Zibatra

زبطرة

Zibatra, an old Roman fortress of the frontier; Habib ibn Maslama took it with the old fortress of al-Hadath in Umar's days; the Romans wrecked it in al-Walid ibn Yazid's days and again in Marwan ibn Muhammad's civil war — al-Mansur rebuilt it, the Romans damaged it, al-Rashid rebuilt and garrisoned it through Muhammad ibn Ibrahim, and al-Ma'mun repaired and fortified it after a raid on its people's herds; in al-Mu'tasim's caliphate the Romans came to it, killed the men, captured the women and wrecked it — the proximate cause of his expedition to Amorium — after which it was rebuilt, fortified and garrisoned, the Romans later attempting it in vain.

Overview

Zibatra is an ancient Roman fortress among the frontier posts. Al-Baladhuri relates its history across several periods. ¹ See The raid on Zibatra.

The succession of conquest, ruin and building

Habib ibn Maslama conquered it together with the ancient fortress of al-Hadath in the days of Umar. The Byzantines ruined it in the days of al-Walid ibn Yazid, and then in the strife of Marwan ibn Muhammad. Al-Mansur built it, and the Byzantines damaged it again. Al-Rashid restored it through Muhammad ibn Ibrahim and garrisoned it. Al-Ma'mun repaired and fortified it after a raid on the herds of its people. ¹

In the caliphate of al-Mu'tasim

Al-Baladhuri mentions that the Byzantines came out against it in the caliphate of al-Mu'tasim, killed the men, took the women captive, and ruined it. That was the reason for al-Mu'tasim's expedition to Amorium. Then it was rebuilt, fortified and garrisoned, and the Byzantines sought to attack it but could not. ¹

Conquest of Amorium

Al-Mu'tasim set out campaigning into Byzantine lands in the year 223, though some say his departure was in 224 or 222, after he had killed Babak. According to al-Suyuti, he took it by the sword, killed thirty thousand of its people and took as many captive. The astrologers had judged the ascendant unlucky when he was preparing and that he would be broken; yet his victory exceeded anything feared, and Abu Tammam said that the sword is truer in its reports than books. According to al-Mas'udi, al-Mu'tasim was roused to war, donning a white woollen tunic and the raider's turban, when Ibrahim ibn al-Mahdi recited to him, 'O raid of God, you have now beheld it, so break in.' He encamped on the west bank of the Tigris on Monday, two nights into Jumada I in the year 223. He placed Ashnas in the vanguard, Itakh on the right wing, Ja'far ibn Dinar al-Khayyat on the left, Bugha al-Kabir in the rear, and Ajif at the centre. He entered by the Pass of Safety, while al-Afshin entered by the Pass of Hadath; he met the king and defeated him. Lawi the patrician came out to him from Amorium and surrendered it; he took Batis captive, killed thirty thousand, and stayed four days demolishing and burning.

Zibatra

At a glance

Overview

The succession of conquest, ruin and building

In the caliphate of al-Mu'tasim

Connections

People and things also explored

Sources

Place

Conquest of Amorium