Rising of the Maysara

The Maysara revolt was a Berber revolt against Arab rule in the years 740–742.

After the subjugation of the Maghreb by the Muslims under Hassan ibn an-Numan and Musa ibn Nusayr (700-710), the Berbers quickly converted to Islam and took part in the conquest of the Visigoth Empire in Spain as early as 711 . However, the Arab Muslims, who occupied the leading positions in administration and the military, denied the Islamized Berbers equality and participation in power.

As early as 739, the Berbers rebelled against Arab rule. The leader was Maysara al-Matghari, who achieved the unification of the Miknasa , Bargawata and Magrawa tribes . The rebels largely turned to Kharijite Islam, which seemed to recognize their status as Muslims better than the Sunni Islam of the Arab ruling class.

The Berbers under Maysara conquered Tangier and defeated an army that had been transferred from Andalusia to Morocco . In the following years, Maysara assumed the title of caliph , but was soon deposed and murdered for arrogance.

Despite the murder of Maysara, the rebels were still successful and defeated an army of the caliph in 740 in the Battle of Sabu ("Battle of the Nobles"). A newly reinforced army (allegedly 70,000 men) was defeated by the Berbers on the Sabu and forced to retreat to Andalusia. It was only after the Berbers had defeated two times in front of Kairouan that the uprising could be put down by the Arabs.

Nevertheless, the direct administration of the caliphate over the Berbers in the Maghreb was badly shaken and partially collapsed. As early as 749 the Bargawata Empire was formed on the Atlantic coast and in 757 Miknasa- Berber founded the Emirate of Sidschilmasa . At the latest with the establishment of the Empire of the Idrisids , the caliphate had lost its control over Morocco.

literature

• 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 .