Imazighen (engels)!!!

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Ik plaats deze artikelen enkel om gelezen te worden voor diegene die geïnteresseerd zijn in de geschiedenis van de Imazighen. Voor wie het niet mee eens is met de inhoud van de artikelen kan hierover zelf een topic openen om zijn/haar frustraties te uiten. Dus nogmaals: dit is een topic voor geïnteresseerden en niet voor mensen die alleen erop uit zijn om topics te verzieken.

A Knigt from Tamazgha (part 1)

During the colonism period in Morocco , and after the agreetment between France and Bretain in 1904 which liberated the French hands in Morocco, the French declared their leverage and protection on Morocco in Mars1917 30 - except the country region which called el reef which was occupied by the Spanish due to the same agreement-few days later the flames of moroccan revolutionaries imediately burnt , by the leadership of the Moroccan hero Ahmad Hibat Allah , after great struggle this revolution ended by the death of this leader. This end gave the French the whole pie to eat by the end of ww 1but they will discover that it tastes bitter when its too late and when they will be forced to throw it up.
As mentioned above the district of reef ( country region) that extends along the northern east coast of Morocco of distance about 170 miles and 75 miles width , this region was occupied by the spanish in addtion of the neighbouring region of the Jbala ( mountains region ) in the west of the reef.

[B]When the Spanish began to spread they knew that it will not be easy to spread their leverage on the region , that is why they of occupying xSepta and Mlela as an initiative step, then they headed to occupy all the ports around the region of their leverage , their plan was occupying the chief town of the Jbalah district which called Tattwan , which was suggested to be the capital of the Spanish region, but unfurtuntely- for the Spanish not the Berbers- another resistance appeared by the leaded by (Ahmad bin Mohammed al Raisoni).the man who carried the flag of the resistance since 1911 untill our knight appeared to continue the struggle. The struggle of Moroccan Amazigh leader Abd al Karim al Kattabi: The second revolution of Morocco against the Spanish was the revolution of prince Abd al Karim al Kattabi ,the headman of the bani Weriaghel Amazigh tribe , the largest Amazigh tribe in the country region , he was born in 1881 studied the Quran and knew by heart when he was a child , then his father sent him to the university of Karwein in Fas city to study religious siences, then continued his studies in Selminca university in Spain , from which he graduated and got a P.H.D in law, after returning from Spain he worked as a judge in Mlela this was the point of conversion when he saw persecuation of a Spanish officer beating an Arab or a Berber in the street while he was asking for help and nobody repondes , he saw the ugly face of colonism and knew that one crowded hour of glorious life is worth an age without a name , and knew that dignity and freedom are priceless. The Spanish tried to earn the peace of the father of prince Abd -al Karim by offerring him the position minister of the sultan of Tattwan but he refused because the town was under the Spanish administration control. After the occupation of Shifshawin city , and the mountains region the spanish army declared their protection on the country region , so the father refused and stood against the occupation ,and refused to listen to General Guardana ; which cause was the of the arrest his son for a year and firing him from his judge position, prince Abd al Karim injured during one of his treis to escape from prison , this injury caused him a permanent problems in walking, in this period his father died.

The prince became the chief of the Weryaghell Amazigh tribes,and the leader of the revolution in the country region, When he was 39 years old, in this time general Silvester attacked the country region , occupying Anwal city without any resistance , and went on 12 km further ; he thought that the Weryaghell tribes gave up , while it was a trap ,they wanted to pull the spanish to terminate them , he wanted to keep his men for a decisive final battle.

The Spanish army numbered about 74 thousand soldiers , with whom Silvester reached the Waaran mountain near Aghadir the Hometown of the prince, and when the prince attacked them in July1 st 1922, he succeeded to defeat them, he chased the vanquished Spanish troops, out of Anawal, so they did not have any hiding except Mlela city. To be contiued>

http://www.emazighen.com/article.php3?id_article=11

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A knight from Tamazgha (part 2)


The plan in the combat of Anwal was suggestting the Reef resistance men to attack the spanish in the same time in all their sites; so it will make it difficult for the Spanish to help each other, and distributed a great number of his men in sites that make them able to hunt the escaping Spanish soldiers, the spanish army was eradicated including Silvester, and the Spanish asdmitted that they lost about15000 soldiers and about 570 captive, and the Moroccans got more than130 sites were under the Spanish control, about 100 guns , 129 cannons. Prince Kattabi did not realise the fact of his win , and if he did continue to fortified Mlela he could win, but he stopped , he thought that the Spanish are real strong , He committed a big mistake by giving them the time to rearrange their lines , they collected about 60000 soldiers, so they make a counter attack in September1921 , so they got back some of their sites, that year the Spanish army was numbering about 150 000 fighters, however they could not control the whole region.

The Spanish attributed their defeat to the difficult nature of the counrty and the Jbalah regions(both regions charecterized by high mountains), and they ascribed it to the rotten officers and administration,that is what make the government of Madrid send an investigating committee to find out the thruth,the committee attributed the disaster to the great fault of making roads between the military bases,and they do ascribed it to making a great number of bases without concentrating on the supplies, their report admitted that the Moroccan did not have any choise but picking up the escaping soldiers weapons,and it does discover cases of guns sales between the hopeless Spanish soldiers and the Moroccans.

xEstablishing a country: After the great victory that prince Kattabi made in Anwal, he became famous in the country region(el Reef), so he headed to establish a country;he invited the tribes of country region to make a congress to establish a political regime, they have made a constitution, and they established a general court known as the national association granted the will of Moroccan people, its first decision was the declaration of national independence, and declared the founding of a constitutional republic in september1931 ,the principle of the constitution of the Reef was the authority of people,and the constitution ordered the formation of ministeries,and mentioned that the governers are responsible infront of the president of the republic.

Prince Kattabi declared that the goals of his government were,disallow the French protection on the country region, the evacuation of the Spanish troops to all the territories they occupied, he declared that his government want good friendly relationships with all countries,and he declared that the Moroccan government has an intenion of the utlization of the European experience in the buliding of the growing state, and the usage of its fortunes,so he encouraged some of the mining companies to work in the Reef region that was the reason of some European capitalists,his Fighters turned into the new country s army, the Moroccan who were working in the Spanish army he entrusted them in various jobs, he rearranged the civil administration,and started to work on building the infrastructures and supplied ( electricity, telephone lines, split roads), and sent delegations into north african and Arab government to earn their support, and demanded from France,Bretain and the Pope of the Vatican to recognize his country and Aghadir its capital.

