Uqailids

The Uqailids ( Arabic عقيليون, DMG ʿUqailiyūn ) were an Arab dynasty in Jazira (Mesopotamia, today's northern Syria and northern Iraq), which ruled from 990 to 1096.

With the fall of the Hamdanids of Mosul , the Arab tribe of the Banu Uqail gained increasing power in northern Iraq and conquered Mosul in 992 under Abu Dhawwad (990-996). Although he was initially unable to assert himself against the Buyids , his brother Mukallad (996-1000) achieved his recognition as governor of Mosul.

In order to further consolidate the principality, Qarwasch (1000-1050) submitted to 1010 temporarily under the formal suzerainty of the Fatimids of Egypt . In 1040/1041 a group of Oghuz plundering was defeated after they had already plundered and destroyed Mosul.

Under Abu l-Makarim Muslim (1050-1085) the empire reached its greatest extent. At times Baghdad was ruled and northern Syria subjugated. Aleppo was conquered in 1079 . The rapid decline of the empire began with the death of Abu l-Makarim Muslim in the fight against the Seljuks , until the Uqailids were finally expelled from Mosul in 1096.