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Labib al-Fata al-Saqlabi (Arabic: لبيب الفتى الصقلبي) (or Labib of Tortosa) was the founder and first ruler of the Taifa of Tortosa from around AH 400 (1009/1010 CE) to AH 431 (1039/1040). He was a Saqaliba, usually Slavic children that were captured, castrated, sold as slaves in Spain, and educated in the Islamic culture and religion.

It is possible that Labib left Cordoba after Hisham II was deposed in AH 400 (1009/1010). Some time after this he took power in the city of Tortosa, but was deposed when the city was briefly taken over by the Mundhir I of the Taifa of Zaragoza. However, due to aid from the Mubarak and Muzaffar of Taifa of Valencia he was able to regain his throne. During this time, the poet Ibn Darrach al-Qastalli dedicated a composition to him.

He supported the proclamation of Abd al-Rahman IV as caliph of Cordoba in AH 408 (1017/1018), but they and their caliph were defeated in the vicinity of Granada by Zawi ibn Ziri. Shortly after this Mubarak and Muzaffar died (possibly due to a rebellion instigated by Labib), and Labib became the ruler of the Taifa of Valencia.

In AH 410 (1019/1020) he became co-ruler of the Taifa of Valencia alongside Mujāhid al-ʿĀmirī. This arrangement only lasted until AH 411 (1020/1021), when Labib was forced to leave Valencia and return to Tortosa. Soon after this Mujahid was replaced by Abd al-Aziz ibn Ámir as the ruler of The Taifa of Valencia.

In AH 427 (1035/1036), Labib declared allegiance to Hisham II (who was most likely dead after the Berbers sacking Cordoba in 1013) as a symbol of his legitimacy, after the ruler of the Taifa of Seville, Abu al-Qasim Muhammad ibn Abbad claimed he had reappeared.

It is possible that he died in Tortosa in AH 431 (1039/1040), but it is uncertain whether he was deposed or named a successor, since the only evidence found has been that after this date coinage was issued by his successor, Muqatil Sayf al-Milla.

External links

• Spanish Royal Academy of History biography page of Labib al-Fata al-Saqlabi

References

1. Viguera, María Jesús (1992-01-01). Los reinos de taifas y las invasiones magrebíes: (al-Andalus del IX al XIII) (in Spanish). Editorial MAPFRE. pp. 75–79. ISBN 978-84-7100-432-1.
2. La Chica Garrido, Margarita. (1973). Almanzor y los poemas de Ibn Darray al-Qastalli : (tesis doctoral). . p. 17. OCLC 433843970.
3. Fernández, Luis Suárez (1976). Historia de Espana antigua y media (in Spanish). Ediciones Rialp. ISBN 9788432118821.
4. Coscollá Sanz, Vicente. (2003). Valencia musulmana. Carena. p. 2. ISBN 84-87398-75-8. OCLC 1025003265.
5. Kennedy, Hugh (Hugh N.) (1996). Muslim Spain and Portugal : a political history of al-Andalus. London: Longman. pp. 130–131. ISBN 0-582-49515-6. OCLC 34746098.

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