Uthman (Hafsiden)

Abu Umar Uthman ( Arabic أبو عمر عثمان, DMG Abū ʿUmar ʿUṯmān ; * before 1435; † 1488 ) was the last important caliph of the Hafsids in Ifrīqiya (ruled 1435 to 1488).

Under Uthman, the Hafsiden Empire reached its last heyday. By promoting the caravan trade with Arabia , Egypt and Sudan, the economy prospered, which was further promoted by trade agreements with Sicily , Aragon and the Italian Maritime Republics . However, piracy by the Hafsiden continued to affect maritime trade in the Mediterranean . Nevertheless, trade continued to increase after the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottomans (1453), as the Christian sea powers now increasingly conducted their trade with the Muslims via the Maghreb .

The prosperity of the empire enabled Uthman to continue the active foreign policy of Abd al-Aziz II . The Abdalwadids of Tlemcen and the Wattasids in Morocco had to recognize the suzerainty of the Hafsids. However, during the reign of Uthman, several plague epidemics and famine led to significant population losses.

After the death of Uthman, power struggles broke out again among the Hafsiden, which weakened the empire considerably. This is how the Bedouin sheikhs and the cities gained extensive independence. The Hafsiden could only control Tunis and Constantine until their final fall .

literature

• Ulrich Haarmann : History of the Arab World. Edited by Heinz Halm . 4th revised and expanded edition. CH Beck, Munich 2001, ISBN 3-406-47486-1 ( Beck's historical library ).
• 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 .