Abu Hafs Umar I.

Abu Hafs Umar I ( Arabic أبو حفص عمر, DMG Abū Ḥafṣ ʿUmar ; † 1295 ) was caliph of the Hafsiden in Ifriqiya (1284–1295).

After the victory of Abu Hafs Umar I over the usurper Ibn Abi Umara ( 1283 - 1284 ), he began to reorganize the Hafsid Empire in Ifrīqiya / Tunisia . He tried above all to stimulate the economy by promoting trade. However, he could not continue building his empire undisturbed. In 1288 the Almohad prince Abu Dabbus landed in Tripolitania with the support of Aragon and claimed control of Ifriqiya. Although he achieved some successes, he could not assert himself. Aragon used these battles to occupy the Kerkenna Islands off Ifriqiya.

The biggest problem for the Hafsids was that Abu Hafs Umar I could not prevent the division of the empire into two dynasties. During the usurpation of Ibn Abi Umara, Zakariyya , a nephew of Abu Hafs Umar I, had conquered Bougie with the support of the tribes and had later also gained control over Constantine in eastern Algeria. In 1285 there was a break with Abu Hafs Umar I when Zakariyya attacked Tunis and Tripoli . Although this attack could be neutralized by an alliance between Abu Hafs Umar I and the Abdalwadids of Tlemcen , Constantine and Bougie remained independent of the rulers in Tunis in the period that followed.

Abu Hafs Umar I died in 1295 . He was succeeded in Tunis by Muhammad II ( 1295 - 1309 ), a son of Yahya II. Al-Wathiq .

literature

• Ulrich Haarmann : History of the Arab World ( Beck's historical library ). Edited by Heinz Halm . 4th revised and expanded edition, CH Beck, Munich 2001, ISBN 3-406-47486-1 .
• Stephan Ronart, Nandy Ronart: Lexicon of the Arab World. A historical-political reference work. Artemis Verlag, Zurich et al. 1972, ISBN 3-7608-0138-2 .