The Role of Saqaliba slaves in Weakening the Umayyad Government in Andalusia

During the Umayyad of Andalusia period (138-421), Saqaliba came to this land while the Umayyad government was very dissatisfied with the competition between the Arabs and Berbers and their continuous conflicts with each other. Hence, the Umayyads tried to attract the Saqalibas and connect them to the court to take advantage of their ability to balance power in the society and continue their monarchy. The present research after reviewing the condition of the Saqaliba slaves and eunuchs aimed to answer the question that what was the role of these slaves in changing the fate of the Umayyad government and transferring it to ʿĀmirids. The findings indicate that after “castration” these slaves were employed in the caliphs’ palaces and harems and due to their close relationship with the rulers, emirs, and government officials, they had access to the government’s secret details. Therefore, they could intervene in power relations and play an effective role in weakening the Umayyad government in Andalusia and giving power to ʿĀmirids.