Abû 'Umar ibn Sa'îd
Encyclopedia
Abû ‘Umar ibn Sa’îd (died c. 1287) was son of Abû 'Uthmân Sa'îd ibn Hakam al Qurashi
and last ra’îs of Manûrqa
(1282–1287).
In his first year in government, King Peter III of Aragon
and his fleet stopped by Manurqa on their way to the city of Constantine
(North Africa
). Bugron, the Lord of Constantine, had secretly plotted with Peter to convert to Christianity and surrender the city to the Crown of Aragon
. According to Ramon Muntaner
’s Cronica, Abû ‘Umar sent messengers to North Africa letting know of this plot. The consequences were that Bugron was executed and Peter’s surprise invasion was discovered.
Years later, Peter and King James II of Majorca, (Minorca’s vassal
lord) came into a dispute. Peter’s son King Alfons III of Aragon set out from Salou the 22 November 1286 with an invasion force against Manûrqa. This was both to avenge Abû ‘Umar ibn Sa’îd and James II. He arrived 5 January 1287. Abû ‘Umar ibn Sa’îd prepared himself with mercenary
troops from North Africa. The first battle took place 17 January. Alfons won this battle and Abû ‘Umar ibn Sa’îd and a few of his followers fled to the fortress near Madina al Jazira, nowadays known as the fortress of Santa Àgueda
.
On 21 January, Abû ‘Umar ibn Sa’îd seeing himself outnumbered, signed his surrender with the treaty of San Agayz. He was allowed to leave the island towards North Africa, with two hundred of his followers, the remains of his father, his library and fifty swords. Alfons chartered him a ship manned by a Genoese
, which according to Muntaner, encountered a storm off the North African coast and was destroyed. There were no survivors.
Abû 'Uthmân Sa'îd ibn Hakam al Qurashi
Abû ‘Uthman Sa’îd ibn Hakam al Qurashi was the first Ra’îs of Manûrqa .- Early life :Sa’îd ibn Hakam was born in the city of Tavira in the Algarve...
and last ra’îs of Manûrqa
Manûrqa
Manûrqa was the Arabicized name given to the island of Minorca by the Muslims from its annexation to the Caliphate of Cordoba by 'Isâm al-Khawlânî in 903 until the rule of the last Muslim ra'îs, Abû 'Umar ibn Sa'îd in 1287. The only urban centre of the island was Madînat al Jazîra or al Manûrqa...
(1282–1287).
In his first year in government, King Peter III of Aragon
Peter III of Aragon
Peter the Great was the King of Aragon of Valencia , and Count of Barcelona from 1276 to his death. He conquered Sicily and became its king in 1282. He was one of the greatest of medieval Aragonese monarchs.-Youth and succession:Peter was the eldest son of James I of Aragon and his second wife...
and his fleet stopped by Manurqa on their way to the city of Constantine
Constantine, Algeria
Constantine is the capital of Constantine Province in north-eastern Algeria. It was the capital of the same-named French département until 1962. Slightly inland, it is about 80 kilometres from the Mediterranean coast, on the banks of Rhumel river...
(North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
). Bugron, the Lord of Constantine, had secretly plotted with Peter to convert to Christianity and surrender the city to the Crown of Aragon
Crown of Aragon
The Crown of Aragon Corona d'Aragón Corona d'Aragó Corona Aragonum controlling a large portion of the present-day eastern Spain and southeastern France, as well as some of the major islands and mainland possessions stretching across the Mediterranean as far as Greece...
. According to Ramon Muntaner
Ramon Muntaner
Ramon Muntaner was a Catalan soldier and writer who wrote the Crònica, a chronicle of his life, including his adventures as a commander in the Catalan Company...
’s Cronica, Abû ‘Umar sent messengers to North Africa letting know of this plot. The consequences were that Bugron was executed and Peter’s surprise invasion was discovered.
Years later, Peter and King James II of Majorca, (Minorca’s vassal
Vassal
A vassal or feudatory is a person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. The obligations often included military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain privileges, usually including the grant of land held...
lord) came into a dispute. Peter’s son King Alfons III of Aragon set out from Salou the 22 November 1286 with an invasion force against Manûrqa. This was both to avenge Abû ‘Umar ibn Sa’îd and James II. He arrived 5 January 1287. Abû ‘Umar ibn Sa’îd prepared himself with mercenary
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
troops from North Africa. The first battle took place 17 January. Alfons won this battle and Abû ‘Umar ibn Sa’îd and a few of his followers fled to the fortress near Madina al Jazira, nowadays known as the fortress of Santa Àgueda
Castle of Santa Àgueda
The Castle of Santa Àgueda is found in the municipality of Ferreries, Minorca. It is situated over an elongated plateau, called Santa Àgueda, 264 m above sea level. It is the third highest point in the island behind Monte Toro and S'Esclusa . The castle is accessed by an ancient Roman road...
.
On 21 January, Abû ‘Umar ibn Sa’îd seeing himself outnumbered, signed his surrender with the treaty of San Agayz. He was allowed to leave the island towards North Africa, with two hundred of his followers, the remains of his father, his library and fifty swords. Alfons chartered him a ship manned by a Genoese
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
, which according to Muntaner, encountered a storm off the North African coast and was destroyed. There were no survivors.
Sources
- Ramón Muntaner, Chronicle, tr. Lady Goodenough (available in PDF format).