(Apolitical issue):

The situation of the Reef new country caused afear in Morocco s political life,which was the position of prince Kattabi from the throne, some thought that prince Kattabi was believing in Sultans authorityx, what made the Alwey familyxx look at his country as a disunionism try, the proove that he did not have such intention he did not allow the Emmams in Friday prayers to speech in his namexxx.

xSultans authority it’s a non central authority that every Sultan rule his region in a conferderal way. xxThe royal family of Morocco they are called Alweys because they say that their roots return to Ali bin Aba Talib the prophet s cousine. xxxBeginning the Kottba of jomma(speech of Fridays prayer) in the name of the governer indicates the loyalty..>>to be continued.


http://www.emazighen.com/article.php3?id_article=12

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[COLOR=Red]A knight from Tamazgha (part 3) [/COLOR]

Prince Kattabi and the Reef became the most troubling problem inside and outside Spain , the number of Spanish troops elevated into 150 000 soldiers after the defeat of Anwal battle, Madrid made an offer to prince Kattabi of admitting the partial independence of the Reef in which it will be under the authority of the colonist system , needless to say that prince Kattabi refused to sell his principles.

Inside spain a coup d etat happened with the leadership of Bremode Rivera , he announced a new policy in Morocco which demands the withdrawal from the interior regions and focusing on fortified coastal sites, Rivera recognized that the numerous small isolated Spanish sites are very dangerous ; because these sites are surrounded by the Moroccan Amazigh tribes.on the other hand there was no reason to make prince Kattabi to negotiate the Spanish occupiers, especially after making sure that he can make it and expel them out of Morocco,after their refuse the withdrawal to Sabta and Mlela,that’s why the resistance with the leadership of prince Kattabi started to strike these troops , and the Spanish army admitted that the losses during the first six months in 1924 about 71750 between those who was killed and injured ,although that General Rivera himself supervised the withdrawal. Prince Kattabi was able to outspread his influence on the whole region,The Raissoni tended to the Spanish, however Prince Kattabi crawled on the Jbala region and entered their capital in 1925 , confiscated the betrayers properties , and Arrested Raissoni and drove him a prisoner into Aghadir where he died in his prison,so he became the undisputed leader of the Reef , controlling a region of about28 000square Kilometers , and inhabited by million Moroccan. The Spanish realised their incapability to resist the growing Reef state , this result was a big shock for the colonist powers , and especially France which was expecting that Spain could destroy this movement , while prince Kattabi did not want any confrontation with France , He did not want to face two powerful enemies , he could not open another fighting front,however the indicators showing that the situation is going to blow out. were France was afraid that the movement of prince Kattabi would be an instigator factor for revolutions in north Africa, Due to the benefits of the big companies , those companies did not want the Reef country to have peace for sake of their good , they had huge projects in the Atlantic coast and they did not want the road between the Fass and Tanjah to be opened , if this happened the commerce will be shifted from that port into that road, in addition of that prince Kattabi aspired to invite the foreign companies especially the British companies to use the natural resources of the Reef, this will bring a new competitor to the French which will give the growing state some stability , they said that in this period the British modern weapons started to flow into the Hosaimat port.

France hated the idea of the growing strong Moroccan state , cause that would lead the Moroccans to refuse its protection and will make them revolute, that make France to get ready for killing the growing state, so it sent additional supplies and troops to its northern front on Morakish (Morocco), the negotiation failed between prince Kattabi and the French, so he sent his brother to Paris,and he also sent a special deputed into the French authorities in Fass, but they disagreed.

The facing:

The French troops in Morakish(Morocco) were numbering about 65000 fighter,France thought that it could not enter a war in the Reef with this number ; that’s why France sent more supplies and troops into the region including thousand Moroccan soldiers,in April 1925 the first spark of the facing took place,when the French supplied the Sufis with the weapons and money to make troubles in the Reef state which carried out the Reef people to attacked some of the small mosques of the mystics(Sufis) near the borders, these actions gave the French the reason they were looking for to intrude upon nose into these troubles to protect their allies,when the fighting started they the French were amazed of the Reef fighters ability and organization, that’s why they were forced to stay in a defensive position for four months,some of the Reef forces infiltrated 70 miles from Fass, the French suffered from terrible losses , and alot of their weapons were taken by Reef fighters,France was convulsed from these victories,so France sent its skilled commander (Pettan) to help.

>>to be continued

http://www.emazighen.com/article.php3?id_article=13

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A knight for Tamazgha (part 4)

The steadfastness of the growing Rif state in face of France,Spain and its Moroccan hostiles something amazing and a seldom situation in the history of colonist wars, which was due to the ability of the Rif leaders in the fields of fighting ; these fighters used the fortified ditches lines similar to that which was used by French military in world war one , leading a war in against three Marshals , forty generals , and more than 000 250 soldiers of French , Spanish and Moroccan betrayers supported with military airplane and armored tanks under the leadership of their governments and presidents,it is enough to make the Reef people to feel proud and honored .
France have took some procedures to reinforce it’s position in the fighting it seduced the Moroccan sultan to declare prince Abdulkarim an outlaw,the sultan did what france asked him to do, he travelled across the region and he started to instigate the tribes on the mujahidin, France coordinated its military plans with those of Madrid’s government,and a conference made to prevent the weapon commerce between the Europe and the Rif, ,and they permitted the following of the mujahidin in every country’s territory , France and spain have undertook a commitment pledge that they will not sign a peace convention with prince Abdulkarim .

The French and the Spanish decided to crawl on the Rif republic to make a connection between the two Armies , and to scatter the Rifian troops into two parts , the thing that put the in a critical military situation , prince Kattabi lost about thousand martyrs in those battles , 60 thousand soldiers stayed with him . The war started again in 1926 , but this time it’s wilder and more difficult to win for prince Kattabi , due to the complete cooperation between the Paris and the Madrid , especially after the blockade of the coasts with their navies and the deficiency lack of the provisions in the Rif ; because most of Kattabi’s soldiers were farmers , who did not work in their fields for about a year , and they fight in a front extending to 300 Km .

