Page:Bury J B The Cambridge Medieval History Vol 2 1913.djvu/396

368 Shortly afterwards 'Uḳba ibn Nāfi' appears to have become the successor of Ibn Ḥudaij. After a brilliant raid through the chain of oases on the northern fringe of the Sahara, where he renewed the Arabian dominion, he undertook in the year 670 an expedition against the so-called Proconsular Africa, where he founded, as an Arabian camp and strategical point of support, on the same lines as Baṣra and Kūfa, Ḳairawān, which became later so famous. Shortly afterwards, at most in a few years, he was recalled.

Under Ibn Ḥudaij and 'Uḳba Africa had grown into a province independent of Egypt; now it was once more attached to Egypt. The new governor-general Maslama ibn Mukhallad sent his freedman Dīnār Abu-l-Muhājir as 'Uḳba's successor. By him 'Uḳba was put in chains; Maslama plainly disapproved 'Uḳba's policy. He had good reason for his disagreement, for 'Uḳba was the type of the arbitrary, reckless leader of the Arabian horsemen; proud as he was, he knew no such thing as compromise, and in his view the Arabs were to conquer by the sword and not by diplomacy; he punished all renegades without mercy. Many Berbers had indeed accepted Islām as long as a contingent of Arabian troops was in their neighbourhood, only to secede as soon as the latter had withdrawn. 'Uḳba treated with impolitic haughtiness the proud leaders of the Berbers who allied themselves with him. His much-renowned raids were displays of bravado without lasting success, but they were in accordance with the taste of Arabian circles and as later on he met his death on one of these expeditions in the far west, his fame was still further enhanced by the martyr's crown. Thus even at the present day Sidi 'Uḳba is a popular saint in Northern Africa. Tested by the judgment of history his less-known successor Dīnār was a much greater man, for it was he who first vigorously opposed the Byzantines and at the same time he was the pioneer in paving the way to an understanding with the Berbers.

After having proved his superior strength, Dīnār appears to have won over the Berbers, especially their leader Kusaila, by conciliatory tactics. With their assistance he proceeded against the Byzantines of Carthage. Though he could not yet take the town he occupied other neighbouring portions of their territory. Thereupon he undertook an advance far to the westward, right away to Tlemcen, which he could do without risk owing to his relations with the Berbers.

In the meantime 'Uḳba had succeeded in obtaining once more from the Caliph Yazīd the supreme command in Northern Africa (681-682). He took revenge on Dīnār by leading him around in chains on all his expeditions. He again formed the main Muslim camp at Ḳairawān, whence Dīnār had removed it, and he approached the Berbers once again with true Arabian haughtiness — in short, in all matters he acted on lines diametrically opposed to those of his predecessor. The result proves the correctness of Dīnār's policy, for the powerful Kusaila incited