Independent Sovereigns of Moorish Descent
Section 4:
One of the independent sovereigns of Moorish descent with whom Frederick II came into contact was Morabit, a name whose attachment may be found with the Sanhadja Berber tribes, known as murabit. Growing conflicts and rebellion against the expansionist policies of Frederick II eventually led to the death of Morabit. In 1239, however, another Black man, Johannes Maurus, attained a position of considerable authority at the Hohenstaufan royal court." In South Italy and Sicily," writes Paul Kaplan, " dark-skinned Moslems had already been visible for several centuries.
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The golden age of the Umayyad dynasty in Spain came during the tenth century. Under the reigns of Adb-al-Rahman III (912-61) and Hakam II (961-76), the Umayyad dynasty established sovereignty over the most substantial portion of the Iberian Peninsula. At the pinnacle of the Umayyad dynasty the great city of Cordoba possessed 200,000 residences, 600 mosques, and 900 public baths that were patronized by all social classes. Among his many accomplishments, Hakam II added twenty-seven schools for the free instruction of the poor.
It should be pointed out that, at least during this era of Islamic Spain, girls as well as boys went to school, and numerous Moorish woman became prominent in the literary and artistic fields. Other Moorish women were involved in education, law, medicine and library science. Both Tarik ibn Ziyad and Abd-al-Rahman I - the founder of the Umayyad dynasty in Spain in 756, are said to have belonged to the Nafza Berbers. In fact, one of the most important keys to Adb-al-Rahman's success as a monarch was his recruitment, directly from Africa, of a well-trained army of more than 40,000 Berbers. Many of the Nafza settled in Spain. Rich and numerous, the Nafza Berbers of Osuna, Spain, become civic leaders, writers and theologians. The Nafza also constituted a significant part of the population of Takurunna.
The Masmuda Berbers were described as Blacks by Abu Shama in his Kitab al-ravdatayn. They settled in several parts of Spain, including Mawrur, Cordoba, Valencia, Guadalajara, and Santaver. Masmuda Berbers also settled in southern Portugal. Neither did wealth and prestige escape the Masmuda. The previously mentioned of the powerful Almohad dynasty, Adb al-Mumin, was a Masmuda Berber.
In the invasion of Rome, Pope John VII agreed to pay an annual tribute of 25,000 marks of silver to the Saracens to retreat. Frederick II (1197-1250), of the Hohenstaufen dynasty, developed especially close relationships with the remaining Blacks in Sicily, and retained a Moorish chamberlain who was constantly in his presence. While admittedly breaking the Islamic power base, he also solicited the aid of the Moors from Palermo in his intense struggle with the papacy. After resettling conquered Muslims on the Italian mainland at Lucera, the monarch recruited an elite guard unit of 16,000 Black troops.
Among the most substantial Berber groups to occupy Spain were the Hawwara,
Luwata, Nafza, Masmuda, Zanata, and Sanhadja. Before participating in
the eighth century invasion of Spain, the Hawwara Berbers in Africa occupied
the province of Tripolitania and the deserts of southern Tunisia. They
worshiped the Libyan sun god Amun, who was depicted as a bull or ram.
After the invasion of Spain, they settled in Cordoba, and established
a fortified city near Jaen. A wealthy group of Hawwara also settled in
Morida and Medellin. Abd-al-Rahman ibn Musa al- Hawwari was a judge in
Ecija during the reign of Abd-al-Rahman III. 