Sa'id al-Dawla
Sa'id al-Dawla | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Emir of Aleppo | |||||
Reign | 991–1002 | ||||
Predecessor | Sa'd al-Dawla | ||||
Successor | Lu'lu' al-Kabir | ||||
Died | January 1002 Aleppo, Syria | ||||
| |||||
Dynasty | Hamdanid | ||||
Father | Sa'd al-Dawla | ||||
Religion | Shia Islam |
Abu'l-Fada'il Sa'id al-Dawla (
Life and reign
Sa'id al-Dawla's father, Sa'd al-Dawla, had only with difficulty managed to first secure a measure of control over his domains, and then to maintain a precarious autonomy by manoeuvring between the
Following Sa'd al-Dawla's death in December 991, his young son Abu'l-Fada'il, known by the
Encouraged by the Hamdanid defectors, the Fatimid caliph
Sa'id al-Dawla and Lu'lu' prostrated themselves before the emperor in person as a sign of gratitude and submission, and he in turn released the emirate from its obligation to pay an annual tribute.[6][8] Basil's interest in Syria was limited, however, and after a brief campaign that saw an unsuccessful attack on Tripoli, returned to Constantinople. Al-Aziz on the other hand now prepared for all-out war with the Byzantines, but his preparations were cut short by his death in October 996.[9][10][11] Nevertheless, the Byzantine–Fatimid contest over Syria continued, with alternating success. In 995, Lu'lu' made terms with al-Aziz and acknowledged him as Caliph, and for a few years Fatimid influence over Aleppo grew.[11] In 998 Lu'lu' and Sa'id al-Dawla tried to seize the fortress of Apamea, but were thwarted by the new Byzantine doux, Damian Dalassenos.[8] Dalassenos' defeat and death in a battle with the Fatimids shortly after caused another intervention by Basil in the next year, which stabilized the situation and strengthened Aleppo's security from Fatimid attack by placing a Byzantine garrison at Shayzar. The conflict ended with another treaty in 1001 and the conclusion of a ten-year truce.[6][11][12]
In January 1002, Sa'id al-Dawla died. According to a tradition recorded by Ibn al-Adim, he was poisoned by one of his concubines at the behest of Lu'lu'.[8] Along with his son Mansur, Lu'lu' now assumed direct power, at first as ostensible guardians over Sa'id al-Dawla's sons Abu'l-Hasan Ali and Abu'l-Ma'ali Sharif, until, in 1003/4, he had them exiled to Egypt. At the same time, one of Sa'id al-Dawla's brothers, Abu'l-Hayja, fled, disguised as a woman, to the Byzantine court.[6][8][13] Lu'lu' was a capable ruler who maintained the balance between Byzantium and the Fatimids, but after his death in 1008/9 Aleppo gravitated increasingly towards the latter. A Hamdanid restoration attempt, led by Abu'l-Hayja, failed, and in 1015/6 Mansur ibn Lu'lu' was in turn deposed, ending the last vestiges of Hamdanid rule in Aleppo.[14][15][16][17]
References
- ^ Canard 1971, pp. 129–130.
- ^ Kennedy 2004, pp. 280–281.
- ^ Stevenson 1926, pp. 250–251.
- ^ a b c Kennedy 2004, p. 281.
- ^ a b c d Stevenson 1926, p. 251.
- ^ a b c d e Canard 1971, p. 130.
- ^ Whittow 1996, pp. 379–380.
- ^ a b c d e Canard 1986, p. 820.
- ^ a b Whittow 1996, p. 380.
- ^ a b Kennedy 2004, p. 325.
- ^ a b c Stevenson 1926, p. 252.
- ^ Whittow 1996, pp. 380–381.
- ^ Stevenson 1926, p. 254.
- ^ Kennedy 2004, pp. 281–282.
- ^ Canard 1971, pp. 130–131.
- ^ Stevenson 1926, pp. 254ff.
- ^ Whittow 1996, p. 381.
Sources
- OCLC 495469525.
- ISBN 978-90-04-07819-2.
- ISBN 978-0-582-40525-7.
- Stevenson, William B. (1926). "Chapter VI. Islam in Syria and Egypt (750–1100)". In Bury, John Bagnell (ed.). The Cambridge Medieval History, Volume V: Contest of Empire and Papacy. New York: The Macmillan Company. pp. 242–264.
- ISBN 978-0-520-20496-6.