Sayf al-Daula
Encyclopedia
Ali ibn Abi al-Hayja 'Abd Allah ibn Hamdan ibn al-Harith Sayf al-Dawla al-Taghlibi , more commonly known simply by his laqab (sobriquet) of Sayf al-Dawla ("Sword of the State"), was the ruler of northern Syria
and the brother of al-Hasan ibn Hamdan (known as Nasir al-Dawla or 'Defender of the State'), the founder and the most prominent prince of the Arab Hamdanid dynasty from Anizzah tribe of Mosul
. He was famous for his patronage of scholars and for his military struggles against the Byzantines
, and is considered the "epitome of the Arab chivalrous ideal".
, who had played a leading role in the short-lived usurpation of Al-Qahir
against Al-Muqtadir
in 927, and had been killed during its suppression. Sayf al-Dawla began his career as lord of the city of Wasit
in modern Iraq
and became involved in the struggles of the Abbasid
caliph, who ruled from nearby Baghdad
. Sayf al-Dawla realized that greater potential lay to the west, in Syria
, then under the dominion of the Ikhshidid dynasty, which ruled Egypt
. In 946, with the support of the local Banu Kilab tribe, he captured Aleppo
, and in the following year, after two unsuccessful attempts, he took Damascus
. He then marched his army toward Egypt and captured Ramla
, but he was unable to make further progress. A peace treaty was negotiated between him and the Ikshidids, and thereafter his most important concern was with the Byzantine Empire
. Every year from 950 to the time of his death saw some kind of armed conflict with the Byzantines, with Sayf usually leading his army to raids into Byzantine Asia Minor. He won a great victory in 953 near Germanikeia, killing the patrikios Leo Maleinos, severely wounding the Domestic of the Schools
Bardas Phokas
and capturing his son Constantine. This was followed by more victories during the next three years, during which several Byzantine commanders fell. In September 958 however, as he was returning from another successful raid, his troops laden with booty, he was ambushed and heavily defeated at Raban by the Byzantines under Leo Phokas
, the brother of Nikephoros Phokas
, and Constantine Maleinos
, a relative of Leo who had been killed in 953. Sayf managed to escape, but the Byzantines had gained the ascendancy. In 962, a Byzantine army under Nikephoros Phokas advanced into Cilicia and Syria. In mid-December, the Byzantines suddenly appeared before Aleppo. Sayf al-Daula fled his palace, which lay outside the city. The magnificent building was plundered, along with the city itself and its countryside, but the Byzantine forces retired after one week. Two years later they returned but were defeated.
Sayf al-Dawla surrounded himself with prominent intellectual figures, notably the great poets al-Mutanabbi and Abu Firas
and the noted philosopher al-Farabi
. Sayf al-Dawla himself was a poet; his delicate little poem on the rainbow shows high artistic ability.
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
and the brother of al-Hasan ibn Hamdan (known as Nasir al-Dawla or 'Defender of the State'), the founder and the most prominent prince of the Arab Hamdanid dynasty from Anizzah tribe of Mosul
Mosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
. He was famous for his patronage of scholars and for his military struggles against the Byzantines
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
, and is considered the "epitome of the Arab chivalrous ideal".
Life
Sayf al-Dawla was the second son of 'Abd Allah Abu al-Hayja (d.929), emir of MosulMosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
, who had played a leading role in the short-lived usurpation of Al-Qahir
Al-Qahir
Al-Qahir bi'llah Abu Mansour Muhammad Al Qahir Bellah was the 19th Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad from 932 to 934. He was born 286 Hijri and 899 C.E...
against Al-Muqtadir
Al-Muqtadir
Al-Muqtadir was the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad from 908 AD to 932 AD .After the previous Caliph, al-Muktafi, was confined for several months to his sick-bed, intrigue was made for some time as to his successor...
in 927, and had been killed during its suppression. Sayf al-Dawla began his career as lord of the city of Wasit
Wasit
Wasit is a place in Wasit Governorate, south east of Kut in eastern Iraq.-History:During Ottoman times, it was the head city of the sanjak of Wasit.To quote UNESCO:...