The French pushed the Moroccan betrayers to ( their agents and allies) to invite the Moroccan tribes to sign a singular reconciliation with each tribe in return for providing their needs of food , here prince Kattabi felt that wisdom required to stop fighting for a while for the sake of his people who suffered a lot .

Actually prince Kattabi thought of wading into a fedayee (commando) battle to defend his home and religion , but his companions prevented him and advised him to negotiate , he decided to get the best conditions for his country and for himself, he did not want his surrender to be a kneeling or a disgrace because such a man he prefers dying with honour is much better than living in an ignominy , he surrendered to the French as a prisoner of war , in fact he surrendered in a very strange way which reflects the the pride and the dignity of this great hero do you know what he did ? you can never guess what he did even after his decision of the surrender he passed through the French troops with his horse in an unique scene in25 th May 1926 , France banished him into Rioneon island 13 thousand miles away from his homeland .

The place of exile was a big prison for prince Kattabi and his family , he suffered from loneliness , he spent that period in reading the holy Qur’an and praying , he suffered with his family from poverty in that rocky remote island , he preferred to work with his own hands to provide his family’s needs , he bought a land that island but he could never change the island’s rocks into Tamazgha’s soil , he was thinking about travelling into a north African country or a muslim country but he knew that France will not allow him to travel into an Amazigh or an Arab country because he will be a troubles source for the French.

In 1947 the French decided to transfer prince Kattabi and his family into France to press on King Mohammed V , when the ship which was carrying him arrived Port said in Egypt , he sheltered into the Egyptian authorities , So Cairo welcomed prince Abdulkarim El Kattabi in the Egypt where he stayed untill his death in1963 .

References: 1- I depended on a number of articles from magazines and websites on the internet . 2- If you want to know more about this hero you can read : Allal el Fassi , The independence movements in Tamazgha ( he says Arabian Maghreeb). 3- Also you can read Salah El Akaad - the Anglo Egyptian library-Cairo-the sixth edition. 4- Or Kadri Kalaagi - eight Arabian hero ( prince Kattabi is not an Arab)- the edition company-Lebanon -1st edition-1995. Note: unfortunately most of the previous references are published in Arabic.

Hasdrubal Orfelli

source:tawalt.com

http://www.emazighen.com/article.php3?id_article=14

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A knight for Tamazgha (part 4)

The steadfastness of the growing Rif state in face of France,Spain and its Moroccan hostiles something amazing and a seldom situation in the history of colonist wars, which was due to the ability of the Rif leaders in the fields of fighting ; these fighters used the fortified ditches lines similar to that which was used by French military in world war one , leading a war in against three Marshals , forty generals , and more than 000 250 soldiers of French , Spanish and Moroccan betrayers supported with military airplane and armored tanks under the leadership of their governments and presidents,it is enough to make the Reef people to feel proud and honored .

France have took some procedures to reinforce it’s position in the fighting it seduced the Moroccan sultan to declare prince Abdulkarim an outlaw,the sultan did what france asked him to do, he travelled across the region and he started to instigate the tribes on the mujahidin, France coordinated its military plans with those of Madrid’s government,and a conference made to prevent the weapon commerce between the Europe and the Rif, ,and they permitted the following of the mujahidin in every country’s territory , France and spain have undertook a commitment pledge that they will not sign a peace convention with prince Abdulkarim .

The French and the Spanish decided to crawl on the Rif republic to make a connection between the two Armies , and to scatter the Rifian troops into two parts , the thing that put the in a critical military situation , prince Kattabi lost about thousand martyrs in those battles , 60 thousand soldiers stayed with him . The war started again in 1926 , but this time it’s wilder and more difficult to win for prince Kattabi , due to the complete cooperation between the Paris and the Madrid , especially after the blockade of the coasts with their navies and the deficiency lack of the provisions in the Rif ; because most of Kattabi’s soldiers were farmers , who did not work in their fields for about a year , and they fight in a front extending to 300 Km .

The French pushed the Moroccan betrayers to ( their agents and allies) to invite the Moroccan tribes to sign a singular reconciliation with each tribe in return for providing their needs of food , here prince Kattabi felt that wisdom required to stop fighting for a while for the sake of his people who suffered a lot .

Actually prince Kattabi thought of wading into a fedayee (commando) battle to defend his home and religion , but his companions prevented him and advised him to negotiate , he decided to get the best conditions for his country and for himself, he did not want his surrender to be a kneeling or a disgrace because such a man he prefers dying with honour is much better than living in an ignominy , he surrendered to the French as a prisoner of war , in fact he surrendered in a very strange way which reflects the the pride and the dignity of this great hero do you know what he did ? you can never guess what he did even after his decision of the surrender he passed through the French troops with his horse in an unique scene in25 th May 1926 , France banished him into Rioneon island 13 thousand miles away from his homeland .

The place of exile was a big prison for prince Kattabi and his family , he suffered from loneliness , he spent that period in reading the holy Qur’an and praying , he suffered with his family from poverty in that rocky remote island , he preferred to work with his own hands to provide his family’s needs , he bought a land that island but he could never change the island’s rocks into Tamazgha’s soil , he was thinking about travelling into a north African country or a muslim country but he knew that France will not allow him to travel into an Amazigh or an Arab country because he will be a troubles source for the French.

In 1947 the French decided to transfer prince Kattabi and his family into France to press on King Mohammed V , when the ship which was carrying him arrived Port said in Egypt , he sheltered into the Egyptian authorities , So Cairo welcomed prince Abdulkarim El Kattabi in the Egypt where he stayed untill his death in1963 .

References: 1- I depended on a number of articles from magazines and websites on the internet . 2- If you want to know more about this hero you can read : Allal el Fassi , The independence movements in Tamazgha ( he says Arabian Maghreeb). 3- Also you can read Salah El Akaad - the Anglo Egyptian library-Cairo-the sixth edition. 4- Or Kadri Kalaagi - eight Arabian hero ( prince Kattabi is not an Arab)- the edition company-Lebanon -1st edition-1995. Note: unfortunately most of the previous references are published in Arabic.

