Emirate of Bari

Emirate of Bari. The Emirate of Bari was established by Kalfun, an Aghlabid emir, in Bari, a city in Apulia, Southern Italy, after a siege that lasted for over a year, involving Lombards, Byzantines, and Aghlabids. The city was an important center of trade and commerce, with connections to Sicily, North Africa, and the Middle East, including Tunis, Kairouan, and Baghdad. The emirate was also influenced by the Abbasid Caliphate, with Al-Mamun and Al-Mu'tasim playing significant roles in the region.

● History

The Emirate of Bari was founded in 847 by Kalfun, who was appointed by the Aghlabid emir, Abu Iqal ibn Abdallah. The emirate was involved in several conflicts, including the Battle of Ostia against the Papal States and the Byzantine Empire, and the Siege of Salerno against the Principality of Benevento and the Lombards. The emirate also had connections to other Muslim states, such as the Emirate of Sicily and the Caliphate of Córdoba, with Ibn al-Athir and Al-Tabari providing historical accounts of the region. The emirate was eventually conquered by the Lombards in 871, with the help of the Byzantine Empire and the Papal States, led by Louis II, Holy Roman Emperor and Basil I.

● Geography

The Emirate of Bari was located in Apulia, Southern Italy, with its capital in Bari. The emirate bordered the Adriatic Sea to the east, the Ionian Sea to the south, and the Apennine Mountains to the west. The region was also home to other cities, such as Taranto, Brindisi, and Otranto, which were important centers of trade and commerce, with connections to Venice, Naples, and Amalfi. The emirate was also influenced by the geography of the surrounding regions, including the Campania and the Calabria, with Strabo and Ptolemy providing descriptions of the region.

● Government

The Emirate of Bari was ruled by an emir, who was appointed by the Aghlabid emir. The emir was responsible for the administration of the emirate, including the collection of taxes, the maintenance of law and order, and the defense of the emirate against external threats. The emirate was also divided into smaller administrative units, such as the katepano of Bari and the theme of Longobardia, with Nikephoros Ouranos and John Skylitzes providing information on the administrative structure of the emirate. The emirate was influenced by the Islamic law and the Sharia, with Al-Shafi'i and Ibn Hanbal playing significant roles in the development of the law.

● Economy

The Emirate of Bari was an important center of trade and commerce, with connections to Sicily, North Africa, and the Middle East. The emirate was a major hub for the trade of goods such as grain, olive oil, and wine, with Amalfi and Venice being important trading partners. The emirate was also known for its textile industry, with silk and wool being major exports, and its shipbuilding industry, with galleys and dromons being built in the shipyards of Bari and Taranto. The emirate was influenced by the economic systems of the surrounding regions, including the Byzantine Empire and the Lombards, with Constantine VII and Liutprand of Cremona providing information on the economy of the region.

● Culture

The Emirate of Bari was a culturally diverse region, with influences from Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. The emirate was home to a number of important cultural figures, including Al-Idrisi and Ibn Jubayr, who wrote about the region and its culture. The emirate was also known for its architecture, with the Mosque of Bari being an important example of Islamic architecture in the region. The emirate was influenced by the cultural traditions of the surrounding regions, including the Byzantine Empire and the Lombards, with Charlemagne and Alcuin of York playing significant roles in the development of the culture of the region.

● Legacy

The Emirate of Bari played an important role in the history of Southern Italy and the Mediterranean region. The emirate was a major center of trade and commerce, and its cultural and economic legacy can still be seen in the region today. The emirate was also an important example of the complex and diverse cultural and religious landscape of the Middle Ages, with influences from Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. The emirate was influenced by the legacy of the surrounding regions, including the Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire, with Edward Gibbon and Voltaire providing historical accounts of the region. The emirate's legacy can be seen in the modern-day cities of Bari, Taranto, and Brindisi, which continue to be important centers of trade and commerce in the region, with connections to Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.