The Mercenary Mediterranean_ Sovereignty, Religion, and Violence in the Medieval Crown of Aragon - Hussein Fancy

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Rivalries among the leaders of the Ghuzāh also emerged as a defining

feature of their history, one that ultimately led their downfall. Across a

hundred years, command of the Ghuzāh fell almost exclusively into the

hands of one of two families, the Banū Raḥḥū and the Banū Abī al- ‘Ulā.^24

With one significant interruption, discussed below, the Banū Raḥḥū domi-

nated this post until 1314. Mūsā b. Raḥḥū was succeeded by his brother,

‘Abd al- Ḥaqq, who was then succeeded by his son, Ḥammū.^25 In 1314 ,

however, a rebellion backed by ‘Uthmān b. Abī al- ‘Ulā forced the Naṣrid

sultan Naṣr (r. 1309 – 1314 ) to flee Granada with his protectors, the Banū

Raḥḥū, and ultimately abdicate the throne in favor of Ismā‘īl I (r. 1314 –

1325 ).^26 Once in command of the Ghuzāh, ‘Uthmān greatly expanded the

authority of the post, provoking the jealously and anger of the Marīnid

sultan.^27 He had his Berber competitors, the members of the Banū Raḥḥū,

deported to North Africa.^28 According to Ibn Khaldūn, he also arranged

to have Ismā‘īl assassinated and replaced by a minor, Muḥammad IV

(r. 1325 – 1333 ), effectively seizing direct control of the Naṣrid state.^29 Al-

though ‘Uthmān’s rivals at court managed to recall the Banū Raḥḥū from

North Africa to challenge his position, ‘Uthmān clung to power and man-

aged to pass command of the Ghuzāh to his son in 1330.^30

The fortunes of the Banū Abī al- ‘Ulā and Banū Raḥḥū reversed after

the involvement of the Ghuzāh in the assassination of Muḥammad IV.

Fearful of their growing power, the new Naṣrid sultan, Yūsuf I (r. 1333 –

1354 ), had the Banū Abī al- ‘Ulā deported to Tunis and placed a member of

the Banū Raḥḥū, Yaḥyā b. ‘Umar b. Raḥḥū, in command of the Ghuzāh in

1337.^31 With the exception of a brief interruption in the reign of Muḥam-

mad V from 1359 to 1362 , when Idrīs b. ‘Uthmān b. Abī al- ‘Ulā arrived

from Barcelona to take command of the Ghuzāh, a member of the Banū

Raḥḥū held this position from 1337 to 1367.^32 The last commander of the

Ghuzāh, who held the post until 1369 , was from neither the Banū Raḥḥū

nor the Banū Abī al- ‘Ulā.^33

For some time before 1369, however, the Naṣrids had grown tired of

the machinations of the Marīnid princes. Ibn al- Khaṭīb, the chief min-

ister (wazīr) at the Naṣrid court of Muḥammad V, resented the strong

influence of these Berber princes.^34 Taking advantage of the weakness

of the Marīnids as well as the Christian Iberian kingdoms in 1363 , he

convinced Muḥammad to imprison Yaḥyā b. ‘Umar b. Raḥḥū and place

a Naṣrid prince in command of the Ghuzāh.^35 This initial attempt to sup-

press the Marīnid leaders of the Ghuzāh was rejected by their soldiers,

and the Banū Raḥḥū clung to power. In 1369 , Ibn al- Khaṭīb conspired again.

This time, he forged letters implicating the Ghuzāh in a coup plot, which