Abû ‘Uthman Sa’îd ibn Hakam al-Qurashi (30 December 1204 – 9 January 1282) (Arabic: أبو عثمان سعيد بن الحكم القرشي) was the first Ra’îs[1] of Manûrqa (modern Menorca) from 1234 to 1282.
Al Andalus had been in a process of decadence primarily due to the downfall of the Abbasid Caliph which meant the closing of a vital commercial relationship. This situation brought a critical spiral of internal conflicts and external invasions. Because of the political instability in Al Andalus, Sa’îd ibn Hakam moved to North Africa, to the cities of Bejaïa and Tunis, where he served as secretary to the Almohad governors.
Al-Motaserrif of Manûrqaedit
Two years later, he planned to return to Al Andalus, but the situation had worsened, so he was given refuge by the Almohad wali[2] of Medina Mayurqa (Modern Majorca). He was then sent to Manûrqa as al-Motaserrif[3] in 1227. His mission was to collect and administrate the taxes and command the army.
In 1229, James I of Aragon invaded Mayurqa, but did not take any action at that moment against Manûrqa. By 1231, the resistance of Mayurqa’s Muslims was finally crushed and James I sent three ambassadors to Manûrqa, Berenguer de Santa Eugenia, Don Assalit de Gudar and Don Pere Maça, to negotiate its submission to the Crown of Aragon. James I, who at that time had a small number of troops, ordered fires to be set on the coast facing Manûrqa as to simulate a larger army and thus put more pressure on the Muslims. After a meeting between the Kadī[4] Abû ‘Abd Allah Muhammad, Sa’îd ibn Hakam, the sheiks and three hundred of the principal people of the island, they agreed to become vassals to the new King of Majorca. The treaty of Capdepera was signed on 17 June 1231. It was rumoured that Sa’îd ibn Hakam was the real instigator of the treaty with James I, although his role in the text of the treaty was discreet. The treaty gave wide political autonomy to the island and the military protection of the island by the King of Majorca in exchange for the payment of an annual tribute of three thousand quarters of wheat, a hundred cows and five hundred goats or sheep, later adding two “quintals” (hundredweight) of fresh butter and two hundred bezants for leave to transport the cattle. Abû ‘Abd Allah Muhammad was the new ruler of Manûrqa.
Rise to poweredit
In July 1234, Sa’îd ibn Hakam took over power through an armed coup and negotiated a new treaty with James I, in which he ruled alone with the title of Ra’îs of Manùrqa. This is believed to be the only time in the history of the island that it was an independent political entity, although tributary to the Kingdom of Majorca. Under his harsh rule, Manûrqa became an Islamic law-abiding structured state. It is said that he executed by beheading those Muslims found drunk. He constructed a strong political apparatus in Madina al Jazira (modern Ciutadella) with a council of ministers, secretaries and clan representatives, and a small military force consisting of mercenaries. His political shrewdness allowed for the survival of this Islamic entity while other Muslim territories fell to the Christian Reconquista: Cordoba (1236), his hometown Tavira (1242), and Seville (1248). Only the Kingdom of Granada remained independent, although vassal to the Kingdom of Castille.
At the death of James I (1276), the Crown of Aragon was split in two: the Kingdom of Majorca (the Balearic Islands and counties of Roussillon and Cerdagne) went to his son James and the Crown of Aragon (The Principality of Catalonia and the kingdoms of Aragon and Valencia) to his other son Peter. Manûrqa remained tributary to James II. This division would ultimately mean the fall of Manûrqa.
Sa’îd ibn Hakam died in 1282 in Madina al Jazira, and his son Abû 'Umar ibn Sa'îd became the next and last Ra’îs of Manûrqa. Sa’îd ibn Hakam was also an important Islamic intellectual figure of the 13th century, learned in Islamic law and medicine, philologist, grammarian and poet. He managed a great library at Madina al Jazira. Some samples of this collection are kept in the library of El Escorial.
