Abu Yazid

Abu Yazid (* 873, † 19 August 947) was the leader of the last great revolt of the Kharijites in Ifriqiya ( 943-947 ) against the Fatimids.

Abu Yazid ibn Machlad Kaidad (Arabic أبو يزيد مخلد بن كيداد, DMG Abū Yazīd Maḫlad b. Kaidād ) was born in Gao on the Niger River, where his father engaged in trade. He was a Zanata - Berber and grew up in the oasis region of Chott el Jerid, which at that time still bore the ancient name Qastiliya, near Tozeur, where he joined the teaching of Ibadis. After studies in the Rustamiden Capital Tahert he returned 908 back to Tozeur, where he soon became known, especially among the Hawwara Berbers, as an itinerant preacher against the Ismaili Fatimid. After imprisonment and liberation (hence " the man on the donkey ", Sahib al - Himar ), he moved with a donkey among the Berber tribes in the central Maghreb around and won, especially among the tribes of the Zanata as the Banu Ifran and Hawwara, his mother, a large following among the people. He called himself " Sheik of the Muslims / believers."

Abu Yazid opened 944 the rebellion against the Fatimids. These were defeated within a few months. Due to the drop in the fortified cities, the insurgents were able to quickly occupy all of Ifriqiya, conquer Kairouan and besiege the Caliph Abu al -Qasim al - Qaim in al - Mahdiya. However, this was able to maintain with the help of the fleet in his capital.

Kairouan became the residence of Abu Yazid for two years. At the same time was the establishment of contacts to the Umayyads of Córdoba. However, Abu Yazid was, by their own successes intoxicated, his ascetic life, with which he had won the leadership among the Kharijites. This led to the fall of the Arab forces and some tribes, so that the siege of al - Mahdiya had to be abandoned after eight months of heavy fighting in September 945. Due to the constant attacks by the insurgents against the cities of these again supported the Fatimids, who represented Abu Yazid as the Dajjal. Now Ismail al - Mansur was the Berbers under Abu Yazid in Kairouan critical hit (August 13, 946 ).

Abu Yazid withdrew with his followers in the last Hodna Mountains, where he a fierce defensive struggle with Ismail delivered himself until he was 947 wounded during a battle, and died in captivity on 19 August.