VIIIᵉ siècle – Xᵉ siècle
Little Kabylia, northeastern Algeria
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The Kutama were a Berber people inhabiting Little Kabylia between Djidjelli, Satif, and Constantine. Largely independent of the Aghlabids, they opposed Arab rule and sheltered deserters from the Aghlabid army. Isma'ili missionary Abu Abd Allah al-Shi'i won most Kutama clans to the cause of Ubayd Allah, transforming their ethnic solidarity into a powerful military coalition. Their armies defeated the Aghlabids, conquered much of Ifriqiya, and became the principal foundation of early Fatimid power, although later Kutama revolts revealed the fragility of that alliance.
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Le récit
The Kutama inhabited Little Kabylia in northeastern North Africa, between Djidjelli, Satif, and Constantine. Although the Aghlabids officially claimed authority over the region, they rarely enforced it, and the Kutama remained virtually independent. Their political autonomy was reinforced by a deep hostility toward the Arab conquerors and rulers of Ifriqiya, whom they opposed by offering refuge to deserters from the Aghlabid army.
The truce between the Aghlabids and the Rustumids at the end of the ninth century allowed Aghlabid forces to occupy fortified places near the Kutama zone. With the prospect of Rustumid assistance fading, Kharijite influence among the Kutama declined and Isma'ili preaching gained an opening. Abu Abd Allah al-Shi'i, a Yemeni missionary who had met Kutama shaykhs during pilgrimage, returned with them to their homeland in 280/893.
Abu Abd Allah's preaching won over most Kutama clans to the cause of Ubayd Allah, presented as a descendant of Ali and Fatima and the expected Mahdi. The clans were unified into a strong army by ethnic solidarity and loyalty to the imam. From 290/903, Kutama troops descended into the plains of Ifriqiya, defeated the Aghlabids, captured Kayrawan, and helped bring the Fatimid state into existence.
The Kutama remained the principal military base of the early Fatimids and contributed to their later conquests in the Maghrib and Egypt. Yet their relationship with the dynasty was unstable. After Ubayd Allah ordered the assassination of Abu Abd Allah and his brother, the Kutama revolted and proclaimed a child as a new Mahdi; the uprising was suppressed with heavy bloodshed. Subsequent examples of revolt and disloyalty encouraged the dynasty to recruit the Sakaliba as a more dependable military force.
VIIIᵉ siècle – Xᵉ siècle
Little Kabylia, northeastern Algeria
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The Kutama were a Berber people inhabiting Little Kabylia between Djidjelli, Satif, and Constantine. Largely independent of the Aghlabids, they opposed Arab rule and sheltered deserters from the Aghlabid army. Isma'ili missionary Abu Abd Allah al-Shi'i won most Kutama clans to the cause of Ubayd Allah, transforming their ethnic solidarity into a powerful military coalition. Their armies defeated the Aghlabids, conquered much of Ifriqiya, and became the principal foundation of early Fatimid power, although later Kutama revolts revealed the fragility of that alliance.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
The Kutama inhabited Little Kabylia in northeastern North Africa, between Djidjelli, Satif, and Constantine. Although the Aghlabids officially claimed authority over the region, they rarely enforced it, and the Kutama remained virtually independent. Their political autonomy was reinforced by a deep hostility toward the Arab conquerors and rulers of Ifriqiya, whom they opposed by offering refuge to deserters from the Aghlabid army.
The truce between the Aghlabids and the Rustumids at the end of the ninth century allowed Aghlabid forces to occupy fortified places near the Kutama zone. With the prospect of Rustumid assistance fading, Kharijite influence among the Kutama declined and Isma'ili preaching gained an opening. Abu Abd Allah al-Shi'i, a Yemeni missionary who had met Kutama shaykhs during pilgrimage, returned with them to their homeland in 280/893.
Abu Abd Allah's preaching won over most Kutama clans to the cause of Ubayd Allah, presented as a descendant of Ali and Fatima and the expected Mahdi. The clans were unified into a strong army by ethnic solidarity and loyalty to the imam. From 290/903, Kutama troops descended into the plains of Ifriqiya, defeated the Aghlabids, captured Kayrawan, and helped bring the Fatimid state into existence.
The Kutama remained the principal military base of the early Fatimids and contributed to their later conquests in the Maghrib and Egypt. Yet their relationship with the dynasty was unstable. After Ubayd Allah ordered the assassination of Abu Abd Allah and his brother, the Kutama revolted and proclaimed a child as a new Mahdi; the uprising was suppressed with heavy bloodshed. Subsequent examples of revolt and disloyalty encouraged the dynasty to recruit the Sakaliba as a more dependable military force.
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