Hasdrubal Orfelli

source:tawalt.com

http://www.emazighen.com/article.php3?id_article=14

[Hannibal_Barca]

Masinissa

Masinissa (also spelled Massinissa), ruler of the North African kingdom of Numidia, and an ally of Rome in the last years of the Second Punic War (218-201). He was the son of Gaia, king of the Massyli, one of three Berber/Numidian kingdoms in North Africa (the others being the Masaesyli and Mauri). His influence was lasting because the economic and political development that took place in Numidia under his rule provided the base for later development of the region by the Romans.

Brought up in Carthage (as a hostage against his father’s loyalty), he fought for Carthage against the Romans in Spain from 212 to 206. He was the only commander present at the Carthaginian victories of Castulo and Ilorca to survive the Second Punic War. After Hasdrubal Barca departed for Italy, Masinissa was placed in command of all the Carthaginian cavalry in Spain. He fought a successful guerrilla war against Scipio Africanus throughout 208-207, while Mago and Hasdrubal Gisgo levied and trained new forces.

When the Carthaginians were driven from Spain in 206 and Africanus freed his captive nephew in 206, Masinissa defected to Rome. He assisted Rome in the invasion of Carthaginian territory in Africa. After his father’s death in late 206 there was a struggle for succession. The Romans eventually supported his claim to the Numidian throne against Syphax, pro-Carthaginian ruler of the Massaesyli tribe (who had annexed some of his territory). After the defeat of Syphax (203) he married his wife Sophonisbe but was required by the Romans to release her and induced her to take poison instead. Masinissa then became king of both the Massyli and the Massaesyli, placing his capital in Cirta.

Masinissa’s cavalry effectively won the Battle of Zama for Scipio.He showed unconditional loyalty to Rome, and his position in Africa was strengthened by a clause in the peace treaty of 201 between Rome and Carthage prohibiting the latter from going to war even in self-defense without Roman permission. This enabled Masinissa to encroach on the remaining Carthaginian territory as long as he judged that Rome wished to see Carthage weakened.

Masinissa’s chief aim was to build a strong and unified state from the semi-nomadic Numidian tribes. To this end he introduced Carthaginian agricultural techniques and forced many Numidians to settle as peasant farmers. Any hopes he may have had of extending his rule across North Africa were dashed when a Roman commission headed by the elderly Marcus Porcius Cato came to Africa about 155 to decide a territorial dispute between Masinissa and Carthage. Animated probably by an irrational fear of a Carthaginian revival, but possibly by suspicion of Masinissa’s ambitions, Cato thenceforward advocated, finally with success, the destruction of Carthage. Masinissa showed his displeasure when the Roman army arrived in Africa in 149, but he died early in 148 without a breach in the alliance. In 146 the Romans created a colony, including his former territory

http://www.emazighen.com/article.php3?id_article=56

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5 000 years ago, Imazighen

The name of the Libyans is registred in the oldest documents of - Egyptian historie , towards 3.000 before J.C, perhaps even before this date and the Libyans, today Imazighen, have an old history of more than five thousand years.

Téhénou, Lybian, Imazighen

The country of the Libyans was called Tehenou among Egyptians. This designation is a little arbitrary, we only know about the T-h-n-w consonants; because the Egyptians did not wrote the vowels (like Touareg today). Only one "Libyan" could be named Teheni and several other Teheniou (in Egyptian: T-h-n-y-w).

We employ the name Libyans to indicate all the Berber or Imazighen of -antiquity which were near -Egypte. There was also a particular tribe: The Libou whose -appellation had been generalized by the Greeks of Cyrénaïque so that we in general speak today about the Libyans without reference to tribe.

It would be more correct calling the Berber ones by their name, namely Amazigh in the singular and Imazighen in the plural, witch mean the "free people" or the "noble ones", because the name of Barbari relates in the -Antiquity with the people which spoke neither Greek, nor Latin. Also people which had a high civilization, like the Egyptians, Babyloniens or Perses were of Barbari to the eyes of the Romans.

Here is four documents:

The pallet of king Scorpion

The first document mentioning Libya is a pallet fragment of schist from king "Scorpion", one of the predecessors of king Menés who reigned little before 3.000 before J.C.

The surface is divided into four horizontal bands whose first line is filled with oxen, the second with a row donkeys and the third with sheep. The fourth band is filled with a row of trees and a hieroglyphic group composed of the sign meaning "foreign ground" in which one planted a curved stick, arms of the Libyans. The whole is read Tehenou "ground of the Libyans". It’s the oldest known document to date in Egyptian writing. The name of the king that one can translate NR, "fish" and MR., "chisel" is written in a serekh, ancestor of the cartouche.

The whole represents, after Georg MOLLER, the spoils brought back by king "Scorpion" from a victorious forwarding against the country of Tehenou where there were oxen, donkeys, sheep and trees.

The ivory cylinder of -Hiéraconpolis


The small ivory cylinder bears the name of king Narmer, known by his famous schist pallet preserved at the Museum of Cairo. Our document coming from -Hiéraconpolis, l-ancian Nekhen, 85 km in the south of Louxor, comprise three lines of bearded prisoners that the king terrace. The group in the middle, a curious mixture of symbolic writing system and hieroglyphic is perfectly readable: "the god Horus is alive. King Narmer, protected by the goddess "Vulture" from -Elkab city conquered the country of Tehenou and kills the prisoners "

The pallet of king Narmer

This votive pallet in black schist is preserved at the Museum of Cairo, finely worked, it has a 64 cm height. Two lines horizontrales divide the surface of the back into three unequal parts.

All in top we see two heads of the goddess Hathor with horns and ears of cow, goddess of the sky. In the middle, a diagrammatic drawing of the royal palate in which is writen the name of the king. A "silure" is read nar and a "chisel" means sea, which gives Narmer.

The part in the middle shows the king, standing, carrying the crown of High-Egypt, embanking an enemy with a bludgeon, it is a perforated stone ball through which one passed a stick. The short clothing, maintained by only one strap and a belt with frangues of which an animal tail hangs, leaves most of its body naked. Behind him, a servant carries his sandals.

