Information AboutJawhar As-siqilli |
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BIOGRAPHY Jawhar originated from a Christian family in the Emirate Of Sicily (hence the epithet الصقلي = ''the Sicilian''), and came as a slave to North Africa . He was sent to the Caliph Ismail Al-Mansur on account of his intelligence and cunning. Under his son Al-Muizz ( 953 - 975 ) he gained his freedom and became his personal secretary. Soon he was Vizir and the highest-ranking military commander of the Fatimids . In this role he resumed the expansion of the Fatimids and, together with the Zirids , conquered Fez in Northern Morocco , and pushed towards the Atlantic . Only the strongholds of Ceuta and Tangier could be retained by the Umayyads of Córdoba . After the Western borders had been secured, Jawhar as-Siqilli pushed towards Egypt and occupied the land around the Nile from the Ishidids after a siege at Giza. The conquest was prepared by a treaty with the Vizir of the Ishidids (by which Sunnis would be guaranteed freedom of religion), so the Fatimids encountered little resistance. Afterwards Jawhar ruled Egypt until 972 as viceroy. , founded by Jawhar on 970.]] In this capacity he founded the city of Cairo on 969 at Fostat , to serve as the new residence of the Fatimid Caliphs, and the Al-Azhar Mosque on 970 . Although Palestine was occupied after the conquest of Egypt, Syria could not be overcome, following a defeat at the hands of the Carmathians at Damascus . However, when the Carmatians overran Egypt, Jawhar was able to defeat them north of Cairo on the 22nd December 970 , although the struggle continued until 974 . To secure the southern border of Egypt a legation was sent to the Christian land of Nubia . After the establishment of the residence at Cairo, Jawhar fell into disfavour with al-Muizz. Under his successor Al-Aziz ( 975 - 996 ) however, in whose accession to the throne Jawhar played an important role, he was rehabilitated. He was regent again until 979 , but was finally stripped of power after a campaign against Syria was once again defeated near Damascus. Jawhar died on 1st February 992 . EXTERNAL LINKS |
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