Barasa-Ubaidat War
Encyclopedia
The Barasa–Ubaidat War refers to a military conflict that took place between 1860 and 1890 in northern Cyrenaica
, Libya
between the tribes of Barasa and Ubaidat. The Barasa initially successful, but the final victory went to the Ubaidat.
. Wars like the Barasa-Ubaidat war were conventional there. The Barasa-Ubaidat war was the nineteenth century version of the Basus War
. With the coming of Mohammed ben Ali es Senussi, founder of the Senussi
order in the nineteenth century, to Cyrenaica
the number of wars had gradually diminished. When the Italians invaded Libya
in 1911, Senussi leaders had no difficulty in unifying the tribes' efforts against the invaders.
Again, like the Basus War
, poetry and exaggerated tales are the main remnants of this war.
Cyrenaica
Cyrenaica is the eastern coastal region of Libya.Also known as Pentapolis in antiquity, it was part of the Creta et Cyrenaica province during the Roman period, later divided in Libia Pentapolis and Libia Sicca...
, Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
between the tribes of Barasa and Ubaidat. The Barasa initially successful, but the final victory went to the Ubaidat.
Historical background
- The Ubaidat had already been engaged (probably in the eighteenth century) in a large-scale war with their eastern neighbours, the tribe of Aulad-Ali, which is also descended from the Banu-Su'da tribe of the Banu-Salim tribe from Arabia). The war ended with the defeat of Aulad-Ali and their expulsion from the whole of CyrenaicaCyrenaicaCyrenaica is the eastern coastal region of Libya.Also known as Pentapolis in antiquity, it was part of the Creta et Cyrenaica province during the Roman period, later divided in Libia Pentapolis and Libia Sicca...
to EgyptEgyptEgypt , 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...
. This war has been known in the Libyan folklore as " Tajridat Habeeb". - In 1844, Abubakr Haddouth, the leader of Barasa, the descendants of Idrisids of MoroccoMoroccoMorocco , 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...
, was appointed by the Ottoman EmpireOttoman EmpireThe Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
as a BeyBeyBey is a title for chieftain, traditionally applied to the leaders of small tribal groups. Accoding to some sources, the word "Bey" is of Turkish language In historical accounts, many Turkish, other Turkic and Persian leaders are titled Bey, Beg, Bek, Bay, Baig or Beigh. They are all the same word...
over all the Harabi tribes (Barasa, Ubaidat, Hassa, Drissa, Fayed family, and Aulad-Hamad). The Ubaidat considered Abubakr to be cruel, and thus resented being under his influence. Conflict was inevitable.
Course of War
- The war began in 1860. Despite Turkish support of Ubaidat, the Barasa, successful at first, advanced through Ubaidat's territory to "Ain Mara" where they met a heavy and decisive defeat. The war ended in 1890, with the loss of 2,000 lives from both sides, including two of Abubakr's brothers. Little information is available about this long war.
- Abubakr did not survive to see the end of the war, he moved to BenghaziBenghaziBenghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya...
and died there in 1870.
Legacy
This was not the only war between tribes in CyrenaicaCyrenaica
Cyrenaica is the eastern coastal region of Libya.Also known as Pentapolis in antiquity, it was part of the Creta et Cyrenaica province during the Roman period, later divided in Libia Pentapolis and Libia Sicca...
. Wars like the Barasa-Ubaidat war were conventional there. The Barasa-Ubaidat war was the nineteenth century version of the Basus War
Basus War
The Basus War was a conflict between two rival clans in medieval Arabia. The Taghlib and Bakr tribes fought for roughly forty years , locked in a perpetual cycle of vengeance...
. With the coming of Mohammed ben Ali es Senussi, founder of the Senussi
Senussi
The Senussi or Sanussi refers to a Muslim political-religious order in Libya and the Sudan region founded in Mecca in 1837 by the Grand Senussi, Sayyid Muhammad ibn Ali as-Senussi. Senussi was concerned with both the decline of Islamic thought and spirituality and the weakening of Muslim political...
order in the nineteenth century, to Cyrenaica
Cyrenaica
Cyrenaica is the eastern coastal region of Libya.Also known as Pentapolis in antiquity, it was part of the Creta et Cyrenaica province during the Roman period, later divided in Libia Pentapolis and Libia Sicca...
the number of wars had gradually diminished. When the Italians invaded Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
in 1911, Senussi leaders had no difficulty in unifying the tribes' efforts against the invaders.
Again, like the Basus War
Basus War
The Basus War was a conflict between two rival clans in medieval Arabia. The Taghlib and Bakr tribes fought for roughly forty years , locked in a perpetual cycle of vengeance...
, poetry and exaggerated tales are the main remnants of this war.