In front of the king, the Horus god in the form of a falcon brings to him prisoners of the country of papyrus: the Delta. All in bottom we see two enemies escaping, designated by two hiéroglyphes difficult to interpret.

The recto of the pallet is divided into four bands. One sees all in top the heads of the Hathor goddess with the palate of the king. Below, the king who carries the red crown of Low Egypt, between two servants, preceded by four men carrying of symbols posed on long stems, in front of 10 enemies whose cutted head is placed between their legs.

In the medium, two panthers whose exaggeratedly long necks intertwines to form in the middle a round hollow where the make-up was ground. All in bottom, a bull, probably the king, destroyed an enemy fortress with blows of horns. This pallet enables us to specify l-importance of the king. Work is of an extreme smoothness, astonishing for the time. The long interlaced necks is of mesopotamic origin.

Libyans of the country of Tehenou

The following document is much more recent. It dates from the reign of king Sahourê, second king of the fifth dynasty (2442-2430 before J.C). A copy of the relief is in the funerary temple d-un another king, Phiops II, from the sixth dynasty (2221-2157 before J-C).

It is a relief carried out carefully in the best tradition of Egyptian art. It includes eight superimposed bands. In top, the Seshat goddess, mistress of writing, note the number of the prisoners and the cattle which the king had brought back of the country of Tehenou.

The remainders of scenery from the first band had to show the king embanking the Libyan head, traditional scene. Its close relations spoke to Sahourê (nonvisible) and implre its leniency. The following bands show us the captured cattle: more than 123 400 oxen, 223 400 asses, 32 413 caprine and 243 688 sheep.

Other Libyan tribes

At side of the Libyans of Tehenou whom we know through Egyptian representations, there was also Temehou, with which they should not be confused. The first representation that we had of this tribe comes from the tomb of king Sethos Ier in the Valley of the Kings (1303-1290 before J-C.) they were fair-haired, had the blue eyes and the clear skin, they carried a long coat, open on the front, and with ostrich feathers in the hair.

Thereafter the names of the tribes multiply. In the Ramesside time we meet Libou or Libyans, Meshwesh or Mâ, Qeheq mentioned under Ramses II and Ramses III as well as Isebeten. This last name corresponds to that of Isebeten, old tribe from Hoggar which was unaware of the metals use and still lived in stone age when the current ancestors of Touareg penetrated in the country. A fraction of Isebeten joined to Dag Ghali, a Targui tribe which still have hunting rights in the Hoggar. Old Isebeten were also hunters.

Then there were Baqal, Qeyqesh, Mehesoun, perhaps Massules of the Romans, and Païat of the copt texts. Hérodote (towards 450 before J-C.) gives us a whole list of Libyan tribes living west -Egypte.

Rise of Lybian in ancient -Egypte

The Libyans enter —Egypte historie like enemies, like invaders. This is perhaps not exact with regard to the province of Fayoum which seems always Libyan before being integrated into the kingdom of -Egypte under Sésostris II (towards 1897-1878 before J.C).

To strike the country of Tehenou was an act whose several kings glorified themselves. Indeed, the Libyans of the small oases could not measure themselves with the Egyptians, by far higher in number. If Sahourê brings back a rich booty from the country of Tehenou, it’ s- certainly from Fayoum, oasis in which was a lake, today Birkat Qâroun, which still had the name: shet Temeh "lake of Libyans" under the 12th dynasty(HOLSCHER 1937: p. 49).

If the Libyans were often overcome during their first contacts with the Egyptians, their courage had to impress the latter, because one finds them starting from the New Empire like soldiers in the Egyptian army and even as officers. Mes en Mâ "master of the Meshwesh" was the title for high row officer. Thereafter the Libyans reach even the kingdom. Two of the 30 dynasties were of Libyan origin, the 22e and 23e (946-720 before J-C.) and their kings was called Sheshenq, Osorkon and Takeloth (comp. the name of T-K-L-HT in a numidic inscription).

With considering the examined documents, we note that Imazighen or Berber historie begins even with the threshold of Egyptian -historie, towards 3 000 before J.C, and not tardily with the Greeks or the Romans and even less with the Arabs.

In these documents, it’ s always about the country of Tehenou, Libya in the direction of the Greek historians, witch means the countries located west of -Egypte. The inhabitants was the Teheniou in Egyptian or hatiou-â N Tehenou, "princes of Libye". This last denomination points out the proper name of the nation, Imazighen which also means the free men or the noble ones.

http://www.emazighen.com/article.php3?id_article=69

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Juba II, Amazigh King

A young King’s boy, who stemming from a Numidian root was born and educated inside a Greek-Roman niche, had the opportunity to influence both culture and development of his country. Juba the Second was a brilliant well educated and initiative-prone person - living during the "Augustus Century" - who deserve to be highlighted for the advancement he brought to his Mauritania country, although not so much quoted from ancient historians.

Most of his manuscripts or documents about him have been lost. However, the great amount of coins coined under his kingdom records most of his works. Young Juda, only four years old, was brought to Rome from Julius Caesar, after the victory over Pompeius and his father King of Numidia and was entrusted to Octavian.



Thanks his special talent and application to study, he became soon one of the best educated person in Rome. He obtained the kingdom of Numidia on 27 BC and later of the two Mauritanias on 25 BC after having fight with Caesar Augustus in the Anzio battle (31 BC). The Iol city was renamed Cesarea in honour of Caesar Augustus and Juba the Second made it to become the capital city. An other city having a great expansion was Volubilis, where sculptures and important remains of that time have been found. Juba the Second married Cleopatra Selene, daughter of Cleopatra the Great, Queen of Egypt. From the wedding a son was born, Ptolemy. The Egyptian culture brought into the kingdom by the bride was added the already high cultural level of Juba the Second, who was beneficial to his country. The great wisdom of his government, his support to trade and research on both sea and land, the rightful laws, and the backing of sciences and arts during his 48-years-long kingdom are well known.



