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"Hey, I put some new shoes on,
And suddenly everything is right,
I said, hey, I put some new shoes on and everybody's smiling
It's so inviting..."
Song - Paolo Nutini - New Shoes
I know it's not the most interesting subject but I had the studio to myself for a while so I thought I might aswell take a photo of something and here we are... looking at my smelly shoe, enjoy!
Taken with - Canon EOS 5D Mark II
EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Exposure 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture f/8.0
Focal Length 100 mm
ISO Speed 100
Studio - First Photographics in Kintore
Last year in Back To School promotion I made one cool make up sample from the best selling series of notebooks called Put Together series. You get to choose your cover, refills and accessories in various colors and combinations, to make your own perfect notebook. Accessories includes photo album, zipped pocket, name card holder, ruled notebooks, weekly/monthly notebooks etc. That very sample I put in Times Square was stolen.
Because of the APM new store opening, I made another one. Decorated with stamps, stickers, photos etc. It was in the store for only 1 day. This time it was not stolen, but a customer begged to buy from us that very sample loving the photos and stamps I made. Store manager called me and I came back to the store to meet this person. She was literally snatching photos from my hands and insisted buying the whole thing. In addition to all the materials I used to make that sample, I charged HK$50 extra. Man I regretted that, should've charged more.
We always know the importance of make up samples. It is important to show customer how the products can be used and inspire/motivate their purchase. But carefully made samples are being stolen all the time and it is discouraging. I wish people appreciate more because any make up sample is made not by a company but by a person, you got to treasure them and appreciate the person behind it.
Nevertheless, I've asked my colleague to write-off a few hundred dollar worth of products in the range to let me do another round of make up samples. I made a total of 5 for each of our stores carrying the Put Together series. They are carefully decorated with Cavallini stickers, stamps, personalized with painted leather cover, photos, clippings, air tickets, etc. I hope the store people and our customer will treasure them.
More on Scription blog: moleskine.vox.com/library/post/stolen-brought-and-treasur...
Nina puts up with so much when it comes to being photographed. #mamapaparazzi #catsofinstagram [via Instagram ift.tt/2b7URDb]
ADDA's FAVORITE PHOTOS of 2013!
THANK YOU to all the adults who let ADDA take their photos! (Everyone was properly asked & everyone consented.)
(These photos carry copyright protection. Do NOT post them elsewhere! )
NOTE: MY photos are NOT to be used or reproduced, COPIED, BLOGGED, USED in any way shape or form.
© All rights reserved. Use without permission is illegal
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NOTE: Viewers should be aware that these photos are viewed by a wide variety of folks and inappropriate X & R rated or RUDE & STUPID comments shall be removed forthwith, and you will be BLOCKED!
Do NOT put NOTES on my photos for they ruin the viewing pleasure of others.
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go ahead, check out ADDA DADA's other FOLSOM STREET FAIR sets !
The shunter is getting plenty of steps in as 66190 goes backwards and forwards at Belmont Yard putting together an engineering train for later use .
My wife put up a bird feeder on our kitchen window a couple of weeks ago. The shape of the feeder allow smaller birds access to the food, it has taken them a little while to find the feeder. Here, a couple of Sparrows squabble over the seeds, with the new arrival being pushed off the feeder backwards immediately after landing.
© 2015 Paul Chan - Canada. Photos are copyrighted. All rights reserved. Pictures can not be used without explicit permission by the creator.
Put a smile on your face this weekend by petting a dog. They lower blood pressure, too. Have a safe weekend, people..
... of the man
Who stilled the water
Put your hand in the hand of the man
Who calmed the sea
Take a look at yourself
And you can look at others differently
By putting your hand in the hand of the man
From Galilee, oh yeah
My momma taught me how to pray
Before I reached the age of seven
When I'm down on my knees
That's when I'm closest to heaven
Daddy lived his life by two kids and a wife
Well, you do what you must do
But he showed me enough of what it takes
To get me through, oh yeah
Put your hand in the hand of the man
Who stilled the water
Put your hand in the hand of the man
Who calmed the sea
Take a look at yourself
You can look at others differently
Putting your hand in the hand of the man
From Galilee, oh yeah
Put your hand in the hand of the man
Who stilled the water
Put your hand in the hand of the man
Who calmed the sea
Take a look at yourself
And you can look at others differently
By putting your hand in the hand of the man
From Galilee, oh yeah
Put your hand in the hand of the man
Who stilled the water
Put your hand in the hand of the man
Who calmed the sea
Take a look at yourself
And you can look at others differently
By putting your hand in the hand of the man
From Galilee, oh yeah
Put your hand in the hand of the man
From Galilee, oh yeah
Put your hand in the hand of the man
From Galilee, oh yeah
Lyrics: Put Your Hand in the Hand,
Elvis Presley [end]
You put your left foot in,
You put your left foot out,
You put your left foot in,
You get the idea.
© Steve Byland 2010 all rights reserved
Unauthorized use or reproduction for any reason is prohibited.
Please do not blog this without contacting me first.
With darkness approaching, Monson Locomotive #3 has WW&F Caboose #320 on her front coupler and is taking it back to the shop building for indoor storage. Caboose 320 was constructed by the WW&F Museum right here in Alna, ME. While it is technically a "new build" piece, the museum considers it an original as opposed to a replica, because the original railroad had plans for this car.....they just never got around to actually building it. The museum crew finished the job, some 55 years after the original railroad closed down.
Why did the bald man put two rabbits on his head?
Because from a distance they look like hares!
Back in the summer of 1982 Archie here conceived and copyrighted the above joke. You’ve got to admit it’s got a certain something. Anyway, despite the fact that earnings have been decreasing in recent years, due mainly to the influx of cheap memes, he’s still got enough to get by. Just about. In order to finally retire in Marbella he’s going to need a new joke. One that’ll see him through his retirement comfortably. He’s going to have to put on his thinking hat…
Archie was conceived and created as a little thank you note in an attempt to be more engaging with our clientele. I wish him well in his new home…
Cheers
id-iom
A three-unit set of Irish Rail 23000 series Diesel Multiple Unit cars were awaiting their next assignment in Cork.
I was driving to Otterden, using John Vigar's book as a guide to the East Kent churches I had missed.
I was using the Sat Nav, at least to get me to the village, so I could concentrate on the roads and sights as I went along, just on the offchance I passed another church unexpectedly.
And so I came to Eastling, and across a walled field, I saw the church, so, finding there was a large car park, I pulled up.
To get into the church yeard, one could either climb over a wooden stile, one built into the wall, or through the gate a few metres further along. I chose the gate.
Through the churchyard, and under the shadow of a huge yew tree to find the porch door, and church door beyond both unlocked.
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A huge church entered across a meadow along a path which passes a huge Yew tree. The porch is high Victorian with the jazziest floor in Kent, no doubt the work of Richard Hussey who restored the church in the mid nineteenth century. This leads to a church with origins in the 12th century but owing more to the 13th and even more to the 19th century! The arcades are built in a much replaced Early English style but work well. In the centre alley is the lovely ledger slab of a man who put it there a few years before his death and inscribed lest someone else steal his pole position! In the south transept is a pretty monument showing kneeling children and a most colourful shield of arms displaying sea creatures. The chancel contains some rare blank arcading in the north wall which may have formed sedilia elsewhere or which may be part of a monument. Its arches are held up by four strong men with bulging shoulders. What a surprise it is! Next to it is one of the finest 14th century tomb recesses in the county, though the faces at either end are Victorian fantasies. This is a much-loved and rewarding Downland church, which is open daily.
www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Eastling
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It is widely accepted that there has been a place of worship on the site of the Parish Church of St Mary's at Eastling since Anglo-Saxon times.
The oldest surviving parts of the present building are the base of the south-west Tower, the Nave and the western part of the Chancel. All are thought to have been built by the 11th century, possibly on the foundations of an earlier church. The remainder of the Tower and the central part of the Chancel are Norman.
The North and South Aisles and the Arcades between the Aisles and the Nave were built in the 13th century. In the 14th century, the Chancel was extended eastwards to create a Sanctuary. Also in that century, the St Katherine Chapel and an Arcade was added to the south-east corner of the building.
In 1855-56, the Nave, North Aisle and the South Arcade were substantially rebuilt, the West Porch added and the Nave re-roofed.
The Nave - or central area of the church - dates from the 12th century and is notable for its unusually narrow original walls (later, the Arcade walls). Fractionally over 2ft thick, they are considered to be attributable to Saxon workmanship which favoured relatively "thin" solid walls against the Norman style of "thicker" walls comprising two leaves with a filled cavity.
The western end of the Nave is thought to be a late 12th-century extension.
The South Aisle was constructed in the early part of the 13th century and substantially rebuilt by Victorian architect R. C. Hussey in 1855. Some original 13th-century material was re-used, and the eastern respond located against the Chancel remains substantially untouched.
The North Aisle was also created in the 13th century and completely rebuilt by Hussey as part of his major "modernisation" of the building. The South Aisle incorporates a 14th-century window.
The Victorians' enthusiasm for remodelling churches also extended to the Nave which was rebuilt by Hussey in 1855-56. He also added the West Porch, constructed a Vestry and re-built the Chancel arch. It's worth comparing the ceilings of the South Aisle which is said to have escaped Hussey's attentions and that of the Nave where he left only the tie beams and principal trusses visible.
The box pews, pulpit, lectern, rector's stall and choir stalls all date from the Victorian era. The wooden wall benches pre-date the pews.
The alignment of the Tower and Chancel is considered attributable to Saxon, rather than Norman, workmanship. If you stand in front of the east window and look back to the west door you will see that the Nave and Chancel are out of alignment, and this suggests that the Chancel pre-dates the Nave.
Examples of Norman workmanship to be seen in St Mary today are:
• the upper part of the Tower;
• perhaps the belfry stage with its pairs of round-headed openings;
• the re-styling of the western part of the Chancel; and
• the west end of the Nave (possibly a late 12th century extension).
Early in the 13th century, the Chancel was re-styled and given Early English lancet windows.
A further period of rebuilding-took place during the 14th century. The Chancel was extended eastwards by a further 22ft, so creating the Sanctuary.
The stained glass in the Chancel windows are memorials to the Birch Reynardson family. The east window contains picture panels, the work of famous church glass artist Thomas Willement of Davington.
On the north wall of the Sanctuary at Eastling Church is a double Aumbry.
Built as a cupboard in the wall - usually with a wooden door - this would have been used to house the Church Plate.
A piscina is, in effect, a medieval stone bowl near the altar where a priest carried out ceremonial cleaning tasks.
The piscina in Eastling Church dates from the late 13th century and takes the form of a stone cill incorporating twin bowls - one for hand washing, the other for cleaning the chalice and other sacred vessels.
It was originally located in the Chancel. When this part of the building was extended during the 14th century, the piscina was moved to its present position on the south wall of the Sanctuary.
The sedilia at Eastling Church comprise three recessed stone seats with trefoiled canopies. By convention, sedilia were placed south of the altar and used by the priest, deacon and sub-deacon.
Created late in the 13th century, Eastling's sedilia were moved, during the 14th century, from the Chancel to their present position in the (then) new Sanctuary.
The Stone Stalls, on the north side of the Chancel, would have once served as choir stalls. These recessed seats have unusual carved stone canopies in the form of four trefoiled arches carried on caryatids (columns sculpted as female figures).
In his "Notes on the Church", Eastling Church historian Richard Hugh Perks says that a 19th century ecclesiologist, Francis Grayling, theorised that they were mural recesses. Mr Perks considers the church might once have been decorated extensively with murals - born out by the traces of wall paintings found in the 1960s when the Chancel was re-decorated. However, the paintings were in such very poor condition that they were covered over. Mr Perks also draws attention to the fragment of the former Chancel east wall which can be seen at the east end of the Stone Stalls.
The St Katherine Chapel was built around 1350. As part of the scheme, an arcade was formed on the south side of the Chancel. The fluted (concave-sided) pillars are an unusual design, also found in Faversham Parish Church and at Eastchurch, Sheppey. It is thought that the workmanship might be by masons from either Leeds Priory or Faversham Abbey.
The Chapel houses a 19th century organ, the Martin James monument and a fine oak chest with an inscription of "1664 H" carved inside. The "H" is the mark of a Michael Shilling, who was churchwarden at the time.
There is evidence that Eastling Church once had a Rood Screen, possibly extending across both the Chapel and the Chancel. On this would have stood a Cross with a carving representing a crucified Jesus. The Reformation saw the destruction of the Rood and no trace remains, apart from the base of a stairs turret at the south-east corner of the South Aisle.
The West Porch was built in 1855, by Victorian architect R.C. Hussey as part of his major alterations to the church.
However, the fine Norman west doorcase is much older, possibly dating from 1180. It is carved from chalk blocks; some of the internal wall faces are also chalk, a common feature of many Downland churches. It was partly restored by the Victorians.
The churchyard owes much to a generous bequest for its maintenance by Dorothy Long (d. 1968). It used to be part of the 'Gods Acre Project' setup by the Vicar of Eastling Parish Caroline Pinchbeck (who departed the parish in 2012) but from 2013 has been returned to previous landscaping regimes.
When the churchyard was being managed with wildlife in mind, it preserved the diversity of nature alongside well kempt areas. This means parts of the old graveyard were left to grow from springtime onwards and were cut in September. Many species of wild flowers grew in a spring meadow and were followed by grasses. This encouraged wildlife into the graveyard, owls, field mice, voles, multiple species of insects and birds. The uncut areas were managed, which means to say they were not left to grow out of control. Brambles, the majority of stinging nettles and other unwanted plants were removed by hand and the graves were always tended so that the vegetation did not disturb them.
Areas of the churchyard that were mown were done so with a petrol mower but the grass was not collected, It was left on the ground as a mulch. No pesticides were used, they damaged the graves, leaving contaminated black rings around them and killed any wild flowers or grass in the affected areas. The emphasis of the gods acre project management process, started in 2008, was balance. By maintaining the churchyard in this way it was both cost effective and beneficial to local wildlife and preservation. (N. Perkins/ Grounds man Eastling Church 2007-2012)
The original graveyard has a modern extension with spaces still available for burials and close to the entry gate is an area dedicated to the burial of ashes.
Several graves date from the 17th and 18th centuries and include memorial stones to Mary Tanner who was born in the year of the Battle of Naseby; to Christopher Giles born in 1674 and his wife Susannah born in 1691; and to Thomas Lake of Eastling Gent died February the 19th 1717.
Close to the West Porch is a 13th century stone coffin slab, in the form of a cross with a sword, a style sometimes referred to as a "Crusader Tomb".(original text) This is infact incorrect, an archaeologist has confirmed that the stone is a medieval headstone most likely from the back of the church which was once standing that has been moved and placed by the entrance for asthetic qualities. There is another stone to the left of the entrance from a sarcophagus which again has been moved and placed by the entrance.
There is a Yew Tree by the West Door and It is said to be an ancient which would put it's minimum age at 2000 years, predating the church. However dating methods for Yew Trees are inconclusive.. It is hard to reliably scientifically date a Yew Tree due to several factors.. Information on the dating process can be found here. (source: ancient-yew.org) Also Yew trees can grow fast and ages can be exaggerated, a large Yew is most likely the age of the Church but unlikely to be older than it's Anglo-Saxon predecessor. There is no firm evidence to link Yew trees to pagan religions or the theory that Church's were built on Pagan Ritual Sites. (source: Illustrated History of the Countryside, Oliver Rackham)
The circle of yews which continue around the church have been said to have sprouted from the ancient Yew Tree, however archeologists and Yew Tree Specialists have put forward that actually the Yew Trees have been landscaped to look like that. In the past Yew Trees were planted to ward of witches and evil spirits. It is clear if you measure out the trees and use dimensions for aging that the trees have been landscaped.
Work carried out on the tower in 2010 to install a compostable toilet has radically changed the dimensions and structure of the lower and middle of the tower.
The base of the south-west Tower is said to date from the early 11th century, possibly earlier. Much of the remainder of the Tower is Norman.
The Tower - five feet thick at its base - is of flint and chippings, with ragstone quoins, and is heavily buttressed. The external brick buttress to the tower is 18th century. Brick was also used in rebuilding sections of the north-west angle of the Tower, the belfry openings and the Tower doorcase. Today's slated spire would once have been clad with wooden shingles.
The door to the Tower is set in a large arch with "Articles" of the Ringing Chamber, on wooden boards above it.
Eastling has six bells, four of them made by Richard Phelps during the time he occupied the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. Click here for more info. Unfortunately, the present condition of the timber bell frame with its elm headstocks (constructed around 1700) and the upper part of the Tower do not allow the bells to be rung safely.
www.eastlingvillage.co.uk/st-mary-s-church.html
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THE next parish south-eastward from Newnham, is Easling, written in old deeds likewise Esling, and Iseling.
