14-02-2021, 11:33
Hi NSV,
Thanks for your reply. A few points to your interesting comments:
At the time when the Normans invaded Muslim Sicily, the major cities (Palermo, Syracuse etc) were governed by different ‘emirs’ which the Normans conquered one after the other. However, Christians, Muslims and Jews lived quite peacefully as religion was not particularly important to the recently converted Norman rulers. Many historical sources verify this. Muslim rulers were allowed to continue governing Malta once they retreated from Sicily and were loyal to the Norman rulers of Sicily. Taxes were imposed on Muslims in Malta but eventually as you say in 1127 Muslim governance was abolished. But with nobility, titles can persist and continue especially if they are hereditary and still acknowledged by the Muslim population of Malta. This is exactly where we need more research.
From MaltaGenealogy, the last Emir of Malta was in 1240 a certain Jafar VIII. It is written “The Kings of Sicily took over government in Malta by direct rule with a Capitano della Verga.”
However, I think the title of ‘Emir of Malta’ could have been ceremonial while the Hakim of Malta was more like the actual governor. In fact the title of Hakim persisted longer until 1356 (according to MaltaGenealogy).
“Under the Muslims, the Maltese had their own assembly called ġemgħa composed of both Christians and Muslims under an Arab hakim or governor..." https://culturemalta.org/arab-rule-in-malta-2/
Yes, the specific names are only on that website but the wider historical context of Norman-Muslim rule are documented in other historical sources too.
Paying homage and tribute to an ancestor was a very common practice for a very long time. This naming practice persisted in Malta up until the recent day. Repeated names are extremely common in Maltese families, being named after a grandfather/grandmother etc.. With nobility it makes even more sense. Giving the common names of Jafar and Hassan Samsam established a link with the legitimate nobility and rulers of Sicily. But around the 1200s is when new names started to be given (supposedly the origin of many Maltese surnames like Seychell, Calafato, Zrinzo etc etc..)
This was extremely common even in Sicily. Nobility married nobility and Muslim men are allowed to marry Christian or Jewish women because the children would be Muslim. It was a common mode of alliances, independent historical sources also back these up. Some of the Hakims did marry a Muslim woman (a cousin usually - again, noble) but it was mainly their Harem that was composed of Muslim women.
The Muslims who refused to convert were expelled however many converted, including the descendants of Hakims etc.. and stayed in Malta. if they were threatened with expulsion in 1224 you would start seeing conversions around this time. However, in 1240 more than eight hundred Muslim families still lived in the Maltese islands. But how to know if the Muslims began converting? Look at their children's names around this decade. According to MaltaGenealogy, Christian names start entering these Hakims' family trees around 1250. In fact, the year we should be looking at is not 1224 BUT 1249:
"Around 1249, some Maltese Muslims were sent to the Italian colony of Lucera, established for Sicilian Muslims. For some historians, including Godfrey Wettinger, who follow on this Ibn Khaldun, this event marked the end of Islam in Malta. According to Wettinger, "there is no doubt that by the beginning of Angevin times [i.e. shortly after 1249] no professed Muslim Maltese remained either as free persons or even as serfs on the island."
https://vassallohistory.wordpress.com/va...nt-page-4/
Yes, exactly so. I wrote Seykil in reference to the "original" name..but yes, Seichel in the records.
Sorry for my long reply!
Thanks for your reply. A few points to your interesting comments:
Citation :How it's possible to have" emirs of malta" after this date ?
At the time when the Normans invaded Muslim Sicily, the major cities (Palermo, Syracuse etc) were governed by different ‘emirs’ which the Normans conquered one after the other. However, Christians, Muslims and Jews lived quite peacefully as religion was not particularly important to the recently converted Norman rulers. Many historical sources verify this. Muslim rulers were allowed to continue governing Malta once they retreated from Sicily and were loyal to the Norman rulers of Sicily. Taxes were imposed on Muslims in Malta but eventually as you say in 1127 Muslim governance was abolished. But with nobility, titles can persist and continue especially if they are hereditary and still acknowledged by the Muslim population of Malta. This is exactly where we need more research.
From MaltaGenealogy, the last Emir of Malta was in 1240 a certain Jafar VIII. It is written “The Kings of Sicily took over government in Malta by direct rule with a Capitano della Verga.”
However, I think the title of ‘Emir of Malta’ could have been ceremonial while the Hakim of Malta was more like the actual governor. In fact the title of Hakim persisted longer until 1356 (according to MaltaGenealogy).
“Under the