The great coin production under Juba the Second reflects the increasing prosperity of the country and the widening international trade, especially with Italy and Spain. The coin called "Real", minted in gold, silver, or bronze, bringing always the names of Juba and Cleopatra, should be distinguished from the anonymous bronze coin called of "City" used commonly by small dealers and for everyday expenses. In his last life-years, from 21 to 23 AD, when he died, Juba the Second ruled together with his son Ptolemy; this time is even better known thanks to the pieces representing both of them, Juba on the obverse and Ptolemy on the back. Juba the Second was recognized also in Athens, where a monument was built to the "African King" as appreciation of his writings. He was often quoted by Pliny the Elder who called him "my Master". A genus of palm tree, the "Jubaea chilensis" is named after him for his interest and writings on botanics.


Voor veel meer info zie bron:http://www.ruark.org/coins/Mauretania/

http://www.emazighen.com/article.php3?id_article=41

[Narkotic]

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Citaat door Narkotic:

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Dat is zeer zekers zo

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The Nimble Numidians

One of the most enduring pictures of the ancient world is the swift moving Numidian horsemen. There are literary characterizations of him trotting out against the powers of Carthage or Rome on a swift horse, armed with nothing but a small shield, and a fistful of javelins.

The People From the Punic Wars to the campaigns of Trajan, the destiny of these irrepressible riders seems closely linked with Rome, and the association was often turbulent. Although they were enemies as well as allies for a long time, were they as good as legend makes them?

The main sources used here are : Livy, The History of Rome, Caesar The Civil War, Sallust - The Jugurthine War, Polybios Histories.


It was believed in ancient times that Africa was originally populated by Gaetulians and Libyans, both were nomadic people. The demigod Hercules died in Spain and his polyglot eastern army was left to settle the land, with some migrating to Africa. Persians went to the West and inter married with the Gaetulians and became the Numidians. The Medes settled and were known as Mauri latter Moors. Sallust’s version of African history must be considered with reservations. These stories more likely recall Aryan invasions from Spain.

The Numidians and Moors belonged to the race from which the Berbers are descended. The translated meaning of Numidian is Nomad and indeed the people were semi-nomadic until the reign of Masinissa of the Massyli tribe. He was initially on the side of Carthage, but went over to the Romans with decisive effect in 206 BCE. Given additional land at the expense of Carthage, the king retained the support of Rome for 50 years until his death in 148 BCE. Masinissa began to turn his people from rovers to peasant farmers and those who fled the destruction of Carthage and settled the land helped this process.

The kingdom was divided into three by Rome and remained so until an illegitimate prince named Jugurtha forcibly reunited the land in 118 BCE, but the Romans won it back by 105 BCE. Rome maintained client Kings and reduced the size of the country and things remained so until Juba I attempted to rebuild the state 49 - 46 BCE.. After his defeat, Numidia became part of the Roman Empire. Unlike most countries, Numidians were recruited into the army in their own attire and using their own weapon. The Numidians are shown thus on Trajan’s column, which indicates the value Rome placed upon them as light cavalry.

Numida stretched for 700 miles along the African coast occupying about the position of modern day Algeria with the Western part of Tunisia. The coastal plains were fertile, the interior less so turning to rolling scrub and tree covered hills and as one goes further south the bleak rugged Atlas Mountains and the barren desert are encountered. Such land encouraged the development of using the horse for transportation.

Numidians at War

The Numidians had three national past times. Of their king Jugurtha, it is said "He took part in the national pursuits of riding, javelin throwing and competed with other youngmen in running." [Sallust The Jugurthine War: 6]

These pursuits prepared the Numidians for the style of war they preferred. Both horse and foot were part of a Numidian force, but the foot was always of dubious quality: "Metullus could rely on the courage of his soldiers, but the ground was against him. Jugurtha had everything in his favour except the quality of his troops." [ Sallust The Jugurthine War :51] Even the cavalry was not the best in the ancient world:" The Numidian horsemen were not a match for the Spanish." [Livy Book XX111: 26] This said it is only fair to state that the Numidian cavalry was not equipped for hand to hand combat any more than the infantry and when attacked by Spanish and Celtic cavalry who were accustomed to charging home and equipped to do so, they could only flee. "This being perceived, the legionaries immediately halted; and the cavalry, though few in number, boldly charged the vast multitude of the enemy. An incredible event occurred, that less than thirty Gallic horse repulsed two thousand Moors, and drove them into the town. Having thus repulsed the enemy and compelled them to retire behind their walls." [Sallust, the Jugurthine war. 11.6]

The weapon of choice for any Numidian soldier mounted or on foot was always the javelin. This certainly led to some under estimation of Numidian worth by Roman generals and a misunderstanding of what took place in battles. The Romans soon learnt from practical experience, the danger of fighting against the very different style of Numidian tactics. C. Julius Caesar gives us a lucid description of the problems of fighting the nimble Africans. "Meanwhile, both the main bodies advancing to engage, the enemy’s cavalry, intermixed with some light-armed Numidians, suddenly sprang forward, from their crowded troops, and attacked the legions with a shower of darts. Our men, preparing to return the charge, their horse retreated a little, while the foot continued to maintain their ground, till the others, having rallied, came on again, with fresh vigor, to sustain them."

Caesar perceived that his ranks were in danger of being broken by this new way of fighting, for our foot, in pursuing the enemy’s horse, having advanced a considerable way beyond their standards, were wounded in the flank by the nearest Numidian darts, while the enemy’s horse easily escaped our infantry’s javelins by flight; he therefore gave express orders that no soldier should advance above four feet beyond the ensigns. Meanwhile, Labienus’s cavalry, confiding in their numbers endeavored to surround those of Caesar: who being few in number, and overpowered by the multitude of the enemy, were forced to give ground a little, their horses being much wounded. The enemy pressed on more and more; so that in an instant, the legions, being surrounded on all sides by the enemy’s cavalry, were obliged to form themselves into a circle, and fight, as if includes with barriers." [Caesar The Civil War. Book11.14,15]

Numidians were always tormented by the lack of solid fighting foot troops. A lack which the liberal use of elephants did not satisfactorily compensate for. They lacked the capacity to close with an enemy that other troops such as Spanish enjoyed. "Meantime the Numidian horse, wheeling round the hills, to the right and left, threatened to incise Caesar’s forces with their numbers, while part continued to harass his rear: and if but three or four veteran soldiers faced about, and darted their javelins at the enemy, no less than two thousand of them would take to flight: but suddenly rallying, returned to the fight, and charged the legionaries with their darts." [Caesar the Civil War. Book 11.70]