It is situated among the hills, on very high ground, about five miles southward from Faversham, and a little more than a mile south-eastward from Newnham valley, in a healthy but cold and forlorn country, being much exposed to the north-east aspect. The village, with the church and parsonage in it, a near pretty dwelling, stands on the road leading from Otterden to Newnham valley; in it there is a large well-timbered house, called Gregories, formerly of some account, and rebuilt in 1616, it formerly belonged to Hoskins, and then to Parmeter, in which name it still continues.—Though there is some level land in the parish, yet it is mostly steep hill and dale, the soil in gen ral a red cludgy earth, poor, and much covered with flints. It is very woody, especially in the eastern parts of it.
A fair is held in the village on Sept. 14, yearly, for toys and pedlary ware. On Nov. 30, being St. Andrew's, there is yearly a diversion called squirrel bunting, in this and the neighbouring parishes, when the labourers and lower kind of people assembling together, form a lawless rabble, and being accoutred with guns, poles, clubs, and other such weapons, spend the greatest part of the day in parading through the woods and grounds, with loud shoutings, and under the pretence of demolishing the squirrels, some few of which they kill, they destroy numbers of hares, pheasants, partridges, and in short whatever comes in their way, breaking down the hedges, and doing much other mischief, and in the evening betaking themselves to the alehouses, finish their career there in drunkenness, as is usual with such sort of gentry.
THIS PLACE, at the time of the taking of the general survey of Domesday, was part of the extensive possessions of Odo, bishop of Baieux, under the general title of whose lands it is thus entered in that record:
Herbert held of the bishop of Baieux Nordeslinge. The arable land is one carucate. It was taxed at half a suling. There two borderers pay two shillings. In the time of king Edward the Confessor, and afterwards, it was worth twenty shillings, now twenty-five shillings. Turgod held it in the time of king Edward the Confessor.
These two manors, (one of which was Throwley, described immediately before in this record) Herbert, the son of Ivo, Held of the bishop of Baieux.
And a little below,
Roger, son of Ansebitil, held of the bishop, Eslinges. It was taxed at one suling. The arable land is one carucate. There is in demesne . . . . and one borderer has half a carucate. There is a church, and one mill of ten shillings, and two acres of meadow. In the time of king Edward the Confessor it was worth sixty shillings, and afterwards twenty shillings, now forty shillings. Unlot held it of king Edward, and could go where he pleased with his land.
Fulbert held of the bishop, Eslinges. It was taxed at five suling, in the time of king Edward the Confessor, and now for two, and so it did after the bishop gave the manor to Hugh son of Fulbert. The arable land is six carucates. In demesne there are two carucates, and thirty villeins having three carucates. There is a church, and twenty-eight servants, and one mill of ten shilings. Wood for the pannage of thirty bogs In the time of king Edward the Confessor it was worth ten pounds, and when he received it six pounds, now four pounds, and yet the bishop had eight pounds. Sired held it of king Edward.
The three estates described before, included North Easting and its appendages, Huntingfield and Diven manors, with others estates in this parish, then esteemed as part of them.
On the bishop's disgrace four years afterwards, all his possessions were confiscated to the crown.
Fulbert de Dover, mentioned above as tenant to the bishop of Baieux for one of these estates, appears afterwards to have held all three of them of the king in capite by barony, the tenant of them being bound by tenure to maintain a certain number of soldiers from time to time, for the defence of Dover castle, in which there was a tower called Turris dei inimica, which he was bound by his tenure likewise to repair.
Of him and his heirs these estates were held by knight's service, of the honor of Chilham, which they had made the caput baroniæ, or chief of their barony. (fn. 1) That part of the above-mentioned estates, called in Domesday Nordeslinge, was afterwards known by the name of THE MANOR OF EASLING, alias NORTHCOURT, which latter name it had from its situation in respect to the others, being held of the lords paramount by a family of the name of Esling, one of whom, Ralph de Esling, died possessed of it in the 26th year of king Edward I. anno 1297, then holding it by knight's service of the honor of Chilham. He left an only daughter and heir Alice, who carried this manor, with that of Denton, alias Plumford, in marriage to Sir Fulk de Peyforer, who, with Sir William de Peyforer, of Otterden, accompanied king Edward. I. in his 28th year, at the siege of Carlaverock, where, with many other Kentish gentlemen, they were both knighted. They bore for their arms, Argent, six fleurs de lis, azure.
Sir Fulk de Peyforer, in the 32d year of the above reign, obtained a grant of a market weekly on a Friday, and one fair yearly on the feast of the exaltation of the Holy Cross at Esling, and free-warren for his lands there. Before the end of which reign, the property of these manors was transferred into the family of Leyborne, and it appears by an inquisition taken in the 1st year of Edward III. that Juliana, the widow of William de Leyborne, who died anno 2 Edward II. was possessed of these estates at her death, and that their grand-daughter Juliana, was heir both to her grandfather and father's possessions, from the greatness of which she was usually stiled the Infanta of Kent.
She was then the wife of John de Hastings, as she was afterwards of Sir William de Clinton, created earl of Huntingdon, who paid aid for the manor of Northcourt, alias Easling. She survived him, and afterwards died possessed of this estate in Easling, together with Denton, alias Plymford, in the 41st year of king Edward III. and leaving no issue by either of her husbands, these manors, among the rest of her estates, escheated to the crown, for it appears by the inquisition taken that year, after her death, that there was no one who could make claim to her estates, either by direct or even by collateral alliance.
These manors remained in the crown till the beginning of king Richard the IId.'s reign, when they became vested in John, duke of Lancaster, and other seoffees, in trust for the performance of certain religious bequests in the will of Edward III. in consequence of which, the king Afterwards, in his 22d year, granted them, among other premises, to the dean and canons of St. Stephen's college, in Westminster, for ever. (fn. 2) In which situation they continued till the 1st year of king Edward VI. when, by the act passed that year, they were surrendered into the king's hands.
After which the king, by his letters patent, in his 3d year, granted these manors, among others lately belonging to the above-mentioned college, to Sir Thomas Cheney, privy counsellor and treasurer of his houshold, with all and singular their liberties and privileges whatsoever, in as ample a manner as the dean and canons held them, to hold in capite by knight's service. (fn. 3) whose son Henry, lord Cheney, of Tuddington, had possession granted to him of his inheritance anno 3 Elizabeth, and that year levied a fine of all his lands.
He passed these manors away by sale, in the 8th year of that reign, to Martin James, esq. prothonotary of the court of chancery, and afterwards a justice of the peace for this county, who levied a fine of them anno 17 Elizabeth, and died possessed of them in 1592, being buried in the south chancel of this church, under a monument, on which are the effigies of himself and his wife. He bore for his arms, Quarterly, first and fourth, vert, a dolphin naiant; second and third, Ermine, on a chief gules, three crosses, or. His great-grandson Walter James, esq. was possessed of them at the time of the restoration of king Charles II. whose heirs sold them in the latter end of that reign, to Mr. John Grove, gent. of Tunstall, who died possessed of them in 1678, after which they descended down to Richard Grove, esq. of Cambridge, but afterwards of the Temple, in London, who died unmarried in 1792, and by his will devised them to Mr. William Jemmet, of Ashford, and Mr. William Marshall, of London, who continue at this time the joint possessors of them.
THE MANOR OF HUNTINGFIELD, situated in the eastern part of this parish, was, at the time of the takeing of the general survey of Domesday, part of the possessions of Odo, bishop of Baieux, as has been already taken notice of before, and on his disgrace came, with the rest of his estates, to the crown, about the year 1084.
After which, Fulbert de Dover appears to have held it, with others in this parish, of the king in capite by barony, by the tenure of ward to Dover castle for the defence of it. Of him and his heirs it was held by knight's service, of the honor of Chilham, the head or chief of their barony.
Simon de Chelsfield held it of them, as lords paramount, in the reign of Henry III. but at the latter end of that reign, this manor was come into the possession of that branch of the eminent family of Huntingfield settled in this county, descended from those of Suffolk, in which county and in Norfolk they had large possessions. Hence this manor assumed the name of Huntingfield-court, and it appears by the roll of knights fees, taken at the beginning of the reign of Edward I. that Peter de Huntingfield then held it. He resided at times both here and at West Wickham, of which manor he was likewise possessed, though it seems when he was sheriff in the 11th, 12th, and 13th years of that reign, he kept his shrievalty at Huntingfield-court. In the 9th year of it he obtained a charter of free-warren for his lands at Eslynge and Stalesfeld, and in the 28th year of it attended the king at the siege of Carlaverock, in Scotland, for which service he, with others, received the honor of knighthood. He died in the 7th year of Edward II. anno 1313, leaving by the lady Imayne his wise, who was buried in the church of the Grey Friars, London, Sir Walter de Huntingfield his son and heir, who having obtained several liberties for his manor of Wickham, and liberty to impark his grounds there, (fn. 4) seems to have deserted this place, which in the next reign of Edward III. was sold either by him or by his son, Sir John de Huntingfield, to one of the family of Sawfamere, and in the 20th year of that reign, the lady Sawfamere, Dna' de Sawsamero, as she is written in the book of aid, paid respective aid for it.
But before the end of that reign, it had passed into the name of Halden, for it appears by the escheat-rolls that William de Halden died in the 50th year of it, possessed of Easling manor, called Huntingfield, held of the castle of Chilham; soon after which it became the property of Sir Simon de Burleigh, who being attainted in the 12th year of Richard II. this manor, among the rest of his possessions, came to the crown. After which, anno 2 Henry IV. John, son and heir of Sir John de Burley, cousin and heir of Sir Simon de Burley, was, upon his petition, restored in blood, and the judgment against Sir Simon was revoked, and three years afterwards the king, with the assent of the lords, wholly restored him to all his hereditaments, except as to those excepted by him. (fn. 5) How long this manor remained in this name I have not found, but in the reign of Henry VI. it was in the possession of Sir James Fienes, who anno 25 of that reign, by reason of his mother's descent, was created Lord Say and Sele, and was afterwards made lord treasurer, but becoming unpopular, from his being so great a favorite, he was seized on in the insurrection raised by Jack Cade, and beheaded in the 29th year of that reign. He was at his death possessed of this manor, which by his will be devised to his son Sir William Fienes, who became likewise lord Say and Sele, but the unhappy contention which then subsisted between the houses of York and Lancaster, in which he risked not only his person, but his whole fortune, brought him soon afterwards into great distresses, and necessitated him to mortgage and sell the greatest part of his lands. How this manor was disposed of I have not found, but within a very few years afterwards it appears to have been in the hands of the crown, for king Richard III. in his first year, granted to John Water, alias Yorke Heraulde, an annuity out of the revenues of his lordship of Huntingfield, and afterwards by his writ, in the same year, on the resignation of John, garter, principal king at arms, and Thomas, clarencieux, king at arms, he committed to Richard Champeney, alias called Gloucestre, king of arms, the custody of this manor.
But the see of it seems to have remained in the crown till king Henry VIII. in his 35th year, granted it to John Guldford and Alured Randall, esqrs. to hold in capite by knight's service. John Guildford was the next year become the sole proprietor of it, and then alienated it to Sir Thomas Moyle; he sold it, in the 7th year of Edward VI. to John Wild, esq. of St. Martin's hill, Canterbury, with its members and appurtenances in Esling, Sheldwich, Whitstaple, Reculver, and Ulcombe. However, it appears that he was not possessed of the entire see of it at his death in 1554, for he by his will devised his two thirds of this manor, (besides the third part due to the queen, after his wife's death) to his son Thomas Wild, then an infant, whose son John Wild, esq. of St. Martin's hill, alienated his share, or two thirds of it, which included the courts, sines, amerciaments, and other privileges belonging to it, to Martin James, esq. prothonotary of the court of chancery, owner of the manor of North-court, alias Easling, as above-mentioned, whose great-grandson, Walter James, esq. possessed it at the restoration of Charles II. at the latter end of which reign his heirs sold it to Mr. John Grove, gent. of Tunstall, who died possessed of it in 1678, and his great-grandson Richard Grove, esq. of London, proprietor likewise of North-court above-described, died in 1792, having by his will devised these manors (which having been for many years united in the same owners, are now consolidated, one court being held for both, the stile of which is, the manor of Easling, alias North court, with that of Huntingfield annexed, in Easling, Ulcomb, and Sheldwich) among the rest of his estates, to Wm. Jemmet, gent. of Ashford, and William Marshall, of London, and they continue at this time the joint possessors of these manors.
BUT THE REMAINING THIRD PART of the manor of Hunting field, in the hands of the crown in the reign of Philip and Mary, as before-mentioned, in which was included the mansion of Huntingfield court, with the demesne lands adjoining to it, continued there till it was granted, in the beginning of the next reign of queen Elizabeth, to Mr. Robert Greenstreet, who died possessed of it in the 14th year of that reign, holding it in capite by knight's service. His descendant Mr. Mathew Greenstreet, of Preston, leaving an only daughter Anne, she carried this estate in marriage to Mr. Richard Tassell, of Linsted, and he alienated it in 1733 to Edward Hasted, esq. barrister-at law, of Hawley, near Dartford, whose father Mr. Joseph Hasted, gent. of Chatham, was before possessed of a small part of the adjoining demesne lands of Huntingfield manor, which had been in queen Elizabeth's reign become the property of Mr. Josias Clynch.
The family of Hasted, or as they were antiently written, both Halsted and Hausted, was of eminent note in very early times, as well from the offices they bore, as their several possessions in different counties, and bore for their arms, Gules, a chief chequy, or, and azure. William Hausted was keeper of the king's exchange, in London, in the 5th year of Edward II. from whom these of Kent hold themselves to be descended, one of whom, John Hausted, clerk, or as his descendants wrote themselves, Hasted, born in Hampshire, is recorded to have been chaplain to queen Elizabeth, and a person much in favor with her, whom he so far displeased by entering into the state of marriage, which he did with a daughter of George Clifford, esq. of Bobbing, and sister of Sir Coniers Clifford, governor of Connaught, in Ireland, that he retired to the Isle of Wight, where he was beneficed, and dying there about the year 1596, was buried in the church of Newport. His great grandson Joseph Hasted, gent. was of Chatham, and dying in 1732, was buried in Newington church, as was his only son Edward, who was of Hawley, esq. the purchaser of Huntingfield court as before-mentioned. He died in 1740, leaving by his wife Anne, who was descended from the antient and respectable family of the Dingleys, of Wolverton, in the isle of Wight, one son, Edward Hasted, esq. late of Canterbury, who has several children, of whom the eldest, the Rev. Edward Hasted, late of Oriel college, in Oxford, is now vicar of Hollingborne. He bears for his arms the antient coat of the family of Halsted, or Hausted, as mentioned before, with the addition in the field, of an eagle displayed,ermine,beaked and legged, or, with which he quarters those of Dingley, Argent, a fess azure, in chief, two mullets of the second between two burts, which colours Charles, the third son of Sir John Dingley, of Wolverton, in James the 1st.'s reign, changed from those borne by his ancestors and elder brothers, i.e. from sable to azure.
Edward Hasted, esq. of Canterbury, above-mentioned, succeeded his father in this estate, which he, at length, in 1787, alienated to John Montresor, esq. of Throwley, who continues the possessor of it.
The foundations of slint and stone, which have continually been dug up near this house, shew it to have been formerly much larger that it is at present. There was once a chapel and a mill belonging to it, the fields where they stood being still known by the name of chapel-field and mill-field, which answers the description of this estate given in Domesday.
DIVEN is A MANOR, situated almost adjoining to the church of Easting, which is so corruptly called for Dive-court, its more antient and proper name. This estate was likewise one of those described before in Domesday, as being part of the possessions of the bishop of Baieux, on whose disgrace it was, among, the rest of his estates, forfeited to the crown; after which, Fulbert de Dover appears to have held it, with others in this parish therein-mentioned, of the king in capite by barony, by the tenure of ward to Dover cattle, and of him and his heirs it was held, as half a knight's fee, of the honor of Chilham, the caput barouiæ, or head of their barony.
In the reign of Henry III. John Dive held this estate as before-mentioned, of that honor; and his descendant Andrew Dive, in the 20th year of king Edward III. paid aid for it as half a knight's fee, held of the above barony, when it paid ward annually to Dover castle. In this name the manor of Diven continued till the beginning of the next reign of king Richard II. when it was alienated to Sharp, of Ninplace, in Great Chart, in which it remained till the latter end of Henry VII. when it was conveyed to Thurston, of Challock, from which, some year after, it was passed by sale to John Wild, esq. who, before the reign of queen Elizabeth, sold it to Gates, and he alienated it to Norden, who conveyed it to Bunce, where it remained after the death of king Charles I. in 1648; soon after which this manor was sold to John Adye, esq of Down court, in Doddington, who died possessed of it in 1660, and his two sons, Edward and Nicholas, seem afterwards to have possessed it in undivided moieties.
