Tariq ibn ziyad

Ṭāriq ibn Ziyād al-Layti or Táriq ibn Ziyad (Táriq, Táreq or Táric ) (Arabic: طارق بن زياد‎) (Tarik, Tariq or Tarij in the traditional Spanish transcription) was a general belonging to the Berbers, who, together with Tarif ibn Malik, led the Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula (Visigothic Hispania), according to the traditionally accepted historiography, based in Arabic chronicles of the 10th and 11th centuries. Given the deep-rooted and extensive historiographical confusion that exists, it is mandatory to emphasize that this historical figure should not be confused with Tarif ibn Malik who also landed in the Campo de Gibraltar in 710.

The name "Gibraltar" is the Spanish derivative of the Arabic name Jab al-Tāriq or Yabal Tarik (جبل طارق), meaning "mountain of Táriq", so named after his landing here. Other place names that also come from the derivative of its name are: Torija and Tarija, which are derivatives of Tāriq or Tarik, becoming Tarij, subsequently evolving into the aforementioned place names.

Campaign of Islamic Conquests in the Peninsula from 711 to 719.

Tarik was born in Arabia, his father, Ziad was born before the arrival of the Arabs in North Africa, and his grandfather was Abdallah, he was born, at the time of the prophet, so it is impossible for him to be a Berber, and born in Algeria or Morocco. From the Leith ليث tribe. Very well known in Arabia. In addition, the policy of appointments of high positions and military officials by the Umayyads, supports his Arab origin.

Historiography

First of all, as several historians point out, the problem of the sources for knowledge of this era and its protagonists and to build "a reliable history" must be emphasized, as Wenceslao Segura Martínez stated during the XIII centenary of the landing: "The two basic instruments in historical research (documents and archeology), are absent in the key years of the beginning of the Muslim invasion."

Traditional historiography

He was the subordinate of Musa ibn Nusair, who after subduing the Maghreb during his service, appointed him governor of Tangier. From there he was sent by Musa ibn Nusair -during the Muslim expansion campaign towards the Iberian Peninsula- to meet the Count of Ceuta Don Julián.

The Visigothic count of Septa (Ceuta), the Goth Olbán or Julián who ruled over the Berbers, vassals of the Visigoths but subject to the Arabs, acted as an intermediary to obtain the collaboration of Musa ibn Nusair in favor of the followers of the deceased king Witiza in the civil war between the two parties that were disputing the Visigothic crown.

In 710, the election of Rodrigo/Roderico as king takes place. A part of the Visigothic nobility supports Agila II, son of Witiza, after being named king by his father and his previous monarch, he exercises as such dividing the territory.

That same year, Táriq made a trial expedition with some four hundred Muslims to the Andalusian coast without any problems. It seems that Musa asked for the opinion of Al-Walid, who ordered him not to cross the strait.

The support of the Umayyads would reach the peninsula where Don Julián would facilitate their passage through the Strait of Gibraltar for their own benefit, he wanted to recover his lost territories after the election of Don Rodrigo and avenge the dishonor of his daughter by of the same.

In 711, Musa ibn Nusair ordered Táriq to leave for Hispania, to contact Don Julián and march with his army. On April 27, 711, Táriq's forces landed in the Bay of Gibraltar, after which he ordered, according to legend, to burn all the ships and made a proclamation to the troops.

Gibraltar, one of the two mythical Pillars of Hercules, was renamed as a derivation of the Arabic Ẏabal Tāriq (جبل طارق), or "mountain of Táriq", in memory of the general Táriq ibn Ziyad, who led the landing on this place of the forces of Walid I's Umayyad Caliphate in 711.

General Muslim Tarik Ibn Ziyad

The Gothic king Rodrigo left for the south. It seems that nobles from Baetica who were favorable to Agila II received Táriq and his soldiers. The norms of the Councils of Toledo prohibited requesting help from abroad to occupy power. Rodrigo and Agila agreed to a truce to fight the newcomers together. Táriq's situation became compromised. Neither of the two parties recognized him as an ally, but on the contrary, they joined his forces, leaving the Berber with the sea at his back and with a reduced army of only seven thousand men. Tariq sent a messenger to Musa, who sent him 5,000 more men led by Musa ibn Nusair himself.

Rodrigo's base was located in Córdoba. Agila's army was in the vicinity of Cartago Nova. Between July 19 and 26, 711, the battle known as the Battle of Guadalete took place at the Laguna de la Janda.

But the followers of Agila, at a certain moment, abandoned the battle and caused, directly or indirectly, the defeat of Rodrigo. Many nobles died, including Rodrigo himself, although this data is not completely certain. Táriq completed this victory with a second in Écija, finishing off the Gothic nobility.

