Khurasanid dynasty
The Khurasanid Dynasty or Banu Khurasan (Arabic: بنو خراسان, romanized: Banu Khurasan)[1] was a Sanhaja Berber Sunni Muslim dynasty centered in Tunisia. It ruled an independent principality in Tunis from 1059 to 1148 when they became governors of Ifriqiya under the Siculo-Norman kings and their annexions into the Kingdom of Africa, until the end of the dynasty in 1159 due to the Almohad conquest.[2]
Khurasanid dynasty إمارة بني خراسان بتونس | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1059–1158 | |||||||||
![The Khurasanid Dynasty in 1060[citation needed]](../I/Khurasanid-dynasty-1060.jpg.webp) The Khurasanid Dynasty in 1060 | |||||||||
| Capital | Tunis | ||||||||
| Common languages | Arabic, Berber | ||||||||
| Religion | Islam (Sunni) | ||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
| Emir | |||||||||
• 1062-1095 | Abd al-Haqq ibn Abd al-Aziz ibn Khurasan | ||||||||
• 1149-1159 | Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Aziz | ||||||||
| Historical era | Middle Ages | ||||||||
• Established | 1059 | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 1158 | ||||||||
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| History of Tunisia |
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History
The Khurasanid dynasty was founded during the 11th century by Abd al-Haqq ibn Abd al-Aziz ibn Khurasan, who was appointed as governor of Tunis by the Hammadid dynasty. This followed entreaties by locals seeking protection from raids by the Banu Hilal, as the Zirid dynasty sultan Al-Mu'izz ibn Badis offered none.[2] Abd al-Haqq soon made the city an independent principality that would be governed by his family for almost a century.
The fourth Khurasanid ruler, Ahmad ibn Abd al-Aziz (r. 1107–1128), was considered by Ibn Khaldun to be the most remarkable of his family. He built ramparts around Tunis to defend it and secured guarantees of safe passage for travellers from the Banu Hilal.[3]
Under Khurasanid rule, the small independent kingdom resumed foreign trade relations and people enjoyed prosperity. The city was embellished with new buildings, including a fortified palace, and the outer defenses were strengthened.
The principality was annexed to the Hammadid kingdom in 1128 and was Tunis controlled by Hammadid governors until it recovered its independence in 1148.[1] After Hammadid rule, there was a brief interregnum during which the people of Tunis elected a new leader, the qadi Abu Muhammad 'Abd al-Mu'min. With the support of the other elites, Abu Muhammad invited Muhriz ibn Riyah, the Riyahid amir (of the Banu Riyah tribe), to rule the city as king. However, when Muhriz was greeted outside the city, the common people protested and the proposal failed. Abu Muhammad was chased out of the city and followed Muhriz back to La Malga.[3]
Khurasanid rule was restored when Abu Bakr ibn Ismail was smuggled over the city walls at night in a basket. Seven months later he was drowned by his nephew Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Aziz, who succeeded him.[3] While Tunis was not conquered by the Normans, some historians have suggested that the Banu Khurasan at this time were granted authority to govern by Roger II of Sicily.[1]
In 1159, the last Khurasanid ruler, Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Abd al-Aziz, was ousted by the Almohad Caliphate and sent into exile. The Almohads annexed the whole Ifriqiya to its empire, putting an end to Khurasanid rule.[2]
List of rulers of the Khurasanid dynasty
- 1059–1095: Abd al-Haqq ibn Abd al-Aziz ibn Khurasan[1]
- 1095–1105: Abd al-Aziz ibn Abd al-Haqq[1]
- 1105–1107: Abu al-Tahir Isma'il ibn Abd al-Haqq[1]
- 1107–1128: Ahmad ibn Abd al-Aziz[1]
- 1128–1148: Hammadid annexation
- 1148: Abu Muhammad Abd al-Mu'min ibn Abu al-Hasan (elected, not belonging to the Dynasty)[3]
- 1148–1148/1149?: Abu Bakr ibn Isma'il ibn Abd al-Haqq (ruled for seven months)[1]
- 1149–1159: Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Aziz[1]
- 1159: Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Abd al-Aziz (ruled for five months)[3]
- 1159: Almohad conquest
References
- Valérian, Dominique (2021). "Khurāsān, Banū". In Fleet, Kate; Krämer, Gudrun; Matringe, Denis; Nawas, John; Rowson, Everett (eds.). Encyclopaedia of Islam, Three. Brill. ISBN 9789004161658.
- Yver, G. (1987) [1927]. "Khorasan (Banu)". In Houtsma, M. Th.; Wensinck, A. J.; Arnold, T. W.; Heffening, W.; Lévi-Provençal, É. (eds.). E.J. Brill's First Encyclopaedia of Islam 1913-1936. Vol. 4. Brill. p. 967. ISBN 978-90-04-08265-6.
- Idris, H. R. (1979). "Banū K̲h̲urāsān". In Bosworth, C. E.; van Donzel, E.; Lewis, B. & Pellat, Ch. (eds.). The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Volume V: Khe–Mahi. Leiden: E. J. Brill. p. 60. ISBN 978-90-04-07819-2.