Edward Adye, esq. was of Barham, and left seven daughters his coheirs, of whom Susanna, married to Ruishe Wentworth, esq. son and heir of Sir George Wentworth, a younger brother to Thomas, the noted but unfortunate earl of Strafford, entitled her husband to the possession of her father's moiety of this manor, with other lands in Doddington, upon the division of his estates among them. He left an only daughter and heir Mary, who married Thomas, lord Howard, of Essingham, who died possessed of this moiety of Diven-court in 1725, and leaving no male issue, he was succeeded in this estate by Francis his brother and heir, who was in 1731 created Earl of Essingham, and died in 1743. His son Thomas, earl of Effingham, afterwards alienated this moiety of Divencourt to Oliver Edwards, esq. of the six clerks office, as will be further mentioned hereafter.
The other moiety of this manor, which, on the death of his father, came into the possession of Nicholas Adye, esq. of Down-Court, in Doddington, was devised by him to his eldest son John Adye, esq. of Down court, who anno 23 Charles II. suffered a recovery of it. (fn. 6)
He left an only daughter and heir Mary, married to Henry Cullum, sergeant-at-law; but before that event, this estate seems to have been passed away by him to Thomas Diggs, esq. of Chilham castle, Whose descendant of the same name, in 1723, conveyed it, with Chilham-castle, and the rest of his estates in this county, to Mr. James Colebrook, citizen and mercer of London, who died possessed of this moiety of Diven-court in the year 1752, after which it passed in like manner with them, till it was at length sold by his descendants, under the same act of parliament, in the year 1775, to Thomas Heron, esq. of Newark upon Trent, afterwards of Chilham-castle, who about the year 1776, joined with Oliver Edwards, esq. the proprietor of the other moiety, as has been mentioned beforce, to Mr. Charles Chapman, of Faversham, who then became possessed of the whole of it, which, at his death in 1782, he devised by his will to his nephews and nieces, of the name of Leeze, two of whom are now entitled to the fee of it.
THE MANOR OF ARNOLDS, which is situated about a mile eastward from the church of Easling, was likewise part of the estates of the bishop of Baieux, mentioned before, and on his disgrace came with the rest of them, to the crown, of which it was held afterwards in capite by barony, by Fulbert de Dover, by the tenure of ward to Dover castle, and of him and his heirs it was again held, as half a knight's fee, as of the honor of Chilham, the head of their barony.
Of them it was held by Arnold de Bononia, whence it acquired the name of Arnolds, alias Esling. His son John Fitzarnold afterwards possessed it in the reign of Edward III. after which Peter de Huntingfield was owner of it, but in the 20th year of Edward III. the lady Champaine, or Champion, and the earl of Oxford paid aid for it, as half a knight's fee, held of the barony above-mentioned. How it passed afterwards I have not seen, but in the next reign of Richard II. it was become part of the endowment of the dean and canons of the collegiate free chapel of St. Stephen's, Westminster, with whom it remained till the suppression of it in the 1st year of Edward VI. when it came into the hands of the crown; after which it became the property of Gates, and after that of Terry, in which it continued several years, and by that acquired the name of Arnolds, alias Terrys, from which name it was sold, in the reign of queen Anne, one part to the Rev. William Wickens, rector of this parish, who bore for his arms, Party, per pale, or, and sable, a chevron coupee, between three trefoils, all counter changed, whose son Mr. William Wickens, succeeded to it on his death in 1718. He died without male issue, and by his will devised it to his two daughters, one of whom marrying Elvy, he bought the other sister's share in it, and his widow surviving him now possesses both of them; another part was sold to Chapman, and a third to Avery. Since which it has become more inconsiderable, by the two parts last-mentioned having been again parcelled out, so that now it is sunk into that obscurity, as hardly to be worthy of notice, but the manerial rights of the manor are claimed by John Wynne and Lydia his wife.
Charities.
EDWARD GRESWOLD, by his will in 1677, gave 20l. for the benefit of the poor not receiving alms, to be laid out in land or otherwise, by his executors, who in 1680 purchased a piece of land, called Pinkes-cross, in Easling, containing two acres, in trust, for this purpose, the rent of it is now 154. per annum, vested in the minister and parish officers.
The poor constantly relieved are about twelve, casually twenty-five.
EASLING is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION of the diocese of Canterbury, and deanry of Ospringe.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Mary, consists of three isles and a south chancel, called St. Katherine's. The steeple, which is a low pointed one, stands at the west end; there are six bells in it.
Alicia de Esling, wife of Robert de Eschequer, and lady of the manor of Esling, with the consent of archbishop Theobald, in the reign of king Stephen, granted the church of Elinges, situated on her estate, to the priory of Ledes, in perpetual alms, together with the temporalities, or appropriation of it, to be possessed by them for ever after the death of Gervas then incumbent of it. Which gift was confirmed by archbishop Hubert, in the reign of Richard I.
Notwithstanding which, there was no vicarage endowed here, nor did the canons of Ledes ever enjoy the parsonage of it; but archbishop Stephen Langton, who succeeded archbishop Hubert, with the consent and approbation of William de Eslinges, patron of this church, granted to the canons of Ledes twenty shillings yearly, to be received from it in the name of a benefice; and he ordained, that beyond that sum, they should not claim any thing further from it, but that whenever it should become vacant, the said William de Esling should present to it. But it should seem that after this, they had not given up all pretensions to it, for they obtained, seventy years after this, viz. in 1278, of the prior, and the convent of Christchurch, Canterbury, a confirmation of the archbishops Theobald and Hubert's charters to them, in which this church is particularly mentioned. (fn. 7) How long it continued in the hands of the family of Esling I do not find, or in those of private patronage; but before the 22d year of Edward III. it was become part of the possessions of the college founded by Sir John Poultney, in the church of St. Laurence, Canon-street, London, with which it remained till the suppression of the college, in the reign of Edward VI. when it came, with the rest of the possessions of it, into the hands of the crown.
After which it seems to have been granted to Sir Thomas Moyle, of Eastwell, whose sole daughter and heir Catherine married Sir Thomas Finch, of that place, and afterwards Nicholas St. Leger, esq. who in her right presented to this rectory in 1574; after which Sir Moyle Finch, knight and baronet, the eldest son of Sir Thomas and lady Catherine, succeeded to it, in whose descendants, earl of Winchelsea and Nottingham, this advowson continued down to Daniel, earl of Winchelsea and Nottingham, who died possessed of it in 1769, without male issue, leaving his four daughters his coheirs. He was succeeded in titles by his nephew George Finch, esq. only son of his next brother William; but this advowson, with Eastwell, and the rest of his Kentish estates, he gave by his will to his nephew George Finch Hatton, esq. only son of his third brother the hon. Edward Finch Hatton, (fn. 8) who is the present owner of it.
The pension of twenty shillings payable from this church to the priory of Ledes, at its suppression in the reign of Henry VIII. came into the hands of the crown; after which it was settled, among other premises, by the King, in his 33d year, on his newerected dean and chapter of Rochester, who are now entitled to it.
¶This rectory is valued in the king's books at sixteen pounds, and the yearly tenths at 1l. 12s. In 1587 the communicants here were eighty-seven.
In 1640 it was valued at 120l. Communicants one hundred. It is now worth upwards of 200l. per annum.
Kinda sort of what I was going for. When I saw that the flickr Roulette Group had "Put a Bow on It" for my birthday, I was like, "WHEE!! So obvious shot of the day!"
I'm pretty eh about birthdays. I usually don't wish them and really don't expect happy birthday wishes. Eh, I figure that once the year changes and someone asks me how old I am, I just do the math. Born in 1977, it's now 2010, so from January first on, I'm 33. No big whoop.
Today, I showed up at work and there was this BEAUTIFUL SUPER AMAZING UNBELIEVABLE bouquet of flowers from my in-laws. I had work to do, but I kept staring at it being like "Ok, must shoot this. Must shoot this....gah, work to do." And I already had my challenge of the day figured out. I figure they'll last until tomorrow at least. Oh, and my mom-in-law even asked what my flowers were and had the bouquet custom made. GUSHING!
I especially hate work fuss over birthdays because someone usually buys a cake, or cupcakes, or some kind of dessert. And sometimes the kids will bring in treats...sweets again. I have a limited sweet tooth. Buy yourself cake. Bring me cheese. Or olives. Or wine.
When I got home. John went out to do the few stops I should have made but didn't want to because, damn it, my birthday. I don't want to pump gas and go to a pharmacy.
Then one cat sprayed on the carpet. As I was cleaning that up, the evil cat knocked the vase of flowers on the floor. *CRY!* So cleaning up piss, cleaning up water, and trying to rearrange the flowers so the few broken stems could be supported.
Yeah, but the funniest part of today was everyone asking who the flowers were from, and people saying how sweet my husband was, and I was like, uh, nope, from my in-laws!! A few jokes about how I'm lucky how well I get along with them. I don't get that. Why would you marry someone whose parents are assholes? It seems to be genetic or at least programmed, so you KNOW that your significant other will eventually turn out to be like one or both of them. A few jokes from me being like, "It's AWESOME getting the only child experience!"
But really for my birthday between my husband, mom and my in-laws, I now have my own business. Now it's time to REALLY work. I never thought I'd have the fortune to become my own business in something that I love, but I'm seeing the possibility in the near future. So if you're in the Pittsburgh area and have cute kids, give me a ring. I'm offering super reasonable prices to build my portfolio.
09/02/2008
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The weekend is here... the sunshine is shining like a big shiny thing... and the Chucks are well and truly out. :-)
Quite a straight old car for it's 205,000 miles. The paintwork is very good I think, just a fairly large dent (not visible in the photo) and the trim missing on that N/S/F wing, and a little rust over both rear arches letting the body down really.
It's been traded in at a BMW dealer, who've not put a reserve price on it.
Bain News Service,, publisher.
French put a mitrailleuse in position
[between ca. 1915 and ca. 1920]
1 negative : glass ; 5 x 7 in. or smaller.
Notes:
Title from unverified data provided by the Bain News Service on the negatives or caption cards.
Forms part of: George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress).
Format: Glass negatives.
Rights Info: No known restrictions on publication.
Repository: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA, hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
General information about the Bain Collection is available at hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.ggbain
Higher resolution image is available (Persistent URL): hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ggbain.26070
Call Number: LC-B2- 4467-3
ROMA ARCHEOLOGICA & RESTAURO ARCHITETTURA 2021. ARCHEOLOGIA - RIPRENDONO I LAVORI PER IL PIANO ARCHEOLOGICO SOTTERRANEO PRESSO LA SEDE ENPAM A PIAZZA VITTORIO. The NYT (12/01/2021). S.v., Esquilino's Weblog (28/12/2018) & Fondazione Enpam, Roma (19/12/2013) & (05/02/2014) [in PDF], NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC / ITALIA (02/12/2020), Il Messaggero & Esquilino's Weblog (15-18/2020). wp.me/pbMWvy-XP
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1). ROME - Caligula’s Garden of Delights, Unearthed and Restored - Relics from the favorite hideaway of ancient Rome’s most infamous tyrant have been recovered and put on display by archaeologists.
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The fourth of the 12 Caesars, Caligula — officially, Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus — was a capricious, combustible first-century populist remembered, perhaps unfairly, as the empire’s most tyrannical ruler. As reported by Suetonius, the Michael Wolff of ancient Rome, he never forgot a slight, slept only a few hours a night and married several times, lastly to a woman named Milonia.
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During the four years that Caligula occupied the Roman throne, his favorite hideaway was an imperial pleasure garden called Horti Lamiani, the Mar-a-Lago of its day. The vast residential compound spread out on the Esquiline Hill, one of the seven hills on which the city was originally built, in the area around the current Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II.
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There, just on the edge of the city, villas, shrines and banquet halls were set in carefully constructed “natural” landscapes. An early version of a wildlife park, the Horti Lamiani featured orchards, fountains, terraces, a bath house adorned with precious colored marble from all over the Mediterranean, and exotic animals, some of which were used, as in the Colosseum, for private circus games.
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When Caligula was assassinated in his palace on the Palatine Hill in 41 A.D., his body was carried to the Horti Lamiani, where he was cremated and hastily buried before being moved to the Mausoleum of Augustus on the Campus Martius, north of the Capitoline Hill. According to Suetonius, the elite garden was haunted by Caligula’s ghost.
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Historians have long believed that the remains of the lavish houses and parkland would never be recovered. But this spring, Italy’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Cultural Activities and Tourism will open the Nymphaeum Museum of Piazza Vittorio, a subterranean gallery that will showcase a section of the imperial garden that was unearthed during an excavation from 2006 to 2015. The dig, carried out beneath the rubble of a condemned 19th-century apartment complex, yielded gems, coins, ceramics, jewelry, pottery, cameo glass, a theater mask, seeds of plants such as citron, apricot and acacia that had been imported from Asia, and bones of peacocks, deer, lions, bears and ostriches.
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“The ruins tell extraordinary stories, starting with the animals,” said Mirella Serlorenzi, the culture ministry’s director of excavations. “It is not hard to imagine animals, some caged and some running wild, in this enchanted setting.” The science of antiquities department of the Sapienza University of Rome collaborated on the project.
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The objects and structural remnants on display in the museum paint a vivid picture of wealth, power and opulence. Among the stunning examples of ancient Roman artistry are elaborate mosaics and frescoes, a marble staircase, capitals of colored marble and limestone, and an imperial guard’s bronze brooch inset with gold and mother-of-pearl. “All the most refined objects and art produced in the Imperial Age turned up,” Dr. Serlorenzi said.
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The classicist Daisy Dunn said the finds were even more extravagant than scholars had anticipated. “The frescoes are incredibly ornate and of a very high decorative standard,” noted Dr. Dunn, whose book “In The Shadow of Vesuvius” is a dual biography of Pliny the Elder — a contemporary of Caligula’s — and his nephew Pliny the Younger. “Given the descriptions of Caligula’s licentious lifestyle and appetite for luxury, we might have expected the designs to be quite gauche.”
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The Horti Lamiani were commissioned by Lucius Aelius Lamia, a wealthy senator and consul who bequeathed his property to the emperor, most likely during the reign of his friend Tiberius from A.D. 14 to 37. When Caligula succeeded him — it is rumored that Caligula and the Praetorian Guard prefect Macro hastened the death of Tiberius by smothering him with a pillow — he moved into the main house.
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In an evocative eyewitness account, the philosopher Philo, who visited the estate in A.D. 40 on behalf of the Jews of Alexandria, and his fellow emissaries had to trail behind Caligula as he inspected the sumptuous residences “examining the men’s rooms and the women’s rooms … and giving orders to make them more costly.” The emperor, wrote Philo, “ordered the windows to be filled up with transparent stones resembling white crystal that do not hinder the light, but which keep out the wind and the heat of the sun.”
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Evidence suggests that after Caligula’s violent death — he was hacked to bits by his bodyguards — the house and garden survived at least until the Severan dynasty, which ruled from A.D. 193 to 235. By the fourth century, the gardens had apparently fallen into desuetude, and statuary in the abandoned pavilions was broken into pieces to build the foundations of a series of spas. The statues were not discovered until 1874, three years after Rome was made the capital of the newly unified Kingdom of Italy. With the Esquiline Hill in the midst of a building boom, the Italian archaeologist Rodolfo Lanciani nosed around freshly excavated construction sites and uncovered an immense gallery with an alabaster floor and fluted columns of giallo antico, considered the finest of the yellow marbles.
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He later stumbled upon a rich deposit of classical sculptures that, at some point in the horti’s history, had been deliberately hidden to protect them. The treasures included the Lancellotti Discobolus, now housed at the National Museum of Rome; the Esquiline Venus and a bust of Commodus depicted as Hercules, now at the Capitoline Museums. In short time, the sculptures were carted off, the foundation of an apartment building was laid, and the ancient ruins were reburied.
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The latest excavation of the horti unfolded under the detritus of the residences, which had been evacuated in the 1970s in the wake of a building collapse. Much like the 2012 exhumation of Richard III in Leicester, England, the unburying involved a modern parking site.
Sixteen years ago, the three-and-a-half-acre property was purchased by Enpam, a private foundation that manages pensions for Italian doctors and dentists. Exploratory core drilling for a new headquarters and a six-level underground garage brought forth a wealth of first-century relics, from the type of window glass described by Philo to lead pipes stamped with the name of Claudius, Caligula’s uncle and successor.
As construction crews erected the five-story office building, archaeologists in a trench 18 feet below street level gingerly screened and scraped away soil. In a study lab across town, paleobotanists and archaeozoologists analyzed fragments, and researchers painstakingly repaired a 10-foot-high wall fresco painted with pigment made from ground cinnabar. The entire $3.5 million conservation and restoration project was underwritten by Enpam.
www.flickr.com/photos/imperial_fora_of_rome/50829162291
Ground was broken for the Nymphaeum Museum in 2017. “The new space, in the basement of Enpam, brings to light one of the mythical places of the empire’s capital, one of the garden residences loved by the emperors,” said Daniela Porro, the museum director.
