Great Berber Revolt
A widespread uprising of Berber peoples against Umayyad Arab rule in North Africa (739–743 CE), which paved the way for the emergence of independent Berber states including the Barghawata Confederacy.
Great Berber Revolt
The Great Berber Revolt of 739–743 CE was a massive uprising of Berber peoples against the Umayyad Caliphate, sparked by discriminatory taxation, enslavement policies, and the influence of egalitarian Sufri Kharijite preachers. While ultimately defeated militarily, the revolt permanently fractured Umayyad control over the western Maghreb and enabled the emergence of independent Berber states—among them the Barghawata Confederacy.
Quick Facts
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Period | 739–743 CE |
| Location | Maghreb (modern Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) |
| Cause | Discrimination, heavy taxation, Kharijite egalitarianism |
| Outcome | Umayyad military victory but loss of western control |
| Result | Independent Berber states emerge (Barghawata, others) |
Causes
Discrimination Under Umayyad Rule
Despite converting to Islam in large numbers and playing a crucial role in the conquest of al-Andalus, Berbers were treated as second-class subjects under the Umayyad Caliphate. They were:
- Subjected to heavy taxation (jizya and kharaj) despite being Muslims
- Required to provide slaves as tribute—as many as 10,000–12,000 annually from Morocco alone
- Excluded from high military and administrative positions
- Often housed in overcrowded, unsanitary garrison conditions
Kharijite Agitation
Sufri Kharijite missionaries found fertile ground among disaffected Berber populations. Their doctrine of:
- Absolute egalitarianism — Any Muslim could lead the community, regardless of ethnicity
- Rejection of Arab privilege — Quraysh lineage was irrelevant for leadership
- Strict moral accountability — Rulers who sinned could be removed
…resonated deeply with Berber grievances and provided an ideological framework for rebellion.
Timeline of the Revolt
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 739 | Revolt begins in Tangier under Maysara al-Matghari |
| 740 | Battle of the Nobles — Berbers defeat Umayyad army from Spain |
| 741 | Battle of Bagdoura — Berbers annihilate Syrian relief army |
| 741 | Rebel army defeated at Kairouan outskirts; revolt loses momentum |
| 742–743 | Revolt fragments; Barghawata withdraw from the alliance |
| 743 | Umayyad authority collapses in western Maghreb; independent states emerge |
The Turning Point
After the stunning victories at the Battle of the Nobles (740) and Bagdoura (741), the Berber rebels controlled nearly all of Morocco. Umayyad rule in the region was effectively ended. However, when the rebel army pushed east toward Kairouan, they were defeated by the Syrian general Hanzala ibn Safwan al-Kalbi in 741, with massive casualties (estimates range from 120,000–180,000 Berbers killed).
Aftermath & Legacy
The revolt’s most enduring consequence was the permanent fragmentation of Umayyad authority in the western Maghreb. In its wake:
- Barghawata Confederacy — Founded in 744 CE by Tarif al-Matghari in Tamesna
- Emirate of Sijilmasa — Founded by the Midrarid dynasty (757–976 CE)
- Emirate of Nekor — Established in the Rif Mountains (710–1019 CE)
- Idrisid dynasty — Later emerged from this power vacuum (788–974 CE)
The revolt also demonstrated the power of Kharijite ideas as a unifying force for Berber resistance against Arab domination, a pattern that would echo through later North African history.
Related Entries
Characters
- Tarif al-Matghari — Barghawata founder who fought in the revolt
- Salih ibn Tarif — Religious founder of the Barghawata
Realms
- Barghawata — The confederation that emerged from the revolt
Concepts
- Kharijite Egalitarianism — Doctrinal foundation of the revolt
Sources
- Ibn Khaldun, Muqaddimah & History of the Berbers
- al-Bakri, Geographic Compendium
- Hanzala ibn Safwan al-Kalbi, accounts of the Ifriqiya campaigns
- Blankinship, Khalid Yahya, The End of the Jihad State (1994)