Labib al-Fata al-Saqlabi

Labib al-Fata al-Saqlabi (Arabic: لبيب الفتى الصقلبي) (or Labib of Tortosa) was the founder and first ruler of the Taifa of Tortosa from around AH 400 (1009/1010 CE) to AH 431 (1039/1040). He was a Saqaliba, usually Slavic children that were captured, castrated, sold as slaves in Spain, and educated in the Islamic culture and religion.

Labib al-Fata al-Saqlabi
Emir of the Taifa of Tortosa
ReignAH 400 (1009/1010)?–AH 431 (1039/1040)
Predecessornone
SuccessorMuqatil Sayf al-Milla
Emir of the Taifa of Valencia
ReignAH 410 (1019/1020)–AH 411 (1020/1021)
PredecessorMubarak and Muzaffar
SuccessorMujāhid al-ʿĀmirī
DiedAH 431 (1039/1040)
Tortosa
ReligionIslam

It is possible that Labib left Cordoba after Hisham II was deposed in AH 400 (1009/1010). Some time after this he took power in the city of Tortosa, but was deposed when the city was briefly taken over by the Mundhir I of the Taifa of Zaragoza. However, due to aid from the Mubarak and Muzaffar of Taifa of Valencia he was able to regain his throne.[1] During this time, the poet Ibn Darrach al-Qastalli dedicated a composition to him.[2]

He supported the proclamation of Abd al-Rahman IV as caliph of Cordoba in AH 408 (1017/1018), but they and their caliph were defeated in the vicinity of Granada by Zawi ibn Ziri. Shortly after this Mubarak and Muzaffar died (possibly due to a rebellion instigated by Labib), and Labib became the ruler of the Taifa of Valencia.[3]

In AH 410 (1019/1020) he became co-ruler of the Taifa of Valencia alongside Mujāhid al-ʿĀmirī. This arrangement only lasted until AH 411 (1020/1021), when Labib was forced to leave Valencia and return to Tortosa. Soon after this Mujahid was replaced by Abd al-Aziz ibn Ámir as the ruler of The Taifa of Valencia.[4]

In AH 427 (1035/1036), Labib declared allegiance to Hisham II (who was most likely dead after the Berbers sacking Cordoba in 1013) as a symbol of his legitimacy, after the ruler of the Taifa of Seville, Abu al-Qasim Muhammad ibn Abbad claimed he had reappeared.[5]

It is possible that he died in Tortosa in AH 431 (1039/1040), but it is uncertain whether he was deposed or named a successor, since the only evidence found has been that after this date coinage was issued by his successor, Muqatil Sayf al-Milla.

References
  1. Viguera, María Jesús (1992-01-01). Los reinos de taifas y las invasiones magrebíes: (al-Andalus del IX al XIII) (in Spanish). Editorial MAPFRE. pp. 75–79. ISBN 978-84-7100-432-1.
  2. La Chica Garrido, Margarita. (1973). Almanzor y los poemas de Ibn Darray al-Qastalli : (tesis doctoral). [Secretariado de Publicaciones, Intercambio Científico y Extensión Universitaria]. p. 17. OCLC 433843970.
  3. Fernández, Luis Suárez (1976). Historia de Espana antigua y media (in Spanish). Ediciones Rialp. ISBN 9788432118821.
  4. Coscollá Sanz, Vicente. (2003). Valencia musulmana. Carena. p. 2. ISBN 84-87398-75-8. OCLC 1025003265.
  5. Kennedy, Hugh (Hugh N.) (1996). Muslim Spain and Portugal : a political history of al-Andalus. London: Longman. pp. 130–131. ISBN 0-582-49515-6. OCLC 34746098.
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