What all of this does for Caligula’s seemingly irredeemable reputation is an open question. He emerges from Suetonius’s “The Twelve Caesars,” written 80 years after the emperor was bumped off, as utterly depraved: having incestuous relationships with his sisters, sleeping with anyone he liked the look of, using criminals as food for his wild beasts when beef became too pricey and insisting that a loyal subject who had vowed to give his own life if the emperor survived an illness should carry through on his promise and die.
Mary Beard, a professor of classics at Cambridge University, posited that while Caligula might have been assassinated because he was a monster, it is equally possible that he was made into a monster because he was assassinated. In “SPQR,” her rich history of ancient Rome, she argues that “it is hard to resist the conclusion that, whatever kernel of truth they might have, the stories told about him are an inextricable mixture of fact, exaggeration, willful misinterpretation and outright invention — largely constructed after his death, and largely for the benefit of the new emperor, Claudius.”
Whether Caligula got a raw deal from history is a subject of hot and unyielding debate. “There is clearly some bias in the sources,” Dr. Dunn allowed. “But even without that, it is difficult to envision him as a good emperor. I doubt these new discoveries will do much to rehabilitate his character. But they should open up new vistas onto his world, and reveal it to be every bit as paradisiacal as he desired it to be.”
Foto / Fonte / source:
--- The New York Times (12/01/2021).
www.nytimes.com/2021/01/12/science/caligula-archaeology-r...
www.flickr.com/photos/imperial_fora_of_rome/50829162306
2). ROMA - ARCHEOLOGIA - RIPRENDONO I LAVORI PER IL PIANO ARCHEOLOGICO SOTTERRANEO PRESSO LA SEDE ENPAM A PIAZZA VITTORIO. Esquilino's Weblog (28/12/2018).
www.flickr.com/photos/imperial_fora_of_rome/50828410078
Il Riassunto, Roma - Un altro tassello per la rinascita dell’Esquilino: dal sito dell’ENPAM riportiamo integralmente la notizia della ripresa dei lavori per la costruzione di un piano archeologico sotterraneo presso la sede ENPAM a Piazza Vittorio. E’ un ulteriore progetto in via di esecuzione che nel medio termine renderà sempre più unico e affascinante il Rione. Un altro ambiente di eccezionale importanza e bellezza che, dopo essere stato nascosto per secoli e secoli, sarà di nuovo a disposizione per essere visitato e ammirato da residenti, turisti e archeologi.
www.flickr.com/photos/imperial_fora_of_rome/50829246252
Foto / Fonte / source:
--- Esquilino's Weblog (28/12/2018).
blog-esquilino.com/2018/07/28/riprendono-i-lavori-per-il-...
www.flickr.com/photos/imperial_fora_of_rome/50828410318
3). ROMA - L’Ente Nazionale di Previdenza e Assistenza dei Medici e degli Odontoiatri / Fondazione ENPAM - Inaugurata la nuova sede della Fondazione / I ritrovamenti archeologici & Riqualificazione dell’Esquilino. Fondazione ENPAM. (19/12/2013).
Inaugurata la nuova sede della Fondazione - Giovedì 19 dicembre la Fondazione Enpam ha presentato al pubblico la nuova sede di piazza Vittorio Emanuele II. A tagliare il nastro sono stati il presidente Alberto Oliveti e il sindaco di Roma Ignazio Marino. Nel corso della cerimonia inaugurale sono state illustrate le caratteristiche del palazzo che ospita i nuovi uffici. È intervenuta anche la sovrintendente per i Beni archeologici Mariarosaria Barbera, che ha presentato i risultati degli scavi condotti sotto l’edificio.
www.flickr.com/photos/imperial_fora_of_rome/50828410128
I ritrovamenti archeologici - Parallelamente alla costruzione del nuovo palazzo, avviata nel 2005 sui resti di un edificio di epoca post-unitaria, è stato condotto il più vasto scavo compiuto dopo quelli intrapresi in occasione del trasferimento della capitale del Regno d’Italia a Roma. Il risultato ottenuto sono 1600 metri quadrati di terreno investigati, 12 mila metri cubi di materiale passati al setaccio e più di 8 mila cassette di reperti attualmente in fase di pulizia e restauro. Tra i manufatti meglio conservati e di maggior interesse storico e archeologico spiccano una scala e una condotta per l’acqua recante le insegne dell’imperatore Claudio. “Sono molto felice di essere qui in duplice veste, da sindaco e iscritto all’Enpam dal 1979 – ha detto il sindaco di Roma Ignazio Marino –. Questa sede dimostra quanto Roma debba essere orgogliosa e attenta al suo patrimonio e quanto l’architettura contemporanea possa fare conservando comunque l’aspetto storico. Grazie all’Enpam che ha riqualificato la piazza qui di fronte”.
www.flickr.com/photos/imperial_fora_of_rome/50828410118
Lo scavo dà un contributo unico per poter ricostruire l’evoluzione degli insediamenti della Roma antica sul colle Esquilino. È in questa zona di proprietà degli imperatori infatti che insistevano i cosiddetti Horti Lamiani. L’area archeologica venuta alla luce testimonia la suddivisione in terrazzamenti, evidenziati dai muri lunghi e bassi, e arricchiti da numerose specie vegetali. Sulla stessa area inoltre, sono stati ritrovati i resti di un grande ambiente a pianta rettangolare di circa 400 metri quadri, risalente all’epoca imperiale e dotato di ambienti di servizio, di una fontana e di altre strutture murarie. Il progetto finale prevede la conservazione quasi integrale delle architetture e la trasformazione museale del seminterrato. Il piano destinato a ospitare la sala congressi della Fondazione sarà integrato da ricostruzioni virtuali in 3d, animazioni video, pannelli didascalici e vetrine espositive, per favorire la fruizione del contesto archeologico da parte del pubblico.
www.flickr.com/photos/imperial_fora_of_rome/50829246297
Riqualificazione dell’Esquilino - La nuova sede dell’Enpam inoltre restituisce decoro a piazza Vittorio e contribuisce a riqualificare il rione Esquilino. Nel palazzo, che è vigilato 24 ore su 24, lavorano ora 491 impiegati, con ricadute positive anche sulla sicurezza e sulle attività commerciali del quartiere. “Abbiamo fatto un’iniezione di medicina al quartiere” ha detto il presidente dell’Enpam, Alberto Oliveti. L’Ente è stato anche attento alla sostenibilità ambientale. Nonostante abbia coinvolto centinaia di persone, il cambiamento della sede di lavoro ha avuto un impatto pressoché nullo sulla viabilità locale: oltre la metà dei dipendenti (261) hanno l’abbonamento annuale al trasporto pubblico locale tramite il mobility manager dell’Enpam; il parcheggio sotterraneo può contenere tutti i motorini e le biciclette di coloro che arrivano su due ruote; ci sono inoltre una sessantina di posti auto.
www.flickr.com/photos/imperial_fora_of_rome/50829162456
Foto / fonte / source:
--- L’Ente Nazionale di Previdenza e Assistenza dei Medici e degli Odontoiatri / Fondazione ENPAM (19/12/2013).
www.enpam.it/news/inaugurata-la-nuova-sede-della-fondazione/
www.flickr.com/photos/imperial_fora_of_rome/50829246362
3.1). ROMA - Nei sotterranei un’area archeologica. Fondazione ENPAM (05/02/2014).
Nei sotterranei un’area archeologica - Resti della Roma imperiale sotto la nuova sede dell’Enpam riaffiorano da un passato di distruzione in un processo di riqualificazione urbanistica.
Uno scavo archeologico così vasto non si vedeva a Roma dagli anni in cui è diventata capitale del Regno d’Italia. Sotto Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, la più grande piazza romana (316 x 174 metri) sono stati investigati 1.600 metri quadrati di terreno, passati al setaccio 12mila metri cubi di materiale e riempite più di 8mila cassette di reperti attualmente in fase di pulizia e restauro. Parallelamente alla costruzione dell’edificio dell’Enpam, gli archeologi della Soprintendenza speciale per i beni archeologici di Roma hanno svolto e monitorato una campagna di scavo portando alla luce resti risalenti all’epoca imperiale (III/IV secolo d.C). Già dalla fine dell’Ottocento era documentata in questa zona la presenza dei cosiddetti ‘Horti Lamiani’, vaste proprietà, ville e giardini appartenute alla ‘gens Lamia’ passate poi al demanio imperiale. All’inaugurazione, pochi giorni prima di Natale, i resti sotto la sede dell’Enpam sono stati illustrati dalla Soprintendente per i beni archeologici di Roma Mariarosa Barbera, che ha seguito gli scavi fin dall’inizio. Il ritrovamento – ha detto – riguarda una tra le ville più grandi dell’antichità romana, una specie di Villa d’Este. “Un ambiente a pianta rettangolare di circa 400 metri quadri completamente ricoperto di marmi, gemme, bronzi dorati, tarsie colorate – ha detto Barbera.
Stiamo ricomponendo le migliaia di frammenti di affreschi ritrovati. Nell’immediato futuro saranno visibili in questa sede pareti decorate, tra le più belle del mondo antico”. Spiccano per interesse storico e archeologico oltre che per lo stato di conservazione la scala in marmo (nella foto a tutta pagina) e una condotta per l’acqua su cui è impresso il nome dell’imperatore Claudio.
www.flickr.com/photos/imperial_fora_of_rome/50829162571
PROGETTO AREA MUSEALE - Per recuperare e valorizzare i reperti archeologici il progetto finale prevede l’allestimento di un percorso museale nel piano seminterrato accanto alla sala convegni e a un bar. Gli scavi quindi diventeranno un luogo vivo. “Il rudere non viene isolato – ha detto Mirella Serlorenzi, funzionario della Soprintendenza speciale per i beni archeologici di Roma – ma interagisce con le strutture moderne e diventa un arricchimento reciproco. Questo progetto ha dimostrato che è possibile conciliare tutela dell’antico e trasformazione della città contemporanea”. È prevista la conservazione quasi integrale delle architetture in parte visibili sotto pavimenti di vetro. Tutto questo nel contesto di un edificio in cui lavorano centinaia di dipendenti e si svolgono riunioni importanti per tutta la categoria dei medici e degli odontoiatri. Non potendo ricreare il contesto originario, saranno proposte ricostruzioni virtuali in 3d, animazioni video, effetti sonori, pannelli didascalici e vetrine espositive, in modo che il visitatore possa immaginare come era questa parte di città nel periodo romano. Da sottolineare – dice Serlorenzi – l’aspetto tecnologico e ingegneristico messo a punto per sorreggere le strutture archeologiche senza effettuare alcuna forma di delocalizzazione. Sono state fatte una serie di perforazioni circolari contigue riempite successivamente con tubi di acciaio legati tra loro a formare un sostegno”.
Foto / fonte / source:
--- L’Ente Nazionale di Previdenza e Assistenza dei Medici e degli Odontoiatri / Fondazione ENPAM (05/02/2014).
www.enpam.it/news/nei-sotterranei-unarea-archeologica/
www.flickr.com/photos/imperial_fora_of_rome/50829246397
3.2). ROMA - Nei sotterranei un’area archeologica. Fondazione ENPAM - Il Giornale della Previdenza, Anno XIX No. 1 (01/2014): 12-14 [in PDF].
PDF = Il Giornale della Previdenza, Anno XIX No. 1 (01/2014): 12-14 [in PDF].
fonte / source:
--- L’Ente Nazionale di Previdenza e Assistenza dei Medici e degli Odontoiatri / Fondazione ENPAM (05/02/2014).
www.enpam.it/news/nei-sotterranei-unarea-archeologica/
www.flickr.com/photos/imperial_fora_of_rome/50829246517
4). ROMA - Scoperto uno dei palazzi preferiti dell'imperatore Caligola. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC / ITALIA (02/12/2020).
Scoperto uno dei palazzi preferiti dell'imperatore Caligola - Un team di archeologi ha rinvenuto a Roma le rovine di uno dei palazzi preferiti dell'imperatore Caligola. Il luogo era conosciuto per il suo giardino esotico, con piante provenienti da luoghi remoti e animali selvaggi di tutti gli angoli dell'Impero.
Un team di archeologi italiani ha annunciato una scoperta straordinaria: le rovine di uno dei palazzi preferiti di Caligola, il terzo imperatore romano. L'esistenza di questo edificio – noto come Nympheum (casa delle ninfe) nelle fonti classiche – era conosciuta, ma la localizzazione esatta era andata perduta. Fino a pochi anni fa.
Il palazzo perduto - La scoperta è stata realizzata durante gli scavi in piazza Vittorio Emanuele II (più conosciuta come piazza Vittorio), nei pressi del Colosseo e della stazione ferroviaria di Roma Termini. I lavori erano cominciati tre anni fa e hanno portato alla luce decine di migliaia di resti archeologici, tra i quali anfore, pezzi di ceramica, gioielli, monete e una gran varietà di utensili domestici. Gli scavi più recenti sotto un edificio hanno portato a individuare le strutture del giardino che erano state sepolte, oltre a nuovi resti archeologici che hanno permesso di identificare il luogo come il palazzo perduto di Caligola.
Gli archeologi hanno rinvenuto semi di plante esotiche di origini diverse, ossa di animali selvaggi come cervi, orsi, leoni e struzzi. Sono stati questi gli elementi che hanno permesso di identificare la struttura come il Nympheum. Mirella Serlorenzi, direttrice del sitio archeologico, ha spiegato che alcuni di questi animali «correvano liberi come fosse un paesaggio incantato, ma [c'erano] anche animali feroci che venivano utilizzati, come nel Colosseo, per i giochi circensi privati». Caligola è passato alla storia proprio per il suo carattere stravagante e crudele, che si riconduce di solito a una misteriosa malattia mentale che lo colpì nel corso del suo primo anno di regno.
Gli scavi hanno permesso di identificare varie strutture del giardino, come una scala di marmo bianco che collegava i diversi livelli del giardino e una tubatura per il trasporto dell'acqua. Il nome Nympheum evoca le ninfe, divinità dei boschi e delle montagne, e in effetti nel giardino si era voluto ricreare uno spazio selvaggio. Questo spiegherebbe la presenza degli animali e dei ninfei, piccole grotte dedicate proprio alle divinità boschive. Le autorità italiane in collaborazione con l'Enpam, l'ente previdenziale dei medici proprietario del terreno nel quale è stata realizzata la scoperta, hanno lavorato per trasformare il luogo nel Museo-Ninfeo di Piazza Vittorio, che presto sarà aperto al pubblico.
Foto / fonte / source:
--- NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC / ITALIA (02/12/2020).
www.storicang.it/a/scoperto-uno-dei-palazzi-preferiti-del...
www.flickr.com/photos/imperial_fora_of_rome/50829162661
5). ROMA - Dalle indagini archeologiche condotte su un settore degli Horti Lamiani nasce il Museo-Ninfeo di Piazza Vittorio presso il Palazzo della Fondazione Enpam. Il Messaggero & Esquilino's Weblog (15-18/2020).
www.flickr.com/photos/imperial_fora_of_rome/50828410433
Nei giorni scorsi è stato pubblicato su “Il Messaggero” un articolo a firma di Laura Larcan che descrive con dovizia di particolari il progetto da tempo annunciato e in fase di avanzata realizzazione di un museo nei sotterranei del Palazzo ENPAM a Piazza Vittorio che donerà un’altra fantastica attrazione archeologica al Rione Esquilino e alla città di Roma: stiamo parlando della Villa di Caligola, praticamente un’altra Domus Aurea che sorgeva nell’area dell’odierna Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II.
www.flickr.com/photos/imperial_fora_of_rome/50829246577
La singolarità è che oltre una costruzione fastosa con rivestimenti marmorei di eccezionale qualità e bellezza nella proprietà imperiale erano presenti lussureggianti giardini popolati da numerosi animali in libertà e fantastici giochi d’acqua. Presto sarà possibile ammirare ciò che rimane della “domus” comprese delle scale originali che collegavano i diversi livelli dei giardini e migliaia di reperti archeologici (alcuni unici nel loro genere) rinvenuti negli scavi che sono stati eseguiti dalla Soprintendenza speciale archeologia belle arti e paesaggio di Roma per riportare alla luce questa ulteriore perla del Rione Esquilino. Di seguito l’articolo del Messaggero del 15 novembre 2020 e i diversi post sui social network che testimoniano come la notizia abbia avuto una vasta eco anche internazionale.
www.flickr.com/photos/imperial_fora_of_rome/50829246627
5.1). ROMA - Horti Lamiani nasce il Museo-Ninfeo di Piazza Vittorio presso il Palazzo della Fondazione Enpam. Il Messaggero / Video (15/11/2020).
www.flickr.com/photos/imperial_fora_of_rome/50829246597
Fonte / foto/ video source:
--- Il Messaggero / Video (15/11/2020).
www.ilmessaggero.it/video/la_domus_aurea_di_caligola_muse...
www.flickr.com/photos/imperial_fora_of_rome/50829246642
5.2). ROMA - ARCHEOLOGIA / ESQUILINO: PRESTO SARÀ POSSIBILE VISITARE LA VILLA DI CALIGOLA NEI SOTTERRANEI DEL PALAZZO ENPAM A PIAZZA VITTORIO. Esquilino's Weblog (18/2020).
