histoire, 454; Wüstenfeld, Fatimiden, 169.

41. The Fatimids captured one Byzantine ship and killed over a hundred Greeks; Cf. Ibn al Qalānisī, 50; Yahya of Antioch, Histoire, 455.

42. Ibn al-Qalānisī, 51; Abu Shujāc , 227; The Eclipse, VI, 240. Cf. Yahya of Antioch, Histoire, 456.

43. Yahya of Antioch, Histoire, 456: six thousand Greeks were killed. See the different figures in Ibn al Qalānisī, 52; Maqrīzī, Itticāz, II, 19; Bar Hebraeus (The Chronography of Gregory Abū ’l-Faraj, trans. E.A.W. Budge [London 1932]) I, 181. The Greek chronicler Skylitzes reports the event, but not without confusion, see Scylitzes (cited note 1 above) 340.

44. Maqrīzī, Itticāz, II, 19.

45. Yahya of Antioch, Histoire, 457. Cf. Schlumberger, L’Épopée, II, 150.

46. Kamā1 al-Dīn, Zubdat, I, 192.

47. Yahya of Antioch, Histoire, 459; Maqrīzī, Itticāz, II, 32; Cf. Schlumberger, L’Épopée, II, 155–57; Honigmann, Ostgrenze, 107, 108.

48. Yahya of Antioch, Histoire, 459–60. Cf. Scylitzes, 345; Laurent, Antioche (cited note 36 above) 235–36.

49. Yahya of Antioch, Histoire, 460–1.

50. Yahya of Antioch, Histoire, 415; Lives of the Patriarchs of Alexandria (MS) (Lives of the Patriarchs of Alexandria, from the first St. Mark the Apostle to Matthew the 87th, BM MS. Or 1338) fols. 231r-v.

51. Yahya of Antioch, Histoire, 461.

52. Yahya of Antioch, Histoire, 461. Cf. Ibn al Qalānisī, 54; Abu Shujāc , 230; The Eclipse, VI, 243; Ibn al Athīr (Cited note 37 above) IX, 42.

53. See the description of the audience given to the Greek envoy, in Maqrīzī, Itticāz, II, 39–40. Cf. Ibn al-Zubair (Cited note 11 above) 150–51.

54. Yahya of Antioch, Histoire, 461. Cf. Schlumberger, L’Épopée, II, 208; Felix, W., Byzanz und die islamische Welt im früheren 11. Jahrhundert. Geschichte derpolitischen Beziehungen von 1001 bis 1055. [Byzantina Vindobonensia 14] (Wien, Österr. Akad. d. Wiss. 1981) 49 note 14.Google Scholar

55. Yahya of Antioch (Tārīkh Yahya ibn Sacīdal-Antakī, ed. L. Cheikho, complete text to 426 A.H./A.D. 1034 [Beirut 1909]) 214.

56. Cf.Canard, M., Art. ‘Fatimids’, EI2 , cols. 850–62 Google Scholar; Canard, M., ‘La destruction de l’Église de la Résurrection par le Calife Hakim’, B 35 (1965) 16–43 Google Scholar; Lopez, R.S., ‘Silk Industry in the Byzantine Empire’, Speculum 20 (1945) 31 CrossRefGoogle Scholar, note 1.

57. Felix, Byzanz und die islamische Welt (cited note 54 above) 59, 68.

58. Yahya of Antioch, Tā’rīkh, 214; Felix, Byzanz und die islamische Welt, 68.

59. Cf. Kamāl al-Dīn, Zubdat, I, 227–30; Yahya of Antioch, Tā’rīkh, 245–48; Felix, Byzanz und die islamische Welt, 77–79.

60. Cf. Yahya of Antioch, Tā’rīkh, 243–44.

61. Cf. the documents translated in Goitein, S.D., A Mediterranean Society. The Jewish Communities of the Arab World as portrayed in the Documents of the Cairo Geniza ((Berkeley-Los Angeles 1967–71) I, 44.Google Scholar