THE STATUS OF THE MUSLIMS IN NORTH AFRICA.

The Muslims have firmly established themselves in North Africa by the mid of the 5th century. One of the Muslim commanders ‘Uqbah bn Nafi laid a military cantonment in Qayrawan in the year 665A.D from where he launched several attacks against the enemy. He lead his army to defeat both the Berbers and the Romans till he reached the Atlantic and found out that there is no more land to conquer. After his death in 683A.D, the Berbers defeated the Muslims and took back their lands.

The-then Umayyad caliph raised an army in 693A.D headed by Hasan bn Nu’man who recaptured Qayrawan and pushed back both the Greeks and Romans occupying it. The Berbers were also defeated and they sought peace by proposing to provide soldiers for the Muslim army whenever they are to engage in war.

After a couple of years, Musa bn Nusayr was appointed as the governor of the Umayyad province of Northwest Africa. He led series of military operation and reached as far as Tangiers in present day Morocco, also one of his greatest achievement which none of his predecessors was able to achieve was that he was able to capture both the lands and hearts of the Berbers, most of them accepted Islam through his efforts. At this point, a turning point came into sight which signifies the first presence of Islam in Europe.

The coastal city of Ceuta which was governed by Count Julian for the Byzantine Empire came into sight. The city has become almost vulnerable to the Muslim’s attack as the Muslims have reduced the Byzantine Empire to a point of no return. Sensing the impending danger, Julian demanded the hand of the king witiza’s daughter in marriage who was then the master of the Iberian Peninsula and a Gothic king in order to strengthen himself. King Witiza offered him men and money to protect Ceuta from the Muslim army after they took over Tangiers.

At the death of King witiza, as discussed in the previous episode, Roderick violently usurped the throne which made Count Julian to harbor secret hatred for him. As was the culture with the Gothic nobles, they usually have their children in the palace in order to guide their activities and make sure they don’t plan anything evil against the central government, so was the daughter of Count Julian also present in the palace.

One day, Roderick molested the daughter of count Julian and in some other report, he raped her which got him infuriated, he did not dare attack Roderick because of his military capability was able to stand Roderick nor was he willing to let the matter slip nor was he willing not to satisfy his grudge for Roderick.

What step do you think he will take???, find out in our next episode.