Fonte / foto / source:
--- Esquilino's Weblog (18/2020).
blog-esquilino.com/2020/11/18/esquilino-presto-sara-possi...
We have different orientations…
Let's get oriented; put some context in the frame. My feet are on the Adaminaby Beds. They are uniformly boring, Ordovician in age and not my first choice. But I have to stand on something. Yes, I know Adaminaby is in the mountains and we are by the sea. This is part of why this lithology is dull — it's everywhere.
Little blips on the watery horizon are made by the Three Brothers Rocks. Here they resolve according to their name instead of coalesced into one blob as they did behind the yellow thing, with barnacles. See them like this and you know where you are.
I can't go further south on Baragoot Beach. Over the headland behind me is Cuttagee. I'm not wandering aimlessly; I'm anchored in the scenery; there are pointers. Some call them songlines. It's complicated. We think differently about the same thing.
Away on the left horizon is the unmistakable profile of Drom — Mount Dromedary — Gulaga. I had a profane interest in that mountain. Others call it sacred — because we think differently; for want of words.
Reading the terrain is a habit. If we could acknowledge our subordination we'd understand — in most cases and for much of our history — it has guided our feet, controlled our ambitions. For all peoples, it's no different.
When we see the big picture, the deep time, then being on country, that different orientation, is more together then apart, both sacred and profane.
Now it might seem simple to retrace my steps along this beach. Broaden your vision to a time when everyone walked everywhere and the sacred nature of things like Gulaga — country's signposts — put in context, can be understood.
"(silently) put hair too much troublesome..." "well~(flutter over and hugged) continue what we are doing just now ... that's not trouble at all~"
L’ère des Omeyyades à al-Andalus
Le faucon des Qouraysh
Le calife abbasside Abou Ja’far al-Mansour demanda un jour à ses compagnons :
- « Qui est le faucon des Qouraysh ? » Ils dirent :
- « L’émir des croyants ! » (Voulant dire lui-même Abou Ja’far al-Mansour)
- « Celui qui voulut la royauté, fit taire les tremblements de terre (étouffa les révoltes) et mit fin aux rivalités ». Il répondit :
- « Ce n’est pas la bonne réponse ! » Ils demandèrent :
- « Mou’awiyyah ? »
- « Non même pas celui-là ! »
- « ‘Abdel Malik Ibn Marwan ? »
- « Non ! »
- « Alors qui est-il, émir des croyants, » demandèrent-ils ? Il répondit :
- « ‘AbderRahmane Ibn Mou’awiyyah, celui qui, grâce à sa ruse, échappa aux pointes des lances et aux lames des épées, qui après avoir erré en solitaire dans les déserts d’Asie et d’Afrique eut l’audace de chercher fortune sans armée, dans des terres qui lui étaient inconnues au-delà de la mer. N’ayant rien sur qui compter excepté son intelligence et sa persévérance. Malgré cela, Il humilia ses fiers ennemis, extermina les rebelles, organisa les villes, mobilisa les armées, sécurisa ses frontières, fonda un grand empire et réunit sous son sceptre un royaume qui semblait déjà parcellé entre ses chefs insignifiants. Nul homme avant lui n’a accompli seul de telles actions. ‘AbderRahmane fit tout cela seul, avec le soutien de nul autre que son propre jugement, ne dépendant de rien d’autre que de sa propre résolution. Puis par la force de sa volonté, rebâtit une royauté après en avoir été chassé ! »
Un homme expulsé, aux abois, sa tête mise à prix, recherché dans tout l’empire islamique, seul sans armée construisit une royauté qui contrôla l’Andalousie dans sa totalité. Il déjoua vingt-cinq révoltes sous son règne. Quelle puissante volonté animait ‘AbderRahmane Ibn Mou’awiyyah !
Ibn Hayyan, l’historien renommé dit de lui : « L’Imam ‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil était d’une intelligence redoutable, indulgent, très instruit, une énorme volonté, nulle armée se leva contre lui sans qu’il l’anéantit et nul pays ne put lui résister. Brave et courageux, toujours premier et présent, sans ambition pour ce monde, vivant sobrement et ne chargeait d’ordre que lui-même. Très hospitalier, fantastique politicien, toujours habillé en blanc même son turban, visitait toujours les malades, présent aux funérailles, guidait les gens dans la prière les jours de vendredi et de fêtes et orateur de sermons ces mêmes jours. Il enrôla les soldats, désigna les étendards et son armée s’éleva à 100.000 cavaliers ».
Par sa volonté, il bâtit un puissant état Omeyyade en Andalousie après la chute de celui-ci de l’est. Il y a une excellente leçon à suivre à travers l’histoire de cet homme qui partit de rien, bâtit une forte nation. Lorsque la foi et le puissant désir d’accomplissement se trouve chez un homme rien ne peut l’arrêter et même si sa foi n’est pas au summum, son inébranlable volonté fera de lui un homme victorieux.
De même si un homme s’accroche au Seigneur, la victoire viendra de Lui. Aujourd’hui, les savants disent que si les gens s’accrochent fermement à l’Islam alors la victoire sera pour eux mais s’ils abandonnent l’Islam, la victoire reviendra au plus fort car le Seigneur laisse les gens à leurs propres affaires, c’est donc pourquoi le plus fort gagnera.
‘AbderRahmane prit appui sur son Seigneur et armé de sa puissante volonté, il donna tout ce qu’il avait en lui et il fut vainqueur.
Aujourd'hui, nous avons laissé tomber les deux. Notre foi et la volonté pour la faiblesse. Le remède est donc de relever notre foi, notre volonté et notre sacrifice. Nous devons abandonner le défaitisme psychologique, la soumission à nos ennemis peu importe le seuil qu’atteint notre faiblesse. Nous devons avoir la volonté de réussir, même si nous ne verrons pas les fruits de nos efforts, le courage, la bravoure, l’honneur et le désir intense de sacrifice. Un sacrifice qui bénéficiera aux générations futures comme nous avons bénéficié du sacrifice de nos ancêtres.
Et quels beaux exemples à travers l’histoire de ‘Abderrahmane ad-Dakhil.
‘AbderRahmane Ibn Mou’awiyyah Ibn Hisham Ibn ‘Abdel Malik surnommé ‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil
‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil alias ‘AbderRahmane Ibn Mou’awiyyah Ibn Hisham Ibn ‘Abdel Malik naquit en Syrie en l’an 113 de l’Hégire (731) ou il grandit, fut élevé et reçut une éducation adéquate dans une maison de gouvernant.
Il apprit à monter les chevaux et les arts de la guerre. Il reçut une éducation purement arabo-islamique basée sur la loyauté, la bravoure, l’honneur la langue arabe et la poésie. Il devint lui-même un poète lorsque plus tard, il devint calife.
Un jour, alors qu’il était calife d’Andalousie, ayant vu une caravane prendre la direction de la Syrie, il se rappela sa terre natale, sa vie et sa famille en Syrie et dit alors : « O chamelier qui te dirige vers ma terre, donne mon salut à une partie de moi, comme tu vois mon corps est dans un pays différent de celui de mon cœur, la séparation fut décrétée entre nous et peut être nous nous reverrons de nouveau ».
Puis une autre fois voyant un palmier dans la cour de son château de Rassaffah (rappelons qu’en Andalousie il n’y avait pas de palmiers et que c’est lui qui ordonné l’importation et l’implantation), il dit : « Au milieu du château, un palmier éloigné de son pays natal dans un pays sans palmier. Comme moi éloigné de ma famille et de mes proches, tu pousses dans un pays qui t’es étranger ».
L’amour de son pays est naturel et n’a rien à voir avec la religion et l’Islam. Même à l’époque du Prophète (Saluts et Bénédictions d'Allah sur lui), les Compagnons (sahaba) (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux) faisaient des poésies lorsqu’il se rappelait le lieu de leur naissance et où ils avaient vécu. Bien sûr cela ne doit pas pousser à un amour excessif plus fort que celui que l’on porte au Seigneur de l’Univers. Un amour normal voué à sa famille, ses proches et sa terre fait partie des qualités fines de l’Islam.
Le meurtre d’al-Walid Ibn Yazid
Al-Walid Ibn Yazid était un homme essentiellement préoccupé par ses désirs : la chasse, la musique, les servantes ce qui poussa les historiens à dire : « Le règne d’al-Walid fut le début de la chute des Omeyyades. C'est lui qui perdit la gloire de ces ancêtres ».
Al-Walid Ibn Yazid était le calife de tous les Musulmans de l’est à l’ouest. C’est à son époque que les Abbassides s’activèrent sous la directive d’Abou Mouslim al-Khorassani qui prépara la prise du pouvoir pour les Abbassides. Les Abbassides le reconnaissent unanimement comme celui qui les aida à pénétrer les terres d’Islam et à prendre la direction des Musulmans.
Abou Mouslim al-Khorassani commença à réunir tous les partisans des Abbassides au Khorasan. Nasr Ibn Sayyar le gouverneur (wali) du Khorasan informa al-Walid Ibn Yazid du grave danger qu’il représentait et demanda de l’aide. Mais al-Walid plongé dans ses béatitudes ne tint pas compte de l’avertissement.
Les Omeyyades ne se rendirent pleinement compte du danger qu’en l’an 125 de l’Hégire (742) lorsque Yazid Ibn ‘Abdel Malik se révolta et tua al-Walid Ibn Yazid. Suite à cela la division secoua les Omeyyades et leurs ennemis en profitèrent.
Souleyman Ibn Hisham s’enfuit et se réfugia à ‘Amman de même que Marwan Ibn ‘Abdillah Ibn ‘Abdel Malik à Homs (hims). Marwan Ibn Muhammad s’enfuit également en Arménie et chacun d’entre eux appelèrent à la vengeance du meurtre d’al-Walid et la capture de son meurtrier. Yazid, le meurtrier du calife mourut six mois après.
Le dernier calife omeyyade Marwan Ibn Muhammad
Entre temps Marwan Ibn Muhammad à la tête de son armée se dirigea sur Damas (dimashq). Mais apprenant la mort de Yazid et les Musulmans sans calife, il prit le pouvoir. Ibrahim Ibn al-Walid, le frère de Yazid Ibn al-Walid se révolta à son tour et Marwan le tua, soixante-dix jours après. Puis ‘Abdallah Ibn Mou’awiyyah Ibn ‘Abdillah Ibn Ja’far Ibn ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) se révolta mais Marwan eut le dessus. Puis Souleyman Ibn Hisham se révolta à son tour, aidé par beaucoup de partisans mais Marwan le tua aussi.
Abou Mouslim al-Khorassani à la tête d’une grande force commença à prendre le contrôle du Khorasan tandis que les Omeyyades étaient occupé par les révoltes successives. En l’an 130 de l’Hégire (747), il prit contrôle de la ville de Merv (marw). Nasr Ibn Sayyar s’opposa à lui et aida à reculer la fin des Omeyyades mais en l’an 131 de l’Hégire (748) il trouva la mort et la voie fut libre pour Abou Mouslim. Il confia le commandement de son armée à ‘Abdallah Ibn ‘Ali qui se rendit en Iraq.
La bataille entre les Omeyyades et les Abbassides eut lieu à Zab et ‘Abdallah victorieux se dirigea vers la Syrie.
Marwan Ibn Muhammad le calife, suivit de près par ‘Abdallah, s’enfuit d’abord à Harran puis à Qinassrine et Homs toujours poursuivit par l’armée de ‘Abdallah Ibn ‘Ali. Les gens de Homs voyant la faiblesse du calife et de sa faible armée voulurent en finir avec lui pour mettre fin aux troubles.
Marwan Ibn Muhammad doutant des gens de Homs leur prépara une embuscade et lorsqu’il sortit les gens de Homs le suivirent et ils tombèrent dans l’embuscade. Alors il se dirigea vers Damas ou il nomma al-Walid Ibn Mou’awiyyah Ibn Marwan gouverneur mais ‘Abdallah Ibn ‘Ali le suivit, mit le siège et tua al-Walid Ibn Mou’awiyyah.
Marwan Ibn Muhammad se réfugia en Jordanie ou le gouverneur prit position à ses côtés. De là, il s’enfuit en Palestine, puis en Egypte toujours poursuivit par l’armée de ‘Abdallah Ibn ‘Ali qui voulait en finit avec le calife pour mettre fin aux Omeyyades.
C’est à Boussir en Egypte qu’eut lieu la terrible bataille entre ‘Abdallah Ibn ‘Ali commandant de l’armée des Abbassides et Marwan Ibn Muhammad. La bataille dura plusieurs jours ou le dernier calife omeyyade Marwan Ibn Muhammad trouva la fin.
Ainsi prit fin la dynastie des Omeyyades qui fut remplacée par celle des Abbassides.
L’état des Omeyyade fut sans conteste basé sur le combat dans la voie d’Allah (jihad fis-sabilillah) et sous le règne du dixième calife Hisham Ibn ‘Abdel Malik, la superficie de l’empire islamique atteignit son apogée.
Voici ce qu’a rapporté l’Imam al-Hafiz Ibn Kathir ad-Dimashqi, puisse Allah Exalté lui faire miséricorde, dans son livre « al-bidayah wal nihayah » : « Ils (les Omeyyades) conduisaient le Jihad et cela était la seule occupation des Banou Oumayyah. La parole de l’Islam s’éleva à l’est et à l’ouest de la terre et sur les mers et ils humilièrent la mécréance et ses peuples. Le cœur des polythéistes s’emplit de crainte des Musulmans qui ne se dirigeaient pas vers une terre sans la conquérir. Il y avait dans toutes leurs (des Bani Oumayyah) casernes, leurs armées et leurs raids, des groupes de pieux (salihoun), des saints (awliyyah), des savants (‘oulama) des grands Tabi’in, grâce à qui Allah Exalté répandaient Sa religion (leur accordaient les victoires) ».
As-Safah Abou al-‘Abbas, le premier calife abbasside
As-Safah[1] Abou al-‘Abbas devint le premier calife abbasside et ordonna la mise à mort de tous les Omeyyades vivants. Souleyman Ibn ‘Ali, le gouverneur de Basra, ordonna aussi la capture et la mise à mort de tous les Omeyyades de la ville et ordonna de jeter leur dépouilles dans les rues afin que les chiens les mangent.
Les Omeyyades terrifiés se cachèrent y comprit ‘AbderRahmane Ibn Mou’awiyyah Ibn Hisham Ibn ‘Abdel Malik qui était le plus recherché et sa tête mise à prix. Cet homme n’était autre que ‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil qui allait devenir un des plus grands califes omeyyade.
En l’an 132 de l’Hégire (749), poursuivit par la répression, ‘AbderRahmane Ibn Mou’awiyyah se sauva avec sa famille, ses sœurs, ses biens et certains de ses servants vers une ville très éloignée sur l’Euphrate où il vécut un certain temps. Or un jour, il se passa un fait étrange. Laissons-le raconter l’histoire :
« Un jour, j’étais assis dans cette ville dans une pièce ombragée sans lumière à cause d’un problème de vue que j’avais dû à la poussière et la lumière du jour me rendait inconfortable.
Mon fils Souleyman âgé de quatre ans jouait devant moi. Il sortit dehors puis soudainement rentra effrayer et s’assit sur mes genoux et me dit ce que ne disent pas les enfants de son âge. Alors, je suis sorti m’informer pour trouver les gens paniqués et terriblement effrayés quand j’aperçu les bannières noires des Abbassides. Mon petit frère vient me voir et ne dit : « O frère, ils sont venus ! »
Je suis entré précipitamment dans la maison, prit une poignée d’argent et tirant mon frère derrière moi, nous nous sauvèrent. Les Abbassides ne recherchaient que les hommes des Omeyyades et ne s’attaquaient ni aux enfants, ni aux femmes. Laissant avec eux mon serviteur Badr, je dis à mes sœurs ou j’allais et leur demanda de me rejoindre plus tard avec le reste de ma famille. Lorsque je fus arrivé là-bas je me cachais.
Moins d’une heure après, la maison que je venais de quitter fut encerclée par la cavalerie. Puis Badr me rejoignit fuyant ses positions les unes après les autres.