in modern Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and became involved in the struggles of the Abbasid
Abbasid
The Abbasid Caliphate or, more simply, the Abbasids , was the third of the Islamic caliphates. It was ruled by the Abbasid dynasty of caliphs, who built their capital in Baghdad after overthrowing the Umayyad caliphate from all but the al-Andalus region....
caliph, who ruled from nearby Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
. Sayf al-Dawla realized that greater potential lay to the west, in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, then under the dominion of the Ikhshidid dynasty, which ruled Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. In 946, with the support of the local Banu Kilab tribe, he captured Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
, and in the following year, after two unsuccessful attempts, he took Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
. He then marched his army toward Egypt and captured Ramla
Ramla
Ramla , is a city in central Israel. The city is predominantly Jewish with a significant Arab minority. Ramla was founded circa 705–715 AD by the Umayyad Caliph Suleiman ibn Abed al-Malik after the Arab conquest of the region...
, but he was unable to make further progress. A peace treaty was negotiated between him and the Ikshidids, and thereafter his most important concern was with the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
. Every year from 950 to the time of his death saw some kind of armed conflict with the Byzantines, with Sayf usually leading his army to raids into Byzantine Asia Minor. He won a great victory in 953 near Germanikeia, killing the patrikios Leo Maleinos, severely wounding the Domestic of the Schools
Domestic of the Schools
The Domestic of the Schools was a senior Byzantine military office, extant from the 8th century until at least the early 14th century. Originally simply the commander of the Scholai, the senior of the elite tagmata regiments, the Domestic quickly rose in prominence: by the mid-9th century, its...
Bardas Phokas
Bardas Phokas the Elder
Bardas Phokas was a notable Byzantine general in the first half of the 10th century, and father of Byzantine emperor Nikephoros II Phokas and the kouropalates Leo Phokas the Younger....
and capturing his son Constantine. This was followed by more victories during the next three years, during which several Byzantine commanders fell. In September 958 however, as he was returning from another successful raid, his troops laden with booty, he was ambushed and heavily defeated at Raban by the Byzantines under Leo Phokas
Leo Phokas the Younger
Leo Phokas or Phocas was a prominent Byzantine general who scored a number of successes in the eastern frontier in the mid-10th century alongside his older brother, the Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas...
, the brother of Nikephoros Phokas
Nikephoros II
Nikephoros II Phokas was a Byzantine Emperor whose brilliant military exploits contributed to the resurgence of Byzantine Empire in the tenth century.-Early exploits:...
, and Constantine Maleinos
Constantine Maleinos
Constantine Maleinos was a prominent Byzantine general of the mid-10th century.Constantine was born in the late 9th or 10th century, probably in his family's estates in Cappadocia. His father was Eudokimos Maleinos, a member of the powerful aristocratic Maleinos clan, and his mother Anastaso...
, a relative of Leo who had been killed in 953. Sayf managed to escape, but the Byzantines had gained the ascendancy. In 962, a Byzantine army under Nikephoros Phokas advanced into Cilicia and Syria. In mid-December, the Byzantines suddenly appeared before Aleppo. Sayf al-Daula fled his palace, which lay outside the city. The magnificent building was plundered, along with the city itself and its countryside, but the Byzantine forces retired after one week. Two years later they returned but were defeated.
Sayf al-Dawla surrounded himself with prominent intellectual figures, notably the great poets al-Mutanabbi and Abu Firas
Abu Firas al-Hamdani
Abu Firas al-Hamdani was an Arab poet. He was a member of the noble family of the Hamanids, who were rulers in northern Syria and upper Mesopotamia during the 10th century. His most famous work is a collection of poems titled al-Rûmiyât .Abū Firās al-Ḥamdānī, poetic cognomen of al-Ḥārit̲h̲ b. Abi...
and the noted philosopher al-Farabi
Al-Farabi
' known in the West as Alpharabius , was a scientist and philosopher of the Islamic world...
. Sayf al-Dawla himself was a poet; his delicate little poem on the rainbow shows high artistic ability.