To evade from contact was acceptable; to run right out of the combat zone was not. This harsh discipline had an unfortunate result for Jugurtha. When his armies were beaten, they tended to disperse completely, leaving the hapless Numidian ruler with the unenviable predicament of raising a completely new army. This may have been a customary punishment used by other Numidian kings because it was usual for defeated

Numidian armies to completely disperse and make for their homes. This is not to say that Numidians were easy to fight. The novelty of the style was disconcerting in the extreme and required Roman experience and/or careful training to combat them. "Caesar, to meet enemies of this sort, was necessitated to instruct his soldiers, not like a general of a veteran army which had been victorious in so many battles, but like a fencing master training up his gladiators, with on what foot they must advance or retire; when they were to oppose and make good their ground; when to counterfeit an attack; at what place, and in what manner to launch their javelins. For the enemy’s light armed troops gave wonderful trouble and annoyance to our army; because they not only deterred the cavalry from the encounter, by killing their horses with their javelins, but likewise wearied out the legionary soldiers by their swiftness: for as often as these heavy- armed troops advanced to attack them, they evaded the danger by a quick retreat." [Julius Caesar The Civil War Book 11.71]

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Numidian Cavalry

The cavalry was always the more effective arm of the Numidian cavalry.. Each rider being familiar with the way he was required to fight. Both cavalry squadrons and infantry companies utilized standards to rally to after an evade and would form up on these. "Jugurtha took up his own position nearer the mountain with all his cavalry and the pick of his infantry. Then visiting each squadron and company, he earnestly besought them to remember the victory which their valor had already gained.


The Numidians had stationed themselves and their horses among the thickets and although they were not completely hidden by the low trees, it was difficult to distinguish just what was there since the men and their standards were concealed both by their surroundings and by camouflage." [Sallust. The Jugurthine War. 49]

The outcome of this was that the Numidians cavalry was able to retire swiftly from a charge, but return quickly to the attack. This method would be used whether the enemy was foot or mounted. "Whenever a squadron of Roman cavalry began to charge, instead of retiring in a body in one direction, they retreated independently, scattering as widely as possible. In this way they could take advantage of their numerical superiority. If they failed to check their enemies’ charge, they would wait until the Romans lost their formation and then cut them off." [Sallust, The Jugurthine War. 51]

Even in formal battles as auxiliaries for Carthage or Rome, the Numidians maintained this loose manner of fighting. The metaphor of a pack of dogs springs readily to mind. Any charge would not be resisted, but the flanks and rear of the enemy would be savaged as the attack ran out of steam. The aim was to cut off the victim and force him to stand or run. To stand was to be shot to death. To run was fatal. The Numidian cavalry was deadly in pursuit. Even if the enemy was not dispersed they would be neutralised by the scattered Numidians.

Polybius gave an excellent account of this style of fighting in his account of the battle of Cannae. "The Numidian horse on the Carthaginian right were meanwhile charging through the cavalry on the Roman left; and though, from the peculiar nature of their mode of fighting, they neither inflicted nor received much harm, they yet rendered the enemy’s horse useless by keeping them occupied, and charging them first on one side and then another. But when Hasdrubal, after all but annihilating the cavalry by the river, came from the left to the support of the Numidians, the Roman allied cavalry, seeing his charge approaching, broke and fled. At that point Hasdrubal appears to have acted with great skill and discretion. Seeing the Numidians to be strong in numbers, and more effective and formidable to troops that had once been forced from their ground, he left the pursuit to them; while he himself hastened to the part of the field where the infantry were engaged, and brought his men up to support the Libyans." [Polybius Book 3, 116.5]

Mostly due to inferior horses, Numidians were not the fastest cavalry ( the Southern Spanish were quite capable of riding them down). The small horse was agile and apart from being very maneuverable, could scramble through or over terrain that brought other mounted units to a halt. "Numidians found it more convenient to retreat to the hill rather than the plain, their horses being used to the ground, made their way easily through the thickets" [Sallust, The Jugurthine War. 51]

Two types of basic light cavalry both armed with a round shield and javelins are described, being distinguished by riding bridled or unbridled horses. It is not made clear which of the two were superior if indeed either were. Livy refers to Roman cavalry releasing their bridles so their horses would ride right through a Celtiberian wedge, but it is unlikely the Numidians did not ride without bridles for this reason. Those that rode in this fashion relied on their knees plus a riding crop\ prod. Armor was not worn, nor were hand weapons generally carried. One other cavalry group existed. It is customary to consider the Numidians as being entirely skirmishing cavalry, but this is hardly correct with reference to Numidian national armies. It was customary for the kings to have a sizeable bodyguard of foreign horsemen.

The Infantry

Numidian kings were never able to come up with decent infantry, although they did succeed in some improvement under King Syphax. During the Second Punic War he was able to obtain the services of a Roman centurion Quintus Statorius. Livy has Syphax saying his army was quite shapeless and haphazard, a mere casual mob. The centurion went to work. "Statorius found ample material from which to enrol infantry soldiers for Syphax; he organized them very much after the Roman pattern, gave them instruction in forming up, maneuvering, following the standards, and keeping formation, and accustomed them to various military duties, including fortifications, and all so successfully that the prince soon came to trust his infantry no less than his cavalry, and that when an engagement took place on open ground he defeated his Carthaginian foe." [Livy, The History of Rome Book XXIV]

This was obviously too dangerous for Carthage who allied with the most famous Numidian prince Masinissa to annihilate Syphaxs army. Some vestige of the training of Statorius must have stuck, because the Numidian infantry is never referred to as a formless mass in later times. In fact, the formations do seem to echo the Roman maniples and although this can only be conjecture, the infantry fight in a mix of Roman and Numidian techniques as a sort of light infantry. Showing an ability to maintain unit cohesion and rally to standards like the Roman troops, while attempting to avoid direct contact in their native fashion.

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Elephants

As previously mentioned, the Numidian army lacked real staying power and although the cavalry and infantry could deal very effectively with enemy mounted troops by use of formations working in close support, Disciplined infantry were another problem. In an effort to hold the Romans until the heavy missiles could destroy them with missile fire, the Numidians made extensive use of African elephants. Caesar describes some as having towers on their backs, Sallust is less clear, but both mention body protection.