Accompagné de mon frère, j’allais voir un de mes amis qui vivait sur les bords de l’Euphrate et lui demandait de me préparer deux montures avec tout le nécessaire pour mon voyage. Mais un de ses serviteurs informa le gouverneur de ma présence et nous ne tardèrent pas à entendre le bruit des cavaliers arrivant au galop, alors nous nous enfuîmes et nous entrèrent dans l’Euphrate pour rejoindre la berge opposée et les cavaliers sur nos talons entrèrent à leurs tours dans l’eau.
Puis ils nous dirent : « Revenez, vous ne craignez rien », mais je nageais de plus en plus vite car j’excellais dans la nage. Lorsque nous eûmes traversé la moitié de l’Euphrate mon jeune frère se retourna et hésita. Je le rappelais à la raison mais les cavaliers continuaient d’appeler et lui promirent la sécurité et il les crut.
Je lui dis : « O frère n'écoute pas ces paroles perfides et rejoint moi ! » Mais il ne m’écouta pas trompé par les paroles offrant la sécurité. Et craignant soudain la noyade, il fit demi-tour et s’empressa de les rejoindre. Quant à moi, j’accélérais la vitesse car un bon nageur était à ma poursuite mais il reçut l’ordre de ne pas aller plus loin.
Arrivé sur l’autre berge, je les vis décapiter sous mes yeux mon tout jeune frère âgé de 13 ans alors qu’ils lui avaient promis la sécurité. Je fus terrorisé et très touché par sa mort. Puis je me mis à courir si rapidement que je crus que je volais si bien je j’arrivai dans une forêt dense (ghaydah) ou je restais caché jusqu’à ce que je ne fusse plus recherché. Lorsque la forêt ne m’offrit plus aucune sécurité, je partis au Maghreb ».
L’arrivée de ‘AbderRahmane Ibn Mou’awiyyah Ibn Hisham Ibn ‘Abdel Malik Ibn al-Marwan au Maghreb
Lorsque ‘AbderRahmane s’établit, il envoya un message à ses sœurs qui lui envoyèrent son serviteur Badr ainsi que son fils Souleyman et les biens qu’il avait caché si bien que sa situation s’améliora.
‘AbderRahmane Ibn Habib al-Fihri qui s’était enfuit au Maghreb se révolta et il prit le pouvoir au Maghreb et bientôt en Afrique. ‘AbderRahmane Ibn Habib al-Fihri n’avait pas porté allégeance au nouveau calife abbasside et son affaire était en suspens. De ce fait, beaucoup d’Omeyyades se réfugièrent en Ifriqiyah et principalement à Kairouan (qayrawan). Leur nombre devient si élevé que ‘AbderRahmane Ibn Habib Al Fihri prit peur que ces gens du califat (des Qouraysh) ne revendiquent bientôt le pouvoir et il commença à se débarrasser d’eux.
‘AbderRahmane Ibn Mou’awiyyah dut s’enfuir et ‘AbderRahmane al-Fihri tua le fils d’al-Walid Ibn Yazid, puis saisit ses biens et ceux des Omeyyades avant de demander la tête de ‘AbderRahmane Ibn Mou’awiyyah qui se trouva aussi recherché au Maghreb.
‘AbderRahmane fuit de nouveau et se réfugia chez les Berbères chez un homme du nom de Abi Qouratah al-Barbari à Barqah (ou Bourqah) en Libye où il vécut caché durant un certain temps avant de se rendre chez ses oncles près de Tanger dans la tribu berbère de Nafzah et entre sa fuite de Syrie en l’an 130 de l’Hégire (747), il vécut dissimulé jusqu’en l’an 136 de l’Hégire (753).
Apres s’être rendu compte que le Maghreb n’était pas un pays où il pouvait vivre, ‘AbderRahmane réfléchit sur sa situation et sur la situation politique du monde islamique. Il était recherché tant à l’est qu’à l’ouest et l’Andalousie, gouvernée par Youssouf Ibn ‘AbderRahmane al-Fihri le vingt deuxième et dernier gouverneur, endurait une série de révoltes successives. Il pensa donc à traverser la mer pour se réfugier en Andalousie.
Il envoya en avant-garde son serviteur Badr ar-Roumi en lui demandant de contacter les partisans des Omeyyades et particulièrement Abou ‘Uthman ‘Oubaydillah Ibn ‘Uthman et ‘Abdallah Ibn Khalid. Badr les informa que ‘AbderRahmane Ibn Mou’awiyyah Ibn Hisham Ibn ‘Abdel Malik, cherchait à redonner le pouvoir aux Omeyyades. Ils acceptèrent et secrètement contactèrent d’autres partisans et l’affaire de ‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil prit de l’ampleur au sud de l’Andalousie.
Nous avons précédemment mentionné que Soumayl, le calife dans l’ombre, était le gouverneur de Saragosse (sarqasta) tandis que Youssouf Ibn ‘AbderRahmane Ibn Habib Ibn Abi ‘Abdah Ibn ‘Ouqbah Ibn Nafi’ al-Fihri était le gouverneur officiel de l’Andalousie à Cordoue (qortoba) mais il avait une mésentente entre eux car Youssouf avait refusé d’apporter son aide à Soumayl.
Lorsque les gens furent prêts à accepter ad-Dakhil en Andalousie, son homme de main lui envoya un messager et un navire pour l’informer qu’il pouvait maintenant débarquer. Ad-Dakhil se postait chaque jour devant la mer et attendait l’arrivée des nouvelles. Lorsque le messager arriva, il trouva ad-Dakhil entrain de prier demandant à Allah de l’aider et de faciliter son entreprise. Lorsqu’il finit sa prière, il se tourna vers l’homme et lui demanda :
- « Qui es-tu ? » L’homme répondit :
- « Je suis Abou Ghalib Tammam (le père du victorieux juste) ». Alors ad-Dakhil lui dit : « Notre affaire est juste (tamma) et nous serons victorieux (ghalabna) si Allah le veut (insha a Allah) ».
Cet homme fut honoré tout au long de la vie de ‘AbderRahmane qui le rapprocha de lui jusqu'à sa mort à cause de la bonne augure de son nom.
‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil débarque en Andalousie
‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil qui était grand, imposant, les cheveux blonds, borgne et imposait le respect quitta le Maghreb pour l’Andalousie en l’an 133 de l’Hégire (750). Il arriva à Alvéra (alfira) ou l’accueillirent joyeusement ses partisans tandis que le différend entre Youssouf et Soumayl s’amplifiait.
De même, ‘Amir al-Badri et son fils de rebellèrent contre al-Fihri mais ils furent vaincus et ce dernier promit la paix et la sécurité aux deux protagonistes. Lorsqu’ils se rendirent, il les fit mettre à mort ce qui provoqua chez les gens un mouvement de révolte parce que les deux hommes avaient été tués alors qu’on leur avait promis la sécurité. Sur ce, une pluie diluvienne tomba sur l’armée d’al-Fihri et une bonne partie de sa troupe l’abandonna.
Soumayl, toujours très bien informé, passa en revue sa situation : au sud des problèmes en conséquences avec ad-Dakhil et les Omeyyades, au nord-ouest la menace d’Alfonsh et à l’est al-Fihri. L’Andalousie était secouée de problèmes et il pensa que le mieux était de s'arranger avec al-Fihri qui était le plus proche de lui. Lui et son armée aussitôt rejoignirent Cordoue la capitale. Alors qu’il était en mouvement, ses espions lui rapportèrent la mise en marche d’ad-Dakhil et de son armée. Il dit à al-Fihri :
- « Allons maintenant à sa rencontre ! Soit nous le tuerons, soit nous anéantirons son armée avant qu’il ne devienne plus puissant ». Mais al-Fihri refusa et lui dit :
- « Notre armée est trop petite. Le voyage est long et cette pluie nous a fatigués. Allons d’abord à Tolède (toleytela), reposons-nous, rebâtissons une nouvelle armée et attaquons-le ». Soumayl qui n’était pas le gouverneur officiel se rangea à l’avis de Youssouf.
Il est pourtant toujours préférable de mettre fin aux révoltes à leur début avant qu’elles ne débordent et deviennent incontrôlables.
Ad-Dakhil et son armée de 600 hommes seulement se dirigèrent vers Rayyah. Le gouverneur l’accueillit et lui offrit son aide. Puis successivement ad-Dakhil passa par les villes de Sidonie (shadonia), Moro, Malaga (maliqa), Randa et Shourayss qui restèrent neutres à son arrivée, il ne fut pas attaqué et il ne lui fut pas offert d’aide.
Lorsque Soumayl fut informé des mouvements d’ad-Dakhil, il conseilla à al-Fihri de tenter une approche pacifique. Ils lui envoyèrent donc des présents qu’ad-Dakhil accepta sans pour cela porter allégeance au gouverneur d’Andalousie ni même lui promettre une allégeance et l’affaire resta suspendue.
Ad-Dakhil de nouveau se mit en mouvement et se dirigea vers la capitale du sud Séville dirigée par un dur chauviniste Yéméni du nom d’Abou Sabbah qui pensa que s’il devait avoir un combat, il devrait avoir lieu entre al-Fihri et ad-Dakhil et non pas entre lui et ad-Dakhil et il se rangea aux côté d’ad-Dakhil. Ainsi la capitale du sud tomba entre les mains d’ad-Dakhil.
Lorsque la tranquillité et la paix revint au sud ad-Dakhil pensant à faire tomber la capitale Cordoue. Soumayl et al-Fihri informés des mouvements d’ad-Dakhil préparèrent une armée pour le recevoir.
Les deux armées se mirent en route en même temps. L’armée d’al-Fihri se dirigea vers Séville tandis que celle d’ad-Dakhil sur Cordoue. Lorsqu’elles furent l’une en face de l’autre, elles se trouvèrent séparées par un fleuve, Youssouf et Soumayl du côté nord et ad-Dakhil du côté sud.
Alors, ad-Dakhil se dit : Pourquoi devrais-je les rencontrer à cet endroit ? Il serait mieux pour moi d’aller attaquer directement la capitale absente de toute armée.
Sans qu’ils s’en rendent compte, ad-Dakhil fit demi-tour et mit le cap sur Cordoue mais les espions de Soumayl l’informèrent et il fit aussitôt demi-tour pour empêcher ad-Dakhil de parvenir à la capitale et comme il réussit à arriver avant lui, il attendit son arrivée dans la ville d’al-Massarah.
Ad-Dakhil informé s’arrêta à Babish et le 9 du mois de Dzoul Hijjah de l’année 133 de l’Hégire (745), eut lieu la mémorable bataille de Moussarah entre Youssouf al-Fihri, gouverneur de l’Andalousie et ad-Dakhil, partout recherché et sa tête mise à prix.
La bataille de Moussarah
Le jour de ‘Arafat de l’année 133 de l’Hégire, les deux armées se firent face, séparées une nouvelle fois par une large rivière :
- L’armée d’ad-Dakhil en petit nombre, faible, sans logistique, sans équipement, à court de vivres et comme seule nourriture des fèves vertes et,
- L’armée d’al-Fihri à l’apogée de sa puissance, supportée par toute l’Andalousie, qui ordonna que des chameaux soit abattus près du fleuve sous les yeux de l’armée d’en face, affamée.
Le niveau du fleuve à cet endroit était particulier bas et ad-Dakhil pensa qu’il ne devait pas laisser les choses durer et qu’il devait attaquer immédiatement. Comme il montait un cheval très rapide, les yéménites de son armée, montés sur des chameaux, se dirent : « Cet homme est monté sur un cheval et il se peut que dès le début de la bataille il s’enfuit et nous laisse tomber et alors nous serons tués de la pire des manières ».
Ils eurent alors peur de cet homme qui n’était pas des leurs, venu seul et personne avec lui qui n’hésiterait pas à les abandonner si un revers de fortune se présentait.
Ad-Dakhil était un homme très perspicace. Il devina exactement ce qu’ils pensaient et partit donc voir Abou Sabbah, et lui dit :
- « O Abou Sabbah, mon cheval est beaucoup trop fougueux et ne me permets pas de tirer des flèches. Si tu veux, j’échange mon cheval contre ta mule ». Et Abou Sabbah accepta. L’échange eut lieu et la nouvelle se transmit parmi les gens. Ils dirent : « Ceci n’est pas le fait de quelqu’un qui veut se sauver. Alors leurs cœurs se raffermirent et leur sympathie envers lui augmenta ».
Le jour de ‘Id arriva et alors que les gens festoyaient, ad-Dakhil ordonna à son armée de traverser le fleuve et de donner l’assaut contre l’armée adverse.
Al-Fihri et ceux qui étaient avec lui furent stupéfiés de le voir attaquer le jour de la fête. Et ainsi, ad-Dakhil réussit à écraser l’armée de Soumayl et d’al-Fihri en les prenant totalement par surprise, et alors que les gens fuyaient devant son armée, il ordonna de les laisser fuir. On lui dit :
- « Comment, si tu les laisses fuirent, ils vont se rassembler ailleurs et nous attaquer de nouveau ! » Mais il répondit :
- « Laissez les fuir ». Puis il dit :
- « C’est vrai, ceux-là sont nos ennemis, et c’est vrai que nous avons la possibilité d’en finir avec eux, et il vaut mieux que nous les utilisions dans la guerre contre un ennemi plus dangereux qu’eux (les Goths au nord) qui n’ont pas la même religion que nous tandis que vous acceptez les aumônes de ceux-là.
Juste après la bataille, les commandants yéménites de l’armée d’ad-Dakhil se réunirent entre eux, et se dirent : « Pourquoi ne tuons-nous pas maintenant ad-Dakhil ? Nous ferions d’une pierre deux coups ! Personne pour revendiquer une vengeance et nous prendrons le pouvoir ». Abou Sabbah dit : « Je revendique le pouvoir et je le tuerais ». Mais les gens qui étaient avec lui refusèrent.
Ad-Dakhil fut informé de leur complot et intelligemment, se rendant bien compte de sa faiblesse, il n’entreprit rien contre as-Sabbah pour éviter la rébellion de ses partisans et garda le secret pour lui-même, conscient du danger que pouvait représenter cet homme.
La prise de Cordoue
Lorsque l’armée d’ad-Dakhil arriva à Cordoue, il stationna devant ses portes et en interdit l’entrée à son armée. Il envoya un messager à l’intérieur qui annonça :
- « Que celui qui veut sortir de la ville sorte. Ceux des enfants de Youssouf al-Fihri qui veulent rester, qu’ils restent et ceux qui veulent sortir, qu’ils le fassent. Celui qui veut prendre ses biens, qu’il prenne ses biens. Nous ne sommes pas venus pour vous tuer mais pour restaurer le califat omeyyade et nous voulons que tous les gens prennent notre parti pacifiquement ».
Puis il entra dans la capitale et en devint le maître sans coup férir. Et ainsi, par cette politique, beaucoup de gens se rangèrent à ses côtés. C’est ici à Cordoue, qu’il devint le gouverneur officiel de l’Andalousie et qu’il prit le surnom d’ad-Dakhil (celui qui entre), ‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil.
‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil passa la majeure partie de son règne à lutter contre les révoltes qu’il réussit à mater, les unes après les autres.
Quant à Youssouf al-Fihri, il se réfugia dans la deuxième capitale majeure d’Andalousie, Tolède, d’où il réorganisa ses forces et Soumayl fuit à Jaén (jiyan), une autre ville majeure, ou il se prépara pour la bataille. Lorsqu’ils furent fin prêts, les deux armées fusionnèrent et ils marchèrent sur Cordoue à la tête d’une innombrable armée.
Ad-Dakhil informé de leur sortie, n’attendit pas qu’ils arrivent et l’assiègent mais il sortit à leur rencontre. Al-Fihri aussi avertit des mouvements d’ad-Dakhil, nomma à la tête d’une partie de son armée Abou Zayd Ibn Youssouf al-Fihri qu’il envoya discrètement prendre Cordoue vidée de sa garnison pendant que lui-même allait affronter l’armée d’ad-Dakhil. La ville fut prise sans combat et Abou ‘Uthman, le gouverneur nommé par ad-Dakhil fut fait prisonnier.
Ad-Dakhil fit demi-tour pour se rendre compte que la ville avait été conquise et que les portes étaient fermées. Deux solutions s’offraient à lui : mettre le siège sur la ville, ou repartir affronter l’armée. La raison principale de la bataille n’était pas la ville mais ses opposants al-Fihri et Soumayl qui voulait le prendre en étau entre leur armée et celle qui avait réussi à prendre Cordoue.
Ad-Dakhil choisit l’affrontement et arriva à Alvéra ou les deux armées s’affrontèrent. L’armée d’ad-Dakhil, après sa première et décisive victoire était devenue une armée forte. Soumayl se rendit alors compte qu’il ne viendrait jamais à bout d’ad-Dakhil, à cause de la faiblesse de sa propre armée, et il demanda des pourparlers. Il demanda donc la paix qui fut acceptée selon certaines conditions qu’ils approuvèrent et signèrent.
