Sa'id ibn Amr al-Harashi

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Sa'id ibn Amr al-Harashi
BornQinnasrin, Syria
AllegianceUmayyad Caliphate
Battles/warsMuslim conquest of Transoxiana, Arab–Khazar wars
ChildrenYazid
Nadr
Anbasa
Yahya
RelationsAmr al-Harashi (father)

Sa'id ibn Amr al-Harashi (

Arab general and governor of the Umayyad Caliphate, who played an important role in the Arab–Khazar wars
.

Biography

Sa'id ibn Amr al-Harashi was a

Umayyad prince and general Maslama ibn Abd al-Malik in 720, when the latter was sent into Iraq to quell Yazid ibn al-Muhallab's rebellion.[1] Umar ibn Hubayra, who was installed as the new governor of Iraq, appointed Sa'id as governor of Basra, and, shortly after (in 722–723), of Khurasan.[1]

In this position, Sa'id was able to swiftly restore the Muslim position in

Turgesh nomads. Sa'id rallied the Muslims and took to the offensive, crushing the Soghdian rebels near Samarkand and then proceeding to capture the important city of Khujand, thereby restoring Muslim control over most of Transoxiana except for the Fergana Valley.[3] However, his brutality in suppressing the Soghdian revolt, and his strict enforcement of the jizya on the native population, merely reinforced their hostility towards Arab rule. Despite his oppressive measures, however, he was unable to forward enough tax revenue to Iraq, and was replaced by Muslim ibn Sa'id al-Kilabi.[4]

Map of the Caucasus region c. 740

After his dismissal, Sa'id returned to

Adharbayjan and charged with command against the Khazars.[5]

In spring 733, however, Sa'id was rehabilitated and appointed in turn as governor of Armenia and Adharbayjan, following the somewhat lacklustre performance of Maslama and another Umayyad prince, Marwan ibn Muhammad (the future Marwan II), against the Khazars over the previous years. Nevertheless, for the duration of Sa'id tenure, he remained on the defensive, possibly as a result of the exhaustion of his troops in the long conflict with the Khazars. Due to the loss of his eyesight, Sa'id was forced to resign his post, probably in early 735.[1][6]

Family

Sa'id had several sons who were active as military leaders and governors for both the Umayyads and the

Abbasids: Yazid was killed in Ifriqiya, Nadr was Marwan II's governor of Iraq, Anbasa commanded the troops of Qinnasrin in 785/786, and another, Yahya, served as governor of Egypt in 779/780.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Crone (1980), p. 144
  2. ^ a b Blankinship (1994), p. 150
  3. ^ Blankinship (1994), p. 126
  4. ^ Blankinship (1994), pp. 88, 126
  5. ^ Blankinship (1994), pp. 150–151
  6. ^ Blankinship (1994), p. 171
  7. ^ Crone (1980), pp. 144–145

Sources

  • ISBN 978-0-7914-1827-7
    .
  • ISBN 0-521-52940-9
    .
Preceded by Governor of
Khurasan

722–723 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of
Adharbayjan

733–735 		Succeeded by
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