Anbasa ibn Suhaym Al-Kalbi
Encyclopedia
Anbasa ibn Suhaym al-Kalbi (Arabic: عنبسة بن سحيم الكلبي) was the Muslim wali
(governor) of al-Andalus
, also known as Moorish Hispania
, from 721 to 726 CE
.
Named in August 721 to be the successor to Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abd Allah al-Gafiqi
, Anbasa, during the following three years, dispatched several military expeditions into Septimania
, but he was unable to subdue Carcasonne or Nîmes
since his soldiers were more concerned with looting the easy targets of the countryside than in mounting sieges against amply-defended walled cities.
Immediately after his appointment, Anbasa doubled taxes on the Christians and confiscated Jewish property. These actions, of course, caused widespread displeasure, scattered acts of disobedience, as well as some open revolts. In 722, a Visigothic nobleman, Pelayo
, publicly defied the Muslim attempt to extract taxes and tribute and retreated into the mountains of Asturias
where he gathered a band of rebellious followers. A Muslim patrol was sent to search for Pelayo and his men, and it was ambushed at the Battle of Covadonga
at great loss of life.
Word of a great victory (and a rumor that the victory had been the result of divine intervention) spread throughout occupied Hispania. This rallied more and more disaffected Christians and Jews to the cause of the rebels in the mountains. Duke Pedro, who governed Cantabria
as a vassal of the Muslims, changed sides in 722; the following year, the Basques revolted, and, in 724, Aragón
joined the cause as well. In retrospect, these events are viewed as the beginning of the Reconquista
, the 770-year effort to wrest control of Hispania from the Muslim invaders.
Coincidentally, a dynastic struggle arose among the Muslims. It was sparked by the death of Caliph
Yazid II
and the succession of his brother, Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik
. Finally, in 725, Anbasa assumed personal control in Spain, and he resumed his campaigns in Septimania, conquering Narbonne
, Carcasonne, and Nîmes. Thousands of refugees spilled into the Kingdom of the Franks
.
In 726, Anbasa returned to attack the Franks, but he died in combat. He was succeeded as wali by Udrra ben Abd Allah al-Fihrí
, who, after a few months, was replaced by Yahya ben Salama al-Kalbí. Yahya recognized the injustices of the policies of Anbasa, especially with respect to the collection of taxes and the confiscation of property, so he reverted the tax rates to the levels existing in 722 and undertook a restitution of illegally-seized property.
Wali
Walī , is an Arabic word meaning "custodian", "protector", "sponsor", or authority as denoted by its definition "crown". "Wali" is someone who has "Walayah" over somebody else. For example, in Fiqh the father is wali of his children. In Islam, the phrase ولي الله walīyu 'llāh...
(governor) of al-Andalus
Al-Andalus
Al-Andalus was the Arabic name given to a nation and territorial region also commonly referred to as Moorish Iberia. The name describes parts of the Iberian Peninsula and Septimania governed by Muslims , at various times in the period between 711 and 1492, although the territorial boundaries...
, also known as Moorish Hispania
Hispania
Another theory holds that the name derives from Ezpanna, the Basque word for "border" or "edge", thus meaning the farthest area or place. Isidore of Sevilla considered Hispania derived from Hispalis....
, from 721 to 726 CE
Common Era
Common Era ,abbreviated as CE, is an alternative designation for the calendar era originally introduced by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century, traditionally identified with Anno Domini .Dates before the year 1 CE are indicated by the usage of BCE, short for Before the Common Era Common Era...
.
Named in August 721 to be the successor to Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abd Allah al-Gafiqi
Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi
Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi , also known as Abd er Rahman, Abdderrahman, Abderame, and Abd el-Rahman, led the Andalusian Muslims into battle against the forces of Charles Martel in the Battle of Tours on October 10, 732 AD. for which he is primarily remembered in the West...
, Anbasa, during the following three years, dispatched several military expeditions into Septimania
Septimania
Septimania was the western region of the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis that passed under the control of the Visigoths in 462, when Septimania was ceded to their king, Theodoric II. Under the Visigoths it was known as simply Gallia or Narbonensis. It corresponded roughly with the modern...
, but he was unable to subdue Carcasonne or Nîmes
Nîmes
Nîmes is the capital of the Gard department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France. Nîmes has a rich history, dating back to the Roman Empire, and is a popular tourist destination.-History:...
since his soldiers were more concerned with looting the easy targets of the countryside than in mounting sieges against amply-defended walled cities.
Immediately after his appointment, Anbasa doubled taxes on the Christians and confiscated Jewish property. These actions, of course, caused widespread displeasure, scattered acts of disobedience, as well as some open revolts. In 722, a Visigothic nobleman, Pelayo
Pelayo
Pelayo is the Spanish form of the Latin name Pelagius. It may refer to:*Pelagius of Asturias, founder of the Kingdom of Asturias and beginner of the Reconquista*Pelayo of Oviedo, bishop and chronicler...
, publicly defied the Muslim attempt to extract taxes and tribute and retreated into the mountains of Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
where he gathered a band of rebellious followers. A Muslim patrol was sent to search for Pelayo and his men, and it was ambushed at the Battle of Covadonga
Battle of Covadonga
The Battle of Covadonga was the first major victory by a Christian military force in Iberia following the Muslim Moors' conquest of that region in 711...
at great loss of life.
Word of a great victory (and a rumor that the victory had been the result of divine intervention) spread throughout occupied Hispania. This rallied more and more disaffected Christians and Jews to the cause of the rebels in the mountains. Duke Pedro, who governed Cantabria
Cantabria
Cantabria is a Spanish historical region and autonomous community with Santander as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community , on the south by Castile and León , on the west by the Principality of Asturias, and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea.Cantabria...
as a vassal of the Muslims, changed sides in 722; the following year, the Basques revolted, and, in 724, Aragón
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
joined the cause as well. In retrospect, these events are viewed as the beginning of the Reconquista
Reconquista
The Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
, the 770-year effort to wrest control of Hispania from the Muslim invaders.
Coincidentally, a dynastic struggle arose among the Muslims. It was sparked by the death of Caliph
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
Yazid II
Yazid II
Yazid bin Abd al-Malik or Yazid II was an Umayyad caliph who ruled from 720 until his death in 724.According to the medieval Persian historian Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari, Yazid came to power on the death of Umar II on February 10, 720. His forces engaged in battle the Kharijites with whom Umar...
and the succession of his brother, Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik
Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik
Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik 10th Umayyad caliph who ruled from 723 until his death in 743. When he was born in 691 his mother named him after her father....
. Finally, in 725, Anbasa assumed personal control in Spain, and he resumed his campaigns in Septimania, conquering Narbonne
Narbonne
Narbonne is a commune in southern France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. It lies from Paris in the Aude department, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Once a prosperous port, it is now located about from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Carcasonne, and Nîmes. Thousands of refugees spilled into the Kingdom of the Franks
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
.
In 726, Anbasa returned to attack the Franks, but he died in combat. He was succeeded as wali by Udrra ben Abd Allah al-Fihrí
Udrra ben Abd Allah al-Fihrí
Udrra ben Abd Allah al-Fihrí was Umayyad governor of Al Andalus in 726. He was succeeded by Yahya ibn Salama al-Kalbi.-References:...
, who, after a few months, was replaced by Yahya ben Salama al-Kalbí. Yahya recognized the injustices of the policies of Anbasa, especially with respect to the collection of taxes and the confiscation of property, so he reverted the tax rates to the levels existing in 722 and undertook a restitution of illegally-seized property.
See also
- History of the Jews under Muslim rule
- List of Caliphs