SOAS Research Online

Abstract

The ensuing thesis, which consists of five chapters and an introduction, deals with the history of the emirate of Aleppo during the years 1002-1094. Within this period the emirate suffered the collapse of the Hamdanid dynasty (founded by Sayf al-Dawla, 945-967), the submission for the first time to a direct Fatimid rule, the establishment of the Mirdasid dynasty, and 'Uqaylid occupation and finally passed under direct Saljuq control. Although, previous to the Saljuq conquest, the emirate was influenced by the policies of both the Fatimid caliphate and the Byzantine empire, most of that time it was ruled by the Mirdasid dynasty. Salih b. Mirdas was the founder of this dynasty and after his death three of his sons, Nasr, Thimal and 'Atiyya succeeded each other in ruling the emirate. Mahmud b. Nasr usurped the ralership from his uncle 'Atiyya and it was during their struggle for power that some of the Turcomans entered the emirate. When he became Amir, Muhmud employed some of the Turcomans in his service, defended Aleppo when the Sultan Alp-Arslan campaigned against it and although his sons Nasr and afterwards S?biq succeeded him, the real power lay in the hands of the Turcomans. The Mirdasid dynasty was tribal, emanating from the Arabic tribe of Kilab which had migrated to northern Syria in the wake of the Islamic conquest of the seventh century. The structure of the tribe, its customs and the general behaviour of its tribesmen characterised this dynasty and contributed both to its establishment and collapse. On the other hand the collapse was a direct result of the capture of Aleppo by Muslim b. Quraysh, Amir of the tribe of 'Uqayl and ruler of al-Mosul. His reign, however, was short-lived and the Saljuq conquest followed rapidly. This conquest took place during the sultanate of Malik Shah who appointed Aq-Sunqur as governor and caused profound political, religious and social changes. The political instability did not end with the appointment of Aq Sunqur whose clash with Tutush, brother of Malik Shah, and struggle for supremacy was the cause of his death. The rural population of the emirate participated in the political life and this was clearly illustrated by the part played by the Ahdath organisation. Islam, Christianity and Judaism were the religions professed by the population and this has been touched upon in the last chapter of the thesis. The principal sources upon which this thesis is based have been enumerated and described in the introduction.