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Muslim Expansion and Byzantine Collapse in North Africa Walter E Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-19677-2 - Muslim Expansion and Byzantine Collapse in North Africa Walter E . Kaegi Frontmatter More information M U S L I M E X P A N S I O N A N D BYZANTINE COLLAPSE IN NORTH AFRICA Who “lost” Christian North Africa? Who won it and how? Walter E. Kaegi takes a fresh look at these perennial questions, with maps and on-site observations, in this exciting new book. Persisting clouds of suspicion and blame overshadowed many Byzantine attempts to defend North Africa, as Byzantines failed to meet the multiple challenges from diff erent directions which ultimately overwhelmed them. While the Muslims forcefully and permanently turned Byzantine internal dynastic and religious problems and military unrest to their advantage, they brought their own strengths to a dynamic process that would take a long time to complete – the transformation of North Africa. An impartial comparative frame- work helps to sort through identity politics, “Orientalism” charges and counter-charges, and institutional controversies; this book also includes a new study of the decisive battle of Sbeitla in , helping readers to understand what befell Byzantium, and indeed empires from Rome to the present. . is Professor of History at the University of Chicago, where he has been teaching Byzantine, Late Antique, Early Islamic, and military history since . He is the co-founder of the Byzantine Studies Conference and the President of the US National Committee for Byzantine Studies. Previous books include Army, Society and Religion in Byzantium ( ); Some Th oughts on Byzantine Military Strategy ( ); Byzantium and the Early Islamic Conquests (Cambridge, ); and Heraclius, Emperor of Byzantium ( C a m b r i d g e , ) . © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-19677-2 - Muslim Expansion and Byzantine Collapse in North Africa Walter E . Kaegi Frontmatter More information © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-19677-2 - Muslim Expansion and Byzantine Collapse in North Africa Walter E . Kaegi Frontmatter More information MUSLIM EXPANSION AND BYZANTINE COLLAPSE IN NORTH AFRICA W A L T E R E . K A E G I © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-19677-2 - Muslim Expansion and Byzantine Collapse in North Africa Walter E . Kaegi Frontmatter More information Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, São Paulo, Delhi, Dubai, Tokyo, Mexico City Cambridge University Press Th e Edinburgh Building, Cambridge , UK Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York w w w . c a m b r i d g e . o r g Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/ © W a l t e r E . K a e g i Th is publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press. First published Printed in the United Kingdom at the University Press, Cambridge A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication data Kaegi, Walter Emil. Muslim expansion and Byzantine collapse in North Africa / Walter E. Kaegi. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ---- . Africa, North–History–To . Byzantine Empire. I. Title. ′.–dc - - - - H a r d b a c k Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party internet websites referred to in this publication, and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate. © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-19677-2 - Muslim Expansion and Byzantine Collapse in North Africa Walter E . Kaegi Frontmatter More information To Louise, for her constant presence and indispensable support for the creation of this book © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-19677-2 - Muslim Expansion and Byzantine Collapse in North Africa Walter E . Kaegi Frontmatter More information © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-19677-2 - Muslim Expansion and Byzantine Collapse in North Africa Walter E . Kaegi Frontmatter More information Contents L i s t o f m a p s p a g e x L i s t o f fi g u r e s xii Acknowledgments xiv L i s t o f a b b r e v i a t i o n s xviii Challenges of the subject and the sources Objectives and methodology Th e historical and geographical scope D i s c i p l i n a r y p e r s p e c t i v e s T a b l e M u s l i m e x p e d i t i o n s a n d B y z a n t i n e a c t i o n s : a n o v e r v i e w H i s t o r i o g r a p h i c a l h u r d l e s C o m p a r i s o n s a n d c a u t i o n a r y o b s e r v a t i o n s C o l o n i a l i s t f r a m e s o f r e f e r e n c e D e fi ciencies within anti-colonial critiques A word about Muslim, Byzantine, and Latin sources F r a g m e n t e d g e o g r a p h i c a l a n d l o g i s t i c a l r e a l i t i e s D i v e r s i t y o f r e g i o n s : a n o v e r v i e w o f m i c r o - r e g i o n s D e m o g r a p h i c a n d e c o n o m i c c o n d i t i o n s Et h n i c a n d c u l t u r a l a ffi n i t y a n d c o n fl i c t C h r i s t i a n c o n t e x t s i n s e v e n t h - c e n t u r y N o r t h A f r i c a Pious hopes and anxieties Monotheletism, Monophysitism, and orthodoxy Trauma, hopes, and anxieties amid crisis I m p e d i m e n t s f r o m r e l i g i o u s s c a p e g o a t i n g Th e military heritage of Heraclius on the eve o f M u s l i m m i l i t a r y o p e r a t i o n s H e r a c l i u s ’ f a m i l i a l t i e s w i t h N o r t h A f r i c a C h a n g i n g s t r a t e g i c c u l t u r e vii © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-19677-2 - Muslim Expansion and Byzantine Collapse in North Africa Walter E . Kaegi Frontmatter More information viii Contents Rotation of military offi cers between North Africa and the east B y z a n t i n e r a i d s , f o r t i fi cations, and resistance Status of Byzantine defenses in southern Tunisia – A p p r e h e n s i o n s Th e shock of Sbeitla Th e setting and strategic structures – Th e battle: fi rst raids and contested memory at Sufetula (Sbeitla) Autochthonous participation: the Mauri Enduring geographic and strategic signifi cance of Sbeitla Rout and destruction: what we don’t know Insights from the Strategikon Hypotheses about the location of the battle Consequences: humiliating terms and shattering of the Byzantine myth Options for off ensives and resistance Lapse and restoration of Byzantine authority in North Africa – Puzzle of the PAX coinage Needed and wanted: help from Byzantium Byzantine interests Unrest among local and autochthonous North Africans S t r a t e g i c o p t i o n s – Th e riddle of Constans II C o n s t a n s I I i n h i s t o r i o g r a p h y Imitation of his grandfather Heraclius Economic, military, and religious impediments Challenges for gathering intelligence New wave of shocks: Gigthis, Jirba Possible motives for assassination of Constans II I n t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p o f e v e n t s Reevaluation of Constans II Constans II and controversies about Byzantine military institutional reforms M u s l i m i n t e r e s t s , c a l c u l a t i o n s , a n d l e a d e r s h i p S i g n i fi cance of Egypt and its failure to provide a model Formation of Early Islam and emerging persectives on the struggle with Byzantium Islamic strategic culture and strategic options M u ʿāwiya’s aggressive strategy Identifying the turning point: historiographical debate Assessing Muslim military leadership in North Africa: the campaigns of ʿUqba b.
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