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Dihya the Berber Queen (Al-Kaahina): Difference between revisions
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Dihya seemed close to creating an independent state. She ruled with an iron fist. She quickly transformed the anarchic Berber tribes into a disciplined army. She showed great military and administrative skills. She managed to hold Muslims at bay for a long time, perhaps as long as for three years. She also established an administration capable of maintaining a large standing army for this time. Dihya prepared for the Arabs' return. | Dihya seemed close to creating an independent state. She ruled with an iron fist. She quickly transformed the anarchic Berber tribes into a disciplined army. She showed great military and administrative skills. She managed to hold Muslims at bay for a long time, perhaps as long as for three years. She also established an administration capable of maintaining a large standing army for this time. Dihya prepared for the Arabs' return. | ||
One of the most bizarre episodes of Dihya’s struggle against the Muslims was the defection of her three natural sons. These joined the Muslims and | One of the most bizarre episodes of Dihya’s struggle against the Muslims was the defection of her three natural sons. These joined the Muslims and converted to Islam according to the traditional sources, claiming that they did it on a peremptory order given by their mother. Some speculate that Dihya knew that in the long perspective she had no chance to stop the Muslims, and decided that it was the only way to save her beloved sons’ lives. Other authors suspect that her sons came to conduct espionage and sabotage. | ||
Even if this second option is true, Dihya had no chance to make use of her sons’ skills. The exact cause of her downfall, and the date when this happened, is not certain. | Even if this second option is true, Dihya had no chance to make use of her sons’ skills. The exact cause of her downfall, and the date when this happened, is not certain. | ||