Barcelo, M. El tractat de Capdepera de 17 Juny de 1231 entre Jaume I i Abû 'Abd Allàh Muhammad de Manûrqa. Sobre la funció social i política del fugaha. 1984
Moll Mercadal, B. Abû 'Uthmân Sa'îd ibn Hakam, Ra'îs de Manûrqa (631/1234-680/1289) Publicacions des Born nº5. 1999
The Book of Deeds of James I of Aragon (available in PDF format)
External linksedit
(in Spanish)
(in Spanish)«Bosquejo histórico de la dominación islamita en las Islas Baleares», por D. Álvaro Campaner by Francisco Codera y Zaidín
uthman, hakam, qurashi, abû, uthman, hakam, qurashi, december, 1204, january, 1282, arabic, أبو, عثمان, سعيد, بن, الحكم, القرشي, first, manûrqa, modern, menorca, from, 1234, 1282, abû, uthman, hakam, qurashira, manûrqain, office, 1234, 1282succeeded, byabû, um. Abu Uthman Sa id ibn Hakam al Qurashi 30 December 1204 9 January 1282 Arabic أبو عثمان سعيد بن الحكم القرشي was the first Ra is 1 of Manurqa modern Menorca from 1234 to 1282 Abu Uthman Sa id ibn Hakam al QurashiRa is of ManurqaIn office 1234 1282Succeeded byAbu Umar ibn Sa idPersonal detailsBornDecember 30 1204Tavira Algarve now Portugal DiedJanuary 9 1282 1282 01 09 aged 77 Contents 1 Early life 2 Al Motaserrif of Manurqa 3 Rise to power 4 Footnotes 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editSa id ibn Hakam was born in the city of Tavira in the Algarve modern Portugal He studied philology at Seville the capital of the Almohad Caliph of Al Andalus and took part in literary reunions of famous poets Al Andalus had been in a process of decadence primarily due to the downfall of the Abbasid Caliph which meant the closing of a vital commercial relationship This situation brought a critical spiral of internal conflicts and external invasions Because of the political instability in Al Andalus Sa id ibn Hakam moved to North Africa to the cities of Bejaia and Tunis where he served as secretary to the Almohad governors Al Motaserrif of Manurqa editTwo years later he planned to return to Al Andalus but the situation had worsened so he was given refuge by the Almohad wali 2 of Medina Mayurqa Modern Majorca He was then sent to Manurqa as al Motaserrif 3 in 1227 His mission was to collect and administrate the taxes and command the army In 1229 James I of Aragon invaded Mayurqa but did not take any action at that moment against Manurqa By 1231 the resistance of Mayurqa s Muslims was finally crushed and James I sent three ambassadors to Manurqa Berenguer de Santa Eugenia Don Assalit de Gudar and Don Pere Maca to negotiate its submission to the Crown of Aragon James I who at that time had a small number of troops ordered fires to be set on the coast facing Manurqa as to simulate a larger army and thus put more pressure on the Muslims After a meeting between the Kadi 4 Abu Abd Allah Muhammad Sa id ibn Hakam the sheiks and three hundred of the principal people of the island they agreed to become vassals to the new King of Majorca The treaty of Capdepera was signed on 17 June 1231 It was rumoured that Sa id ibn Hakam was the real instigator of the treaty with James I although his role in the text of the treaty was discreet The treaty gave wide political autonomy to the island and the military protection of the island by the King of Majorca in exchange for the payment of an annual tribute of three thousand quarters of wheat a hundred cows and five hundred goats or sheep later adding two quintals hundredweight of fresh butter and two hundred bezants for leave to transport the cattle Abu Abd Allah Muhammad was the new ruler of Manurqa Rise to power editIn July 1234 Sa id ibn Hakam took over power through an armed coup and negotiated a new treaty with James I in which he ruled alone with the title of Ra is of Manurqa This is believed to be the only time in the history of the island that it was an independent political entity although tributary to the Kingdom of Majorca Under his harsh rule Manurqa became an Islamic law abiding structured state It is said that he executed by beheading those Muslims found drunk He constructed a strong political apparatus in Madina al Jazira modern Ciutadella with a council of ministers secretaries and clan representatives and a small military force consisting of mercenaries His political shrewdness allowed for the survival of this Islamic entity while other Muslim territories fell to the Christian Reconquista Cordoba 1236 his hometown Tavira 1242 and Seville 1248 Only the Kingdom of Granada remained independent although vassal to the Kingdom of Castille At the death of James I 1276 the Crown of Aragon was split in two the Kingdom of Majorca the Balearic Islands and counties of Roussillon and Cerdagne went to his son James and the Crown of Aragon The Principality of Catalonia and the kingdoms of Aragon and Valencia to his other son Peter Manurqa remained tributary to James II This division would ultimately mean the fall of Manurqa Sa id ibn Hakam died in 1282 in Madina al Jazira and his son Abu Umar ibn Sa id became the next and last Ra is of Manurqa Sa id ibn Hakam was also an important Islamic intellectual figure of the 13th century learned in Islamic law and medicine philologist grammarian and poet He managed a great library at Madina al Jazira Some samples of this collection are kept in the library of El Escorial Footnotes edit Arabic Chief leader Arabic Governor Arabic Tax collector or Minister of Finances Arabic JudgeReferences editBarcelo M El tractat de Capdepera de 17 Juny de 1231 entre Jaume I i Abu Abd Allah Muhammad de Manurqa Sobre la funcio social i politica del fugaha 1984 Moll Mercadal B Abu Uthman Sa id ibn Hakam Ra is de Manurqa 631 1234 680 1289 Publicacions des Born nº5 1999 The Book of Deeds of James I of Aragon available in PDF format External links edit in Spanish Insolita cruzada by Javier Lacosta in Spanish Bosquejo historico de la dominacion islamita en las Islas Baleares por D Alvaro Campaner by Francisco Codera y Zaidin Preceded by New creation Ra is of Manurqa1234 1282 Succeeded byAbu Umar ibn Sa id Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Abu Uthman Sa 27id ibn Hakam al Qurashi amp oldid 1191992127, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
