In the early 9th century, Tunisia, then known as “Ifriqiya,” witnessed the birth of the first Islamic state on its lands, the Aghlabid State, founded by Ibrahim ibn al-Aghlab. This state quickly expanded, reaching southern Italy, where it governed the Emirate of Bari.
In 827 CE, the Muslim commander Abu Abdullah Asad ibn al-Furat, the Qadi of Kairouan, set sail from Kairouan to conquer the island of Sicily. From the moment his feet touched Sicilian soil, the journey of Muslims in southern Italy began. Within a few years, Muslims established several Arab-Islamic emirates in southern Italy.
The Islamic Emirate of Bari, centered in the city of Bari in southern Italy from 847 to 871 CE, represented the most enduring presence of Islam in southern Italy. Arabs ruled this emirate for 25 years.
The Conquest of the Emirate of Bari
When the Aghlabid Muslims reached Sicily in 827 CE, it became evident that their journey in southern Italy would not end there. Gradually, Italian cities and islands began falling into the hands of Muslim conquerors.
At that time, the city of Bari, then known as “Barah,” was inhabited by non-Roman Christians and became an early target for Islamic conquests in southern Italy. A man named Jabalah, a servant of Ibrahim ibn al-Aghlab, led an initial campaign to conquer the city but failed.
Due to repeated failures to control Bari, a military commander named Khalfoun al-Barbari took responsibility for leading an attack on the Italian city in 847 CE. He commanded Arab and Berber armies to successfully conquer Bari after imposing a siege. A breach in the city walls was discovered, allowing Khalfoun and his soldiers to enter and establish control. Khalfoun declared himself the governor of Bari, turning it into an Islamic emirate.
As Bari transformed into an Islamic emirate, Muslims extended their dominance over southern Italy in the first half of the 9th century, leaving only Naples, which opted for a peace treaty and alliance with the Muslims.
Khalfoun attempted to consolidate his rule by addressing the basic needs of the city’s residents. However, the social fabric of Bari, with its diversity of Arab and Berber inhabitants, posed a threat to its stability. The first Emir of Bari, Khalfoun al-Barbari, fell victim to racial tensions between Arabs and Berbers and was assassinated in a plot.
Three Muslim Rulers Governed the Emirate of Bari
As mentioned earlier, Khalfoun al-Barbari was the first ruler of the Islamic Emirate of Bari, but his reign lasted only four years before his assassination in 852 CE. He was succeeded by one of his soldiers, Mufarrij ibn Salam, who also faced internal strife between Arabs and Berbers, leading to his brief rule.
Mufarrij ibn Salam built the first grand mosque in Bari, with some Italian sources suggesting its location corresponds to the current cathedral in the historic city center.
Mufarrij sought to expand the Emirate of Bari by launching military campaigns, successfully capturing 24 fortresses and engaging in battles against Christian forces, including the Lombards and Slavs, in 855 CE. During his rule, Bari became a stronghold of jihad in southern Italy and experienced economic prosperity, fueled by the spoils from various raids and battles.
However, the simmering tensions between Arabs and Berbers eventually led to Mufarrij’s assassination in 856 CE. The Berbers appointed Sawdan al-Maori as his successor.
Sawdan al-Maori’s rule was the longest, but it marked the final years of Muslim control over the Emirate of Bari.
In 861 CE, Prince Sawdan al-Maori sent a letter to the Abbasid Caliph al-Mutawakkil, requesting official recognition of his authority over Bari. However, before receiving a response, Caliph al-Mutawakkil was killed, and his successor, al-Muntasir, took over. Taking advantage of the political unrest, Sawdan proclaimed himself “Sultan of Bari,” turning the emirate into a center from which he launched campaigns to conquer surrounding cities.
As Sultan, Sawdan sought peace treaties and agreements with neighboring Christian rulers, allowing him to focus on the city of Naples, which had broken its alliance with the Muslims. He led his armies toward Naples, capturing the islands of Capua, Conza, and Iporia along the way.
Sawdan also invaded the lands of the Lombard Duchy of Benevento, forcing Prince Adelchis to pay tribute after defeating him in one of the fiercest battles in southern Italy during that time.
The Fall of the Islamic Emirate of Bari
Since its establishment in 847 CE, the Emirate of Bari stood as a front line between Muslims and Christians in southern Italy. The Italian Christian alliance awaited the right moment to strike this fledgling state, which had rapidly expanded at the expense of the Lombards and Slavs.
In 865 CE, Louis II, King of Italy, supported by Roman Emperor Ludwig II, issued a decree calling fighters from northern Italy to gather in Lucera in the spring of 866 for an attack on Bari.
In the summer of 867, Italian forces launched an assault on Bari, which had held strong for years. However, by February 2, 871, the great coalition managed to breach the walls of the Emirate of Bari after an outbreak of disease weakened the city.
Once inside, Emperor Ludwig II massacred the city’s inhabitants, with some Italian sources stating that no Muslims survived, not even the sultan, who was killed in the fierce battle that left the city in ruins.