Ad-Dakhil accepta d’honorer al-Fihri et Soumayl et qu’ils gardent leurs biens à condition qu’ils restent à Cordoue et que chaque jour, ils viennent le saluer et que les deux enfants d’al-Fihri, Abou al-Aswad et ‘AbderRahmane, restent ses otages, pour garantir leurs promesses. Ce, afin de les avoir constamment sous les yeux et pour les empêcher de fuir pour aller fomenter ailleurs de nouvelles séditions et de lever une nouvelle armée.
'AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil et le retour du califat Omeyyade en Andalousie
Alors, dans toute l’Andalousie et le monde musulman se propagea les nouvelles du succès d’AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil et le retour du califat Omeyyade en Andalousie après sa chute à Damas. Tous les Omeyyades qui avaient fui en Afrique du nord vinrent se mettre sous sa protection.
Ce n’était pas pourtant pas encore la fin des difficultés avec al-Fihri et Soumayl. Les révoltes et les problèmes se succédèrent les uns aux autres mais ad-Dakhil déjoua toutes les tentatives de déstabilisations et resta le gouverneur d’Andalousie. Les historiens ont rapporté que si ad-Dakhil n’avait pas tenu ferme devant toutes ces tentatives de renversements cela aurait été la fin de l’Islam en Andalousie. Mais grâce à sa fermeté et sa ténacité, il réussit à unifier l’Andalousie et à protéger tous les Musulmans.
En l’an 141 de l’Hégire (758), les événements se stabilisèrent et un grand nombre d’Omeyyades qui vivaient dans la clandestinité, émigrèrent en Andalousie dont ‘Abdel Malik Ibn ‘Omar al-Marwani accompagné de dix hautes personnalités Omeyyades. Ad-Dakhil les honora et les rapprocha de lui tout en éloignant Abou Sabbah. Il nomma ‘Abdel Malik Ibn ‘Omar al-Marwani gouverneur de Séville et son fils Ibn ‘Omar gouverneur de Moro.
A cette époque, il était courant lors de la prière générale du vendredi (salatoul joumou’a), de faire des invocations en faveur du calife, l’émir des croyants, Aboul al-Ja’far al-Mansour, le calife abbasside. ‘Abdel Malik Ibn ‘Omar se dit alors : « Comment pouvons-nous faire des invocations en faveur de ceux qui nous ont massacrés ! » Il en informa ad-Dakhil qui refusa sa demande mais ‘Abdel Malik insista tellement qu’ad-Dakhil ordonna l’arrêt des invocations en faveur du calife abbasside.
‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil ne s’était pas nommé calife et ne se considérait pas comme un calife opposé au calife, il était simplement le gouverneur d’Andalousie et il considérait toujours Aboul al-Ja’far al-Mansour comme étant le seul calife de tous les Musulmans.
En l’an 141 de l’Hégire (758), il arriva un petit évènement qui conduisit à une affaire plus grave.
Il était convenu que Yousouf al-Fihri et Soumayl viennent le saluer chaque jour mais un jour Youssouf al-Fihri se cacha et se sauva à Mérida, la capitale de l’ouest.
Ad-Dakhil questionna Soumayl à son sujet mais il lui répondit qu’il n'avait aucune idée ou il pouvait être. Ad-Dakhil lui dit :
- « Tu mens ! Il ne peut être sortit qu’avec ton accord puisque c’est toi en vérité qui dirigeais. Ou est-il allé ? » Soumayl lui répondit durement :
- « Même si je savais ou il était je t’en informerais jamais, fait ce que tu veux ! »
Ad-Dakhil sentit le danger et ordonna son emprisonnement ainsi que des deux enfants de Youssouf al-Fihri mais leurs partisans réussirent à les faire sortir. Abou al-Aswad réussit à s’enfuir mais à cause de son embonpoint, ‘AbderRahmane Ibn Youssouf al-Fihri ne put aller très loin et capturé.
Quant à Soumayl, il se dit orgueilleusement : « Un tel homme que moi refuse de se sauver » et il préféra rester emprisonné.
Ad-Dakhil pensa à Youssouf et se dit : « Cet homme se rebelle pour la troisième fois et il a encore des partisans prêt à lui venir en aide ». Et effectivement Youssouf réunit rapidement une armée de 20.000 combattants mais ad-Dakhil se mit aussitôt en route, à la tête de son armée, vers Séville.
‘Abdel Malik Ibn ‘Omar al-Marwani lui fournit une armée dont il confia le commandement à son fils Oumayyah Ibn ‘Abdel Malik. Lorsque les deux armées furent sur le point de se rencontrer et que les nouvelles du nombre de l’armée adverse parvinrent à Oumayyah, il fut terrifié et avant que la bataille ne commence, il s’enfuit en abandonnant l’armée et retourna à Séville.
‘Abdel Malik Ibn ‘Omar al-Marwani fut stupéfait par le comportement de son fils : « Le commandant de l’armée s’enfuyant et abandonnant ses soldats ! Qu’est ce qui t’a pris à me tourner ainsi en dérision et à ramener l’ennemi sur nous ? » Lui demanda-t-il ? « Le commandant d’une armée qui abandonne ses troupes, mais que vont dire et penser les gens de nous et que va faire l’ennemi ? » Alors il lui dit : « Si c’est la mort que tu as fuis sache que tu es venue à elle et il ordonna aussitôt la mise à mort de son fils ». Afin que les gens sache que dans un tel cas, aucune relation ni aucun sentiment ne peut être d’un secours quelconque.
Il réunit alors les Bani Omeyyade et leur dit : « Nous avons été expulsés de l’est aux confins de cette terre. Nous étions dirigeants et nous sommes devenus indésirables recherchant piteusement de quoi nous rafraîchir la bouche. Alors, brisez le fourreau de vos épées car la mort nous est préférable que de vivre ainsi. Vous avez perdu le pouvoir à l’est et maintenant vous voulez le perdre à l’ouest ! »
Puis il rejoignit l’armée, prit son commandement et entra dans la bataille quand ad-Dakhil le rejoignit.
La bataille de Mérida
S’ensuivit une terrible bataille entre les deux armées, une bataille destructive qui anéantit pratiquement les deux armées et 30.000 hommes perdirent la vie.
Les deux commandants furent lourdement éprouvés mais au final l’armée de ‘Abdel Malik Ibn ‘Omar al-Marwani l’emporta bien qu’il perdit la vie tant il combattit avec force et acharnement et vu l’énorme quantité de sang qui le recouvrait. Lorsqu’il tomba mort, il fut par la suite, impossible de lui retirer son sabre des mains tellement il le serrait fort.
Quant à Youssouf al-Fihri lorsqu’il se sentit vaincu, il abandonna la bataille et se sauva. Lorsque ad-Dakhil arriva et vu le carnage de la bataille et le corps de ‘Abdel Malik Ibn Marwan, il pleura et descendit de son cheval, l’embrassa entre les deux yeux et le mentionna en bien.
Apres cela il maria son fils Hisham Ibn ‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil à la fille de ‘Abdel Malik Ibn Marwan. Il honora ses fils et leur attribua tous des postes d’importances.
Youssouf al-Fihri après sa fuite assembla pour la quatrième fois une armée et empêcha ad-Dakhil de gouverner en paix.
Après la bataille de Mérida, al-Fihri se dirigea vers Tolède. Alors qu’il était en vue de la ville, un homme du nom de ‘Abdallah Ibn ‘Omar al-Ansari le vit, le reconnut et le suivit. Il se dit : cet homme est Youssouf al-Fihri. Son assassinat sera la paix pour lui et la paix pour nous. Ce rebelle cause révolte après révolte et ne laisse jamais personne en paix ! Sa fin sera une bonne chose. Et à quelques kilomètres avant qu’il arrive à Tolède, ‘AbdAllah Ibn ‘Omar le tua et envoya sa tête à Ad-Dakhil.
Ad-Dakhil annonça la mort d’al-Fihri et sachant que Soumayl représentait toujours un danger certain, il ordonna sa mise à mort et de tous ceux qui avait participé au gouvernement précédent puisque sa politique de pardon ne fut pas respectée.
Ainsi, la paix revint et ‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil put enfin contrôler la totalité de l’Andalousie et asseoir son règne jusqu’en l’an 146 de l’Hégire (763) ou il dut faire face à l’un des plus graves événements de sa souveraineté.
L’envoyé du calife abbasside
Un homme du nom d’al-A’la Ibn Mou’ith al-Joudami venant du Maghreb traversa le détroit de Gibraltar et débarqua en Andalousie à Libaja.
Cet homme était envoyé par le calife abbasside Abou Ja’far al-Mansour pour réclamer l’Andalousie. Il révéla le noir étendard des Abbassides et commença à appeler les gens à porter allégeance au calife : « Les Musulmans n’ont qu’un seul calife, rejoignez-nous ! » Et effectivement les gens prirent son parti et la guerre entre les Abbassides et les Omeyyades reprit.
Tous les ennemis d’ad-Dakhil en profitèrent pour rejoindre les rangs des Abbassides. Lorsque al-A’la Ibn Mou’ith al-Joudami réunit assez de monde, il se dirigea vers Séville. Sur la route il s’arrêta à Sidonie ou les gens l’accueillirent chaleureusement et l’assistèrent.
Ad-Dakhil envoya une armée à sa rencontre mais elle arriva à Sidonie alors qu’al-A’la l’avait déjà quitté.
Badr, le commandant de l’armée d’ad-Dakhil, prit la ville de nouveau voulant ainsi détourner al-A’la de son but principal mais celui-ci arriva à Séville et prit la ville.
Beaucoup de gens prirent son parti, les ennemis des Omeyyades, les ennemis d’ad-Dakhil, les partisans des Abbassides et toux ceux qui avait occupé des fonctions principales avant l’arrivée d’ad-Dakhil en Andalousie.
Bientôt l'armée d’al-A’la dépassa largement en nombre celle d’ad-Dakhil qui prit la fuite et se réfugia à Carmona ou il se fortifia. L’armée d’al-A’la arriva à Carmona et mit le siège tandis qu’ad-Dakhil, le gouverneur Omeyyade d’Andalousie, se retrouva assiégé par les Abbassides. Le siège dura deux mois.
Un jour, ad-Dakhil organisa ses forces puis ordonna d’ouvrir les portes de la forteresse et d’un seul élan son armée de 700 hommes sortit et s’abattit sur l’armée d’al-A’la qui ne s’attendait nullement à une telle réaction de la part d’assiégés affamés. Son armée fut pulvérisée et après une sanglante bataille, il dut prendre la fuite. Mais il fut poursuivi jusqu’aux murs de Séville ou il fut rejoint et tué avec 7.000 de ses partisans.
Ad-Dakhil lui coupa la tête, qui fut remplit de sel et de camphre pour éviter sa dégradation et y donner une bonne odeur, puis accrocha un message à l’une de ses oreilles avant de mettre la tête dans un coffret qu’il fit envoyer au calife Abou Ja’far al-Mansour par les pèlerins qui allaient au pèlerinage. De même, il fit trancher la tête de tous les commandants qui avaient participé à cette révolte et après avoir écrit le nom de chacun sur une feuille accroché à leurs oreilles, il fit mettre leurs têtes dans des boites. Puis il ordonna que ces têtes soient jetées dans les rues de la Mecque ou le calife faisait son Pèlerinage et que la tête d’al-A’la soit placée en face de la tente du calife.
Lorsque le calife sortit il trouva le coffret qu’il ouvrit pour se rendre compte que c’était la tête de son envoyé en Andalousie, il fut pétrifié et dit sa célèbre parole : « Louange à Allah qui a mis entre nous et ce diable la mer ». C’est Abou Ja’far al-Mansour qui attribua après cela, le surnom de « Saqr Qouraysh » ou le Faucon des Qouraysh à ‘AbderRahmane Ibn Mou’awiyyah Ibn Hisham Ibn ‘Abdel Malik Ibn Marwan al-Amawi.
Ainsi ad-Dakhil mit fin à la révolte des Abbassides en l’an 146 de l’Hégire mais cela n’était qu’une révolte qui allait être suivit d’autres révoltes successives et finalement il n’allait jamais vivre en paix.
Les rebellions
En l’an 147 de l’Hégire (764) Hashim Ibn ‘Oudran al-Fihri se rebella à Tolède.
Ad-Dakhil ayant compris la leçon ne lui laissa pas le temps de s’organiser et l’attaqua aussitôt et lorsque Hashim sentit la défaite il demanda des pourparlers de paix. Ad-Dakhil accepta à condition que le fils de Hisham retourne avec lui et Hisham accepta. Avant qu’ad-Dakhil ne parvienne à Cordoue, Hisham se rebella de nouveau. Ad-Dakhil tua alors le fils de Hisham avant de faire demi-tour et de mettre le siège sur Tolède.
Mais d’autres événements ailleurs en Andalousie demandaient son attention. Il laissa son serviteur Badr à la tête de l’armée et celui-ci peut de temps après succédait dans la prise de la ville et de la capture du responsable de la révolte qui fut tué.
Au mois de Rabi’ Awwal de l’année 148 (765), Sa’id al-Ya’soubi al-Moutri se révolta à Labla et captura Séville. En même temps, Ghayatou al-Lakhmi se révolta à Sidonie et annonça son allégeance à al-Moutri renforçant ainsi sa position.
Ad-Dakhil leur envoya son serviteur Badr qui les encercla. Mais ce n’est qu’en 149 (766), qu’ad-Dakhil tua Sa’id al-Moutri. Les habitants de Séville excédés par ces révoltes successives demandèrent la vie sauve à ad-Dakhil en échange de la remise des fauteurs de troubles y compris le gouverneur. ad-Dakhil accepta et fit aussitôt mettre à mort Khalifah le gouverneur.
En l’an 149 de l’Hégire (766), ‘AbdAllah al-Ousdi se révolta mais fut vaincu par ad-Dakhil.
Puis, cette même année, Abou Sabbah al-Ya’soubi, qui fut l’allié d’ad-Dakhil se révolta aussi. Abou Sabbah était le gouverneur de Séville et il avait promis son aide et sa présence auprès d’ad-Dakhil lorsque celui-ci débarquerait en Andalousie.
Abou Sabbah avait pensé à tuer ad-Dakhil alors qu’il était encore faible mais ses compagnons avaient refusé. Suite à cela, ad-Dakhil se sépara de lui et l’isola. Après un certain temps, Abou Sabbah se révolta à cause de son isolation et c’était un homme très fort et courageux qui avait beaucoup de partisans. Ad-Dakhil réussit à le faire venir à Cordoue ou il le tua et se débarrassa de lui une fois pour toute.
Puis Rayyas al-Ousdi se révolta, lorsqu’il apprit la nouvelle de la mort d’as-Sabbah. Il appela les tribus yéménites et leur demanda de se joindre à lui. Ad-Dakhil lui envoya deux armées et il fut vaincu et pour la deuxième fois ad-Dakhil prit Séville.
Toutes ces révoltes successives entraînèrent un grand changement dans sa personnalité et il vit différemment ces gens qui ne voulaient pas le laisser en paix, qui se combattaient les uns les autres sans relâche, pour la recherche du pouvoir et des biens. Alors il changea la structure de son armée et laissa plus de place aux Berbères et aux Saqalibah mais cela n’arrêta pas les rebellions.
Après as-Sabbah, Haywatah al-Hadrami se révolta à Séville, ‘Abdel Ghafir al-Ya’soubi à Labla et ‘Amr Ibn Talout à Baja. Ad-Dakhil les attaqua et lorsque les rebelles se sentirent vaincus, ils demandèrent la paix que leur accorda ‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil avant de les laisser.
Et pendant ce temps, profitant des différents qui occupaient les Musulmans, Faruella (farouilla) le successeur d’Alfonsh et les Francs (al-franja) occupèrent tout le nord de l’Andalousie. Ad-Dakhil informé des mouvements de ses ennemis y vit un nouveau et pressant danger. Il envoya aussitôt son fidèle serviteur Badr qui parvint à Alba et réussit à stopper l’expansion des Francs.
En l’an 150 de l’Hégire (767), eut lieu une autre grave révolte. Un berbère nommé Shiqnah Ibn ‘Abdel Wahid al-Maknassi se fit passer pour un descendant d’al-Houssayn Ibn Fatima (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux) et il fut nommé Shiqnah al-Fatimi. Il se nomma lui-même ‘Abdallah Ibn Muhammad et les Berbères se réunirent autour de lui et le crurent. Et une très grande force armée se regroupa à l’extrême sud-ouest dans une nouvelle ville du nom de Sainte Marie que les Arabes appellent Shanta Mariyah.
