Abu Hafs (pirate)
Encyclopedia
Umar ibn Hafs ibn Shuayb ibn Isa al Balluti, surnamed al-Ghaliz ("the Fat") and later al-Ikritishi ("the Cretan"), and usually known as Abu Hafs (in Greek
sources , Apohapsis), was a Muwallad
corsair
who was primarily active between 816 and 827. After an unsuccessful uprising in Cordova, Spain in 818 against Emir Al-Hakam I
the city's Muladi
Muslim inhabitants were exiled. Some settled in Fez
(Morocco
), while a second group, of almost 15,000 men plus women and children, headed for Alexandria
in Egypt
. With the intention of taking advantage of local unrest, the latter group of rebels selected Abu as their leader. As leader, Abu led the group which took control of Alexandria in 816.
After being forced to leave Alexandria, the rebel group set for the Byzantine
island of Crete
. Upon arriving, they landed at Cape Charax in the gulf of Messara
. From there the group headed north under the leadership of Abu.
Abu and his group of adventurers seized Crete
from the Byzantine Empire
over the next few years, repelled a number of Byzantine recovery attempts and established an autonomous emirate
in the island.
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
sources , Apohapsis), was a Muwallad
Muladi
The Muladi were Muslims of ethnic Iberian descent or of mixed Arab, Berber and European origin, who lived in Al-Andalus during the Middle Ages. They were also called "Musalima" .-Etymology:...
corsair
Corsair
Corsairs were privateers, authorized to conduct raids on shipping of a nation at war with France, on behalf of the French Crown. Seized vessels and cargo were sold at auction, with the corsair captain entitled to a portion of the proceeds...
who was primarily active between 816 and 827. After an unsuccessful uprising in Cordova, Spain in 818 against Emir Al-Hakam I
Al-Hakam I
Al-Hakam Ibn Hisham Ibn Abd-ar-Rahman I was Umayyad Emir of Cordoba from 796 until 822 in the Al-Andalus .Al-Hakam was the second son of his father, his older brother having died at an early age. When he came to power, he was challenged by his uncles Sulayman and Abdallah, sons of Abd ar-Rahman I...
the city's Muladi
Muladi
The Muladi were Muslims of ethnic Iberian descent or of mixed Arab, Berber and European origin, who lived in Al-Andalus during the Middle Ages. They were also called "Musalima" .-Etymology:...
Muslim inhabitants were exiled. Some settled in Fez
Fes
Fes or Fez is the second largest city of Morocco, after Casablanca, with a population of approximately 1 million . It is the capital of the Fès-Boulemane region....
(Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
), while a second group, of almost 15,000 men plus women and children, headed for Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
in 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...
. With the intention of taking advantage of local unrest, the latter group of rebels selected Abu as their leader. As leader, Abu led the group which took control of Alexandria in 816.
After being forced to leave Alexandria, the rebel group set for the Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
island of Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
. Upon arriving, they landed at Cape Charax in the gulf of Messara
Messara
The Messara is a light riding and draft horse found on the island of Crete off the coast of Greece.-History:...
. From there the group headed north under the leadership of Abu.
Abu and his group of adventurers seized Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
from 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...
over the next few years, repelled a number of Byzantine recovery attempts and established an autonomous emirate
Emirate of Crete
The Emirate of Crete was a Muslim state that existed on the Mediterranean island of Crete from the late 820s to the Byzantine reconquest of the island in 961....
in the island.