20th century – 20th century
Cyrenaica
The Sanusiyya resistance in Cyrenaica was a religiously led mobilization against the Italian invasion of Ottoman Libya. Under the spiritual leadership of Ahmad al-Sharif, the Sanusiyya helped Turkish officers recruit and organize Arab forces in the hinterland of Derna. After the Ottoman withdrawal, Cyrenaican forces continued the struggle and defeated Italy at Yawm al-Juma on 16 May 1913. The movement illustrates the political and military role of Sufi brotherhoods when imperial authority weakened.
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The Story
The Sanusiyya became central to Cyrenaican resistance after Ottoman authority was challenged by Italy. Ahmad al-Sharif, identified as its spiritual leader, assisted Turkish officers operating from the mountains around Derna. Together they mobilized Arab communities in the hinterland and built what the excerpt calls a formidable army.
Anwar Pasha led this army in engagements against the Italians at al-Karkaf and Sidi Abdallah. At Tobruk, Arab forces fought at al-Nadura and al-Mudawwar, where the Italian commander General Salsa was killed. These battles formed part of a wider pattern in which nearly every city, town, and valley saw encounters with Italian forces.
The Ottoman withdrawal and the Lausanne Agreement divided Libyan opinion between negotiation and continued warfare. The people of Cyrenaica under Ahmad al-Sharif belonged to the negotiating camp in the passage’s immediate description, yet Italian attacks produced renewed combat. On 16 May 1913 Ahmad al-Sharif’s forces won a major victory at Yawm al-Juma, the first large-scale Arab-Italian encounter after the Turkish withdrawal.
20th century – 20th century
Cyrenaica
The Sanusiyya resistance in Cyrenaica was a religiously led mobilization against the Italian invasion of Ottoman Libya. Under the spiritual leadership of Ahmad al-Sharif, the Sanusiyya helped Turkish officers recruit and organize Arab forces in the hinterland of Derna. After the Ottoman withdrawal, Cyrenaican forces continued the struggle and defeated Italy at Yawm al-Juma on 16 May 1913. The movement illustrates the political and military role of Sufi brotherhoods when imperial authority weakened.
Continue exploring
The Story
The Sanusiyya became central to Cyrenaican resistance after Ottoman authority was challenged by Italy. Ahmad al-Sharif, identified as its spiritual leader, assisted Turkish officers operating from the mountains around Derna. Together they mobilized Arab communities in the hinterland and built what the excerpt calls a formidable army.
Anwar Pasha led this army in engagements against the Italians at al-Karkaf and Sidi Abdallah. At Tobruk, Arab forces fought at al-Nadura and al-Mudawwar, where the Italian commander General Salsa was killed. These battles formed part of a wider pattern in which nearly every city, town, and valley saw encounters with Italian forces.
The Ottoman withdrawal and the Lausanne Agreement divided Libyan opinion between negotiation and continued warfare. The people of Cyrenaica under Ahmad al-Sharif belonged to the negotiating camp in the passage’s immediate description, yet Italian attacks produced renewed combat. On 16 May 1913 Ahmad al-Sharif’s forces won a major victory at Yawm al-Juma, the first large-scale Arab-Italian encounter after the Turkish withdrawal.
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