That this combination of tactics was initially quite effective is apparent by the degree of trouble Julius Caesar took to accustom his legionaries to the beasts. "Caesar was rendered very anxious by these occurrences; because as often as he engaged with his cavalry, without being supported by the infantry, he found himself by no means a match for the enemy’s horse, supported by their light-armed foot: and as he had no experience of the strength of their legions, he foresaw still greater difficulties when these should be united, as the shock must then be overwhelming. In addition to this, the number and size of the elephants greatly increased the terror of the soldiers; for which, however, he found a remedy, in causing some of those animals to be brought over from Italy, that his men might be accustomed to the sight of them, know their strength and courage, and in what part of the body they were most vulnerable. For as the elephants are covered with trappings and ornaments, it was necessary to inform them what parts of the body remained naked, that they might direct their darts thither. It was likewise needful to familiarize his horses to the cry, smell, and figure of these animals; in all of which he succeeded to a wonder; for the soldiers quickly came to touch them with their hands, and to be sensible of their tardiness; and the cavalry attacked them with blunted darts, and, by degrees, brought their horses to endure their presence. [Caesar, The civil War Book 11.72]

Significant numbers of elephants are recorded in Numidian armies, ranging from four captured and 40 killed in one battle to 60 in another and even 120 with the troops fighting Caesar. Elephants have always been a two edged weapon, as the Romans were aware and once they had grown used to dealing with them the legions found that fleeing elephants would either trample their own troops in flight or generate a panic in units that had put their faith in the mighty beasts. Even after years of training, elephants could remain a dangerous proposition to all troops on the battlefield. "Caesar perceiving that the ardor of his soldiers would admit of no restraint, giving "good fortune" for the word, spurred on his horse, and charged the enemy’s front. On the right wing the archers and slingers poured their eager javelins without intermission upon the elephants, and by the noise of their slings and stones, so terrified these animals, that turning upon their own men, they trod them down in heaps, and rushed through the half-finished gates of the camp. At the same time the Mauritanian horse, who were in the same wing with the elephants, seeing themselves deprived of their assistance, betook themselves to flight." [Caesar, The Civil War Book 11.83]

Numidian cavalry and infantry were used to operating with elephants and capable of stiff resistance as long as the elephants stood fast. Little thought seems to have been given to placement of theses ancient tanks as is shown by the description of a battle where the elephants are deployed in rough ground. " As soon as the enemy came close both sides charged with loud shouts. The Numidians stood their ground only as long as they thought they could rely on their elephants for protection. When they saw the beasts getting entangled in the branches of trees, with the result that they were separated and could be surrounded by the enemy, they took to their heels. Most of them, dropping their arms escaped unhurt, thanks to the proximity of a hill and the approaching dark.. Four elephants were killed and all the remaining forty killed." [Sallust, The Jugurthine War. 53]

It is interesting to note that the later battles of the Jugurthine war do not feature elephants. Perhaps the supply had dried up, or the Numidian commanders no longer trusted them. Probably a combination of both.

By Peter Morrison

http://www.emazighen.com/article.php3?id_article=96

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[B]Dehia, the Kahina

One of the most famous of ancient legendary figures among the Amazigh is Dehia, called the Kahina (seer, priestess), a label said to have originated with the Arabs, against whom she led her army. However, the name of "Kahina" most likely derived from the ancient Jewish priestly class (KHN, found in names like Cohen, Khan, etc.). Unlike most women of medieval history, she achieved greatness through her own efforts. A self-made woman, her power was not owed to a husband, lover, or inheritance.[/B]

One of the most famous of ancient legendary figures among the Amazigh is Dehia, called the Kahina (seer, priestess), a label said to have originated with the Arabs, against whom she led her army. However, the name of "Kahina" most likely derived from the ancient Jewish priestly class (KHN, found in names like Cohen, Khan, etc.). Unlike most women of medieval history, she achieved greatness through her own efforts. A self-made woman, her power was not owed to a husband, lover, or inheritance.


According to some accounts, including that of the fame writer and early historian, Ibn Khaldoun, Dehia was a Jewess. However, this is not proven and is disputed among scholars, though the very label of Kahina seems to give credence to this particular story. Moreover, it is traditionally accepted among the Imazighen themselves that she was Jewish, including in the Aures region, from which she hailed, according to Ibn Khaldoun’s account. Some tales concerning the female warrior recount that her people were relative newcomers; others state they were descendants of the Jews, who had fled into the region to escape the Romans during the Cyrene massacres of the second century.

Dehia’s career began when she took charge of the Amazigh army after Koceila, who had battled and been victorious over the Muslim invading army led by Okba. According to several histories, Dehia may have taken over at a very advanced age. When she was still young, she had freed her people from a cruel and tyranical local leader, whom she agreed to marry, then murdered on their wedding night. Her love life after this particular event is not known other than she gave birth to three sons, each probably fathered by different men.

Ibn Khaldoun states that she possessed the gift of prophecy and "never failed" to correctly foretell the future. Because of her gift, probably a result of her intelligence and persuasive manner, she became queen of her tribe, and later, of all the Imazighen of the region.

Dehia became the fiercest opponent of the invading Arab-led armies, but finally, realizing that her people were too weak to fight the invaders indefinitely, she decided that the only way to force them to leave was to give them no reason to want to stay. She had the countryside burned and sacked to impoverish the area and remove its beauty, thus making it undesirable. This decision did not affect her mountain people much, but the rest of the population was angry. She began to lose her power.

Instead of discouraging the Arab armies, her desperate decision hastened defeat. According to some accounts, she died fighting the invaders, sword in hand, a warrior’s death (other accounts say she committed suicide rather than be taken by the enemy). This was around 693 AD, when she was, according to ancient accounts quoted by Ibn Khaldoun, "127 years old." This was probably not meant literally. Great age was often depicted with exaggerated numbers, as is also found in the Torah (Old Testament to the Christians). Legend also has it that she was beautiful and passionate to the end.

http://www.emazighen.com/article.php3?id_article=86
http://www.amazighworld.org/history/personalities/dehia_the_kahina.php

[miss_J]

heb ej ze niej in t nederlands..