Dès qu’ad-Dakhil eut vent de ces évènements, il prépara une armée en conséquence et l’attaqua. Lorsque Shiqnah se sentit vaincu, il s’enfuit et se réfugia dans les montagnes. ‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil se lança à sa poursuite mais il ne put le rattraper. Il revint donc dans la capitale de son royaume et y laissa Souleyman Ibn ‘Uthman Ibn Marwan Ibn Abban Ibn ‘Uthman Ibn ‘Affan (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui qui finit par tuer Shiqnah. Cette rébellion de Berbères shiites dura 9 années
Les Abbassides envoient un nouvel envoyé
En 160 de l’Hégire (776), un homme du nom de ‘AbderRahmane Ibn Habib al-Fihri connut sous le nom d’as-Souqloubi arriva d’Afrique envoyé par le calife abbasside al-Mahdi Ibn al-Mansour.
Il appela les gens à lui porter allégeance au nom du calife abbasside. Il leur expliqua que dans toutes les terres musulmanes, le califat était aux mains des Abbassides excepté en Andalousie ou il était aux mains de ‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil qui n’était ni calife, ni émir des croyants.
Il est vrai qu’ad-Dakhil se faisait appeler émir d’Andalousie, une enclave indépendante du califat musulman.
‘AbderRahmane as-Souqloubi appela les gens à le suivre au nom de l’unification et au rattachement de l’Andalousie au reste de l’empire musulman et aux Abbasside.
Il envoya un messager au gouverneur Souleyman Ibn Yaqban al-Kalbi de Saragosse et lui demanda de se ranger à ses côtés et de lui remettre la ville et le poste de gouverneur. Mais Souleyman ne se laissa pas intimider et refusa.
A la place de s’occuper d’ad-Dakhil, as-Souqloubi attaqua Souleyman qui le vainquit tandis qu’ad-Dakhil en profita pour attaquer les arrières de l’armée de Souqloubi et pour l’empêcher de fuir, brûla tous ses navires.
Souqloubi s’enfuit alors dans les montagnes et ad-Dakhil promit une récompense de 1.000 dinars à celui qui le ramènerait mort ou vif. Un berbère le tua, ramena sa tête à ad-Dakhil et prit la récompense. Ainsi échoua la deuxième tentative des Abbassides de mettre la main sur l’Andalousie.
Enorgueillit par sa victoire sur Souqloubi, Souleyman Ibn Yaqban, réclama plus de pouvoir et se révolta suivit par al-Qahid as-Salmi à Tolède, entre 162 et 163, qui fut vaincu et Ibrahim al-Barlathi vaincu aussi par Badr le serviteur d’ad-Dakhil.
Un homme du nom de Doumia al-Ghassani se rebella aussi à Alvéra mais un commandant de l’armée d’ad-Dakhil du nom de Shahid Ibn ‘Issa le vainquit puis, ‘Abbas al-Barbari à Alvéra qui fut aussi vaincu.
Et pour la première fois, se révoltèrent certains Omeyyades à Alvéra.
Le premier d’entre eux fut Ibn Salam Ibn Yazid Ibn Hisham puis ‘Oubaydillah Ibn Abban Ibn Mou’awiyyah Ibn Hisham. Et les problèmes commencèrent entre les Omeyyades motivés uniquement par la recherche du pouvoir. Celui qui les incitait à la rébellion était Abou ‘Uthman qui aida ad-Dakhil et lui soumit la conquête de l’Andalousie.
Ad Dakhil, les attaqua et les tua. Puis il se tint devant la dépouille d’Abou ‘Uthman et lui dit : « Je t’ai laissé émir ici par respect pour toi et pour tes bienfaits envers moi ». Puis il dit en référence aux Abbassides : « Celui-là est Abou Mouslim (al-Khorassani, celui qui prépara le pouvoir pour l’accession des Abbassides. Les Abbassides le tuèrent de peur qu’il se retourne contre eux ou qu’il recherche le pouvoir) et après m’avoir offert son aide, il se retourne contre moi ? »
Ce fut le début des épreuves entre les Omeyyades.
‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil réussit à reconquérir Alvéra mais il échoua devant Saragosse. Il envoya une armée commandée par Tha’labah Ibn ‘Oubayd pour venir à bout de Souleyman Ibn Yaqban al-A‘rabi et Houssayn Ibn Yahya al-Ansari mais Tha’labah fut fait prisonnier après que son armée fut battue.
La traitrise de Souleyman Ibn Yaqban al-A’rabi et l’arrivée de Charlemagne à Saragosse
Et pour la première fois dans l’histoire de l’Andalousie Souleyman Ibn Yaqban al-A’rabi fit ce que personne d’autre avant lui ne fit : il demanda de l’aide à Charlemagne alors à la tête de l’Europe.
Pour la première fois, un apostat musulman fit appel aux ennemis de l’Islam pour l’aider contre les Musulmans. Et des messagers furent envoyés des deux côtés. Charlemagne demanda à Souleyman ce qu’il voulait. Souleyman lui répondit : « Je veux diriger l’Andalousie, expulser ad-Dakhil et prendre sa place ».
- « Et qu’est-ce qu’il y aura pour moi », lui demanda Charlemagne. Souleyman le traître (khahine) dit : « Je te donnerais Saragosse et le nord de l’Andalousie ».
Charlemagne fut enchanté par cette proposition. Si le nord et l’accès de l’Andalousie lui était offert, il n’aurait aucun mal à récupérer le reste. Et aussitôt à la tête d’une vaste armée, il se mit en route vers Saragosse pour venir à l’aide de Souleyman al-A’rabi et capturer le reste de l’Andalousie posant ainsi un nouveau danger au règne de ‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil.
Mais la prédestination du Tout Puissant en voulut autrement. Parmi les Musulmans, des savants et des gens de science de Saragosse se consultèrent et dirent aux gens : « Comment pouvez-vous accepter une telle trahison ? » Et ils fermèrent les portes de la ville au nez de Charlemagne.
Charlemagne fut surprit de voir les portes fermées devant lui et la ville en état de défense contre lui. Il chassa Souleyman tandis que Houssayn al-Ansari prit le commandement de la rébellion contre Charlemagne. Charlemagne qui était venu prendre la ville sans combat se voyait maintenant obligé de mettre le siège sur la ville.
La bataille entre Charlemagne et les gens de Saragosse commença et l’étau se renforça sur la ville. Et encore une fois la prédestination d’Allah intervint en faveur des Musulmans : une miséricorde da Sa part, comme pour les remercier de leur patience et d’avoir refusé la trahison. En effet de nouveaux événements surgirent en France près du Rhin ou les Saxons se rebellèrent contre Charlemagne. Charlemagne eut peur pour son règne, il abandonna donc Saragosse et se dirigea vers la France et les Saxons pour les éduquer.
Lorsqu’il voulut repasser les Pyrénées par un étroit chemin, il fut attaqué par les tribus locales, les Basques (al-bashkane). Ils laissèrent passer d’abord le corps principal de son armée et attaquèrent son arrière garde, tuant la plupart des soldats[1]. Charlemagne fit demi-tour et les attaqua mais voyant ses pertes s’aggraver, il se sauva avec le reste de son armée totalement décimée.
Puis craignant qu’ad-Dakhil en profite pour le poursuivre, il lui envoya une offre de paix soumise à condition que ni l’un ou l'autre n’attaque ce que promis ad-Dakhil.
Houssayn al-Ansari qui s’était rebellé avec Souleyman al-A’rabi et qui avait aidé à lever le blocus de Saragosse se révolta à son tour et voyant que ‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil était toujours occupé à lutter contre les rebelles, les Goths en profitèrent pour parachever la conquête du nord de l’Andalousie.
‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil envoya sur Saragosse une armée commandée par Thamamah Ibn al-‘Alqama. Thamamah réussit à vaincre Houssayn et à reconquérir une nouvelle fois la ville. Ad-Dakhil arriva alors que la ville était sur le point de tomber et lorsque la ville fut conquise, il tua Houssayn.
Les historiens ont rapporté un petit fait montrant le caractère d’Ad-Dakhil : « Lorsque ad-Dakhil eut mis la ville en règle et que les fautifs furent châtiés, un simple soldat rentra dans ses appartements sans permission et lui bénit la conquête et la victoire d’une voie forte et impolie. Ad-Dakhil fut stupéfait par cet homme effronté. Alors ‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil lui dit : « Je Jure par Allah, si ce n’était ce jour où Celui qui est au-dessus de moi (Allah le Très Haut) m’a comblé de Ses grâces et que je dois Lui être reconnaissant, qui que tu sois, je t’aurais éduqué et montré de quelle manière ont doit s’adresser à moi. Mais aujourd’hui est un jour de fête pour nous. Tu rentres chez nous comme un tapageur et tu brais sans avoir de respect pour ceux qui occupe ce poste, je t’aurais fait connaitre sa valeur afin que tu ne recommences jamais cela. T’adresses-tu à nous comme tu t’adresses à ton père ou à ton frère ? Aujourd’hui ton ignorance t’a sauvée et j’ai peur que ton ignorance te fait répéter ce même genre d’action ! Et alors tu ne trouveras pas une occasion comme celle-ci ou je t’ai sauvé de ta bêtise car je suis aujourd’hui vainqueur ». Le soldat lui répondit curieusement : « Insha a Allah, puisses-tu remporter victoires sur victoires ainsi tes victoires seront pour moi une intercession ». L’émir dont le visage rayonna fut vraiment abasourdi par cette réponse et dit : « Cette réponse n’est pas la réponse d’un homme ignorant et simple d’esprit mais celle d’un homme intelligent ! » Puis il dit : « Parlez-nous de vous si vous ne trouvez personne qui nous parle de vous. Il honora cet homme et le couvrit de cadeaux ».
Ainsi était le caractère de ‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil. Il prenait soin à tirer parti des qualités de tous les gens près de lui.
La rébellion des Omeyyades
En l’an 166 de l’Hégire (782), al-Moughirah Ibn Walid Ibn Mou’awiyyah Ibn Hisham Ibn ‘Abdel Malik, le fils du frère de ‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil, se rebella à Cordoue et réclama le pouvoir en s’alliant avec Foudayl Ibn Soumayl Ibn Hatim Ibn Shibr Ibn Jawsham mais il fut tué en 168 par ad-Dakhil qui s’étonna de son manque de reconnaissance envers lui alors qu’il l’avait honoré après l’avoir fait venir de Syrie.
‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil confisqua ses bien et les envoya, via un messager, à son père al-Walid et lui demanda de quitter l’Andalousie. Al-Walid fut extrêmement peiné et dit au messager qu’il n’avait absolument rien à voir avec son fils et se justifia longuement si bien que le messager revint. Non, dit ad-Dakhil, son fils s’est élevé contre moi et il est la plus proche personne après lui. Il ne peut rester en Andalousie, qu’il parte ! Je ne peux plus lui faire confiance.
Al-Walid quitta l’Andalousie et partit au Maghreb.
Quant à ‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil, il allait dorénavant ne plus faire confiance aux gens et il se retourna contre tous ses proches, même contre son serviteur Badr.
Après avoir longuement réfléchit et s’être préparé en conséquence, Abou al-Aswad Muhammad Ibn Youssouf al-Fihri, le fils du précédent gouverneur d’Andalousie qui était resté emprisonné de l’an 141 jusqu’en l’an 168 de l’Hégire (784) se révolta.
Vingt-sept années en prison ne l’empêchèrent pas de préparer des plans pour se révolter contre le gouverneur d’Andalousie. Il employa une audacieuse ruse en se faisant passer pour aveugle. Il résista aux tests que lui firent passer ses geôliers pour voir s’il était vraiment aveugle et effectivement, il fut pris pour aveugle si bien qu’on l’aidait à marcher, que l’on s’occupait de lui et il feignit longtemps la cécité.
La prison de Cordoue se trouvait près d’un fleuve et il était courant que les gardiens emmènent les prisonniers, tour à tour, se laver, laver leur linge près du fleuve avant de les ramener en cellule.
Un jour, alors que s’était son tour et qu’il était dans le fleuve, il s’éloigna petit à petit de la berge tandis qu’il avait convenu d’un rendez-vous avec son serviteur qui vint le chercher le jour convenu et ensemble ils s’éloignèrent à la nage, traversèrent le fleuve, montèrent sur des chevaux qui les attendaient et se dirigèrent vers Tolède.
Voyant la ville fermement dirigée, il se dirigea vers Castallane (qastalona) ou il mit sur pied une gigantesque armée d’anciens partisans d’al-Fihri et des ennemis d’ad-Dakhil. ‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil le suivit et eut lieu la bataille de Castallane ou Abou al-Aswad fut vaincu et où périrent 4.000 hommes de son armée.
Abou al-Aswad réussit à s’enfuir et réorganisa une nouvelle armée mais ad-Dakhil le suivit et le battit de nouveau, tuant une autre partie de son armée tandis qu’Abou al-Aswad s’enfuit à Tolède ou il rechercha de l’aide sans succès. Puis, il se réfugia près de Tolède ou il finit par mourir.
Son frère al-Qassim se rebella aussi mais fut aussi tué par ‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil.
Entre l’an 168 (784) et 172 de l’Hégire (788), ad-Dakhil fut uniquement préoccupé par toutes ces rebellions successives auxquelles il mit toute fin.
Pendant ce temps les Goths au nord se levèrent en même temps que Abou al-Aswad en 168 de l’Hégire (784) et conquirent Galice (jiliqiyah) mais ‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil et le gouverneur de Tolède les combattirent victorieusement, prirent la ville et collectèrent un immense butin avant de revenir.
En l’an 170 de l’Hégire (786), les Berbères se rebellèrent mais ad Dakhil leur envoya une armée qui les écrasa.
A cet époque, ‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil ne faisait plus confiance à personne après la trahison d’Abou ‘Uthman. Badr son serviteur éprouva de la fatigue suite à toutes les batailles qu’il commandé pour le compte d’ad-Dakhil. Il demanda à se retirer pour occuper un poste de dirigeant. Ad-Dakhil refusa de peur que le pouvoir lui monte à la tête et qu’il se rebelle à son tour. Badr lui demanda alors de l’argent mais ad-Dakhil refusa. Badr s’en alla vivre seul et mourut ainsi.
La mort de ‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil
Ad-Dakhil fut peiné par son propre comportement et il repensa à cette âme généreuse, indulgente et unificatrice qui l’animait au début de son pouvoir. Mais vingt-cinq rebellions successives altérèrent son comportement envers les gens et malgré son attachement à la bonté et à l’unification des cœurs, il finit par devenir un homme dur du fait que ses plus proches des Bani Omeyyades s’étaient eux même élevés contre lui.
Durant son règne, l’Andalousie fut coupée du reste de l’empire musulman qui était totalement sous le contrôle des Abbassides.
Et à cause de toutes ses révoltes, demandant son attention et sa présence permanente, les Musulmans furent chassés du sud de la France tandis que les Goths reprirent le nord de l’Andalousie. Il voulut mettre fin aux problèmes posés par les Goths mais du fait de son incessante activités à étouffer les rebellions, il ne put mener à bien sa mission.
C’est la recherche insatiable du pouvoir qui contribua à affaiblir les Musulmans. Et c’est la recherche des biens terrestres qui fit que les rivalités entre Musulmans s’aggravent et les poussent à s’entretuer. Et de ce fait, les Goths prirent de grands part de territoires sur le dos des Musulmans.
En l’an 172 de l’Hégire (788), le Faucon des Qouraysh, ‘AbderRahmane Ibn Mou’awiyyah Ibn Hisham Ibn ‘Abdel Malik Ibn al-Marwan dit ‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil trouva enfin la paix. Entré en l’an 138 de l’Hégire (755) en Andalousie et après avoir vaincu tous ses ennemis, il s’éteignit.
Une longue période de trente-quatre de règne durant lesquelles il ne resta pas un jour en paix. C’est grâce à sa résistance et sa patience que le règne Omeyyade continua de régner longtemps en Andalousie.
Lorsqu’il sentit sa mort, ‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil pensa à sa succession et il avait devant lui deux choix principaux.
Le premier, son fils célibataire, le plus âgé de ses fils, Souleyman Ibn ‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil, de son épouse Shamiyyah, qui à cette époque dirigeait Tolède. Mais Souleyman était moins sage et moins résistant que son autre frère Hisham gouverneur de Mérida dont la mère était une espagnole convertie.
Allait-il laissé à son poste d’émir le plus grand ou le plus jeune ?
S’il laissait le plus grand, il en résulterait la perte de l’Andalousie et s’il laissait le plus petit, son grand frère se révolterait contre lui. Et il resta indécis jusqu’à sa mort.
Peu avant sa mort, ‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil confia sa bague sceau d’état, avec laquelle il signait ses courrier, à son fils ‘AbdAllah en lui dit : « Le premier qui viendrait de tes frères remets lui le sceau ». Et lorsque la nouvelle du décès de leur père leur arriva le premier à se présenter fut Hisham le plus jeune frère. ‘AbdAllah lui remit le sceau et le salua comme nouvel émir.
Hisham était alors âgé de 30 ans lorsqu’il devint émir officiel d’Andalousie.
Puisse Allah pardonner et faire miséricorde à ‘AbderRahmane ad-Dakhil.
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