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Allaqa
10th century mariner and rebel in Lebanon From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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'Allāqa (died in 998), also known as al-'Allaqa, was an Arab sailor who led a revolt against the rule of the Fatimid Caliphate in Tyre, Lebanon.[1]
Revolt in Tyre
Instigated by 'Allāqa, the townspeople of Tyre killed the local representatives of the Fatimids in 996[2] or 997.[3] He became popular in Tyre and coins were minted with his likeness.[3]
Under siege
Fatimid caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah responded by sending land and naval forces to lay siege to Tyre.[3] Allaqa sought support from the Byzantine Emperor Basil II, promising to hand over the city if he emerged victorious; the emperor agreed and sent a squadron to support him.[3] Most of the Byzantine vessels were captured by the Fatimids.[2]
The Fatimids also diverted troops under the command of Jaysh ibn al-Samsama from their original mission to suppress another revolt in Damascus, to reinforce the siege.[3]
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Defeat and death
On June 13, 998, the Fatimids conquered Tyre, despoiled the town, and killed many townspeople.[3] The Arab historian Yahya of Antioch records that the Fatimids captured a Byzantine ship and its crew, which consisted of two hundred men, and killed them all.[3]
Allaqa was captured and taken to Cairo with a large number of his followers, where they were flayed alive and then crucified.[2]
References
Bibliography
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