Abu Mansur Ilyas al-Nafusi

Abu Mansur Ilyas al-Nafusi was the governor of the Nafusa mountains and of Tripolitania on behalf of the Rustamid imam of Tahart, Abu l-Yaqzan Muhammad b. Aflah (d. 281/894-5). He came from Tindemira, a village in the Nafusa. The encyclopaedia's entry, signed by T. Lewicki, gives no dates for his birth or death. ¹

His province covered Tripolitania, including Tripoli, which belonged to the Aghlabids. He had at once to fight the Berber Ibadi tribe of Zawagha, who held the coast between Tripoli and Djerba and had adopted the dissident doctrines of Khalaf b. al-Samh. Under the son of Khalaf, who had taken refuge with them, they revolted against him; he defeated them with heavy losses, and their leader fortified himself on Djerba until his followers were bribed and handed him over. ¹

According to Ibn al-Rakik, quoted by al-Shammakhi, in 266/879-80 Ahmad b. Tulun defeated the Aghlabid governor of Tripoli, Muhammad b. Kurhub, and besieged the city for forty-three days. The inhabitants called Abu Mansur, who came with twelve thousand men, attacked Ibn Tulun outside the city and routed him. ¹