Although kings once carried their treasures into battle, it is unlikely that Rodrigo carried the royal treasure in his retinue. However, Táriq must believe that the treasure was traveling with them and that it would be transported to Toledo. The same month of July 711, Táriq left his lieutenants at strategic points (Málaga, Granada and Córdoba) and arrived in Toledo followed by the rumor that the & # 34; Table of Solomon & # 34; he was there.

There he met Oppas, brother of the former king Witiza, a possible sign that Agila had already been proclaimed in Toledo where the clergy were favorable to him. It is known that Archbishop Sinderedo, a supporter of Rodrigo, fled to Rome but it is unknown if it was because of the seizure of power by the Viticians or by the Muslims.

In Toledo, Táriq found the royal treasure, but it proved difficult to take, as the Toledo authorities were only willing to hand over a part as payment for services rendered. According to legend, among this treasure was the "Solomons Table". Tariq decided to stay in the kingdom's capital and await instructions from Musa ibn Nusair. He was strong enough not to be attacked within the city and the Viticians did not dare to break relations, since Agila's power was not sufficiently consolidated and a walled city was difficult to take by attack from outside.

The following year Musa crossed the strait with eighteen thousand men and, defeating the resistance in Emerita (Mérida), where he spent a year for the siege and the conquest, he met with Táriq in Toledo in the summer of 713. During this time, Musa did not stop and advanced towards Astorga without encountering resistance.

Later, Táriq had to collaborate with the expeditions that Musa made to Zaragoza, Tarragona, Pamplona and Galicia.

Numerous tribal elements —the masmuda, nafza, wazdadya, malzuza, zanata, miknasa, madyuna, awraba, zuwara in particular— settled on the Peninsula with or after Táriq, attracted by the prospects of enrichment that the new conquest opened up. We do not know how these Berbers of the first immigration, who were military elements, articulated with the cadres of the Arab jund established in al-Andalus.

Tariq and Musa left for Damascus at the end of 714 to give an account to the caliph about their management. They arrived shortly before Al-Walid's death and Musa was put on trial. It seems that Táriq himself acted as the prosecution, providing evidence against Musa. Al-Walid's death stopped the process, concluded by his brother, the new Caliph Suleiman. Táriq would spend the years before his death in Damascus, finally passing away in 720.

Alternative historiography

Ignacio Olagüe Videla, in a paradigmatic work The Islamic Revolution in the West (1974), written from a nationalist perspective and dedicated to minimizing or denying the Arab imprint on peninsular culture, maintains that Taric (surname ending in -ic like the Germanic Euric, Alaric, Gesaleic, Eutaric or Atalaric and which would mean "son of Tar") was the Visigothic governor of the province of Tingitana and who had been named as such by Witiza. Had he gone to the Peninsula, he would have done so in defense of the side of Witiza's children against Rodrigo. Olagüe's work has been described as "history fiction" and rejected in academic circles. But the name exists in other Muslim countries without Germanic influence. For the historian Eduardo Manzano Moreno:

The most surprising thing about Olagüe's thesis is not how wild and wild it turns out. Historical absurd theories and pilgrimages produced by amateurs, publicists or even academic historians are counted by tens or hundreds. Usually, they are usually forgotten with the same speed with which they cause a certain initial stir. On the other hand, the idea that the Arabs did not really invade Hispania, although it did not awaken excessive echo at the time, seems to be receiving in recent times a renewed attention. To this he has contributed in part his diffusion and discussion in certain forums of the Internet, where it is well known the preference that some of his cultivators manifest for all that has to do with both conspiracy theories, and with that which puts into question the acquired knowledge.

For Joaquín Vallvé he is an eponymous figure, whose name simply means boss.

According to the Arab chronicles of the VIII century, the number of soldiers arriving on the peninsula under the command of Táriq could vary number according to the author, finding a difference between 2,000 to 5,000 men.

There is controversy between the different sources that mention whether Táriq acted under his own authority without obeying orders from Musa ibn Nusair, if it was Al-Walid himself who gave the orders to Táriq or if Musa was there as an intermediary.

The last entry we have about Táriq is his arrival in Damascus in 714 together with Musa ibn Nusair, authors affirm that both were tried for the events that occurred during the expansion. Others if only Musa was tried and Táriq himself testified against him. Another theory is that they went to deliver the numerous treasures and riches obtained from the Goths to the Caliph.

Legacy

• One of the largest Muslim oratory in Barcelona, in C/ San Rafael 10, is called "Tariq Bin Ziyad".