Treaty of Safar

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The Treaty of Safar put a formal end to the extended collapse of the

Qarquya. Following the death of the Hamdanid emir Sayf al-Dawla in 967, rebellion quickly enveloped the Hamdanids and the dynasty disintegrated into chaos and disorder. The Byzantines saw this as an opportunity to finally take control of Aleppo. Petros soon approached Aleppo, probably without orders from Constantinople
, and took the city in January 970.

Terms

The treaty was signed sometime in the month of Safar 359 AH according to the Islamic calendar (corresponding to 14 December 969–11 January 970 CE) between Petros and Qarquya.[1] It established the emirate of Aleppo as a Byzantine tributary state. As part of the terms of the treaty, a defensive alliance was established between Byzantium and Aleppo; religious converts would not be persecuted on either side; armies from other Muslim states would not be allowed to pass through Aleppo; taxes would be sent to Constantinople; and the emperor would nominate future emirs. The treaty proved to have a lasting influence for a relatively long period of time.[2]

According to its terms, much of northern Syria came under Byzantine rule.

Tall Khalid to the Sajur River, which it then followed until its junction with the Euphrates.[1][4]

The Byzantine emperor would recognize Qarquya as the rightful emir, and his lieutenant

head tax of one gold dinar (equivalent to 16 dirham).[1] Furthermore, an imperial official was installed in the city to collect a 10% tax on all goods imported from Byzantine territory,[5] and the emirs of Aleppo were forced to prohibit armies from other Muslim states to pass through their territory, provide intelligence on any such armies moving against Byzantium, and render military assistance to any Byzantine army operating in Syria.[5] The legal standing of Christians in Aleppine territory was guaranteed, and any slave or robber who fled from Byzantine territory had to be returned, along with any Muslim spy who came to gather intelligence on the Byzantines.[5]

Aftermath

With the indirect control of Aleppo now secured, the Byzantines also directly benefited from a new influx of trade in the region. The defense of Antioch was also now greatly enforced. The treaty was generally respected by the Hamdanids and the Byzantines for the next fifty years, despite the attempts of the Fatimid Caliphate to occupy Aleppo.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Todt & Vest 2014, p. 189.
  2. ISBN 0190253223
    .
  3. ^ a b Honigmann 1935, pp. 94–95.
  4. ^ Honigmann 1935, pp. 94–96.
  5. ^ a b c d Todt & Vest 2014, p. 190.

Sources

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