Kalbids

From Freepedia

The Kalbids were a Muslim dynasty in Sicily, which ruled from 948 to 1053.

Rulers:

• Hassan al-Kalbi (948-964)
• Abu al-Qasim (-982)
• Jabir al-Kalbi (982-983)
• Jafar al-Kalbi (983-985)
• Abd-Allah al-Kalbi (985-990)
• Yusuf al-Kalbi (990-998)
• Ja'far al-Kalbi (998-1019)
• al-Akhal (1019-1037)
• Hasan as-Samsam (1040-1053)

In 827, in the midst of internal Byzantine conflict, the Aghlabids arrived at Marsala in Sicily, with 10,000 men under Asad ibn al-Furat. When the attack faltered at Syracuse the long-drawn-out conquest of the island began. Palermo was conquered in 831 and became the new capital. Syracuse fell in 878 and only in 902 was the last Byzantine outpost, Taormina, occupied. At the same time wide-ranging Muslim incursions into southern Italy took place, with new Emirates even being founded in Taranto and Bari. During this period there were constant power struggles amongst the Muslims. Nominally the island was under rule of the Aghlabids and later the Fatimids.

After the suppression of a revolt the Fatimids appointed Hassan al-Kalbi (948-964) as Emir of Sicily, who managed to secure his rule, found a dynasty and fight off Byzantine attacks. Raids into southern Italy continued under the Kalbids into the 11th century, and in 982 a German army under Otto II was defeated near Crotone in Calabria. With Yusuf al-Kalbi (990-998) began the decline of the dynasty, since he had to leave the government to his sons and the Zirids of Ifriqiya intervened in Sicily. Under al-Akhal (1017-1037) the dynastic conflict intensified, with factions allying themselves variously with Byzantium and the Zirids. Even though neither of these powers could establish themselves in Sicily permanently, under Hasan as-Samsam (1040-1053) the island fragmented into small fiefdoms. The Kalbids died out in 1053, and in 1061 the Normans of southern Italy arrived under Roger I of Sicily and began their conquest, which was completed in 1091. The Muslims were allowed to remain and played an important role in the administration, army and economy of the Norman kingdom until the 12th century.

Under the Kalbids, Sicily, and especially Palermo, was an important economic centre of the Mediterranean. The Muslims introduced lemons, Seville oranges and sugar cane, as well as cotton and mulberries for sericulture, and built irrigation systems for agriculture. Sicily was also an important hub for trade between the near east, North Africa and the Italian maritime republics such as Amalfi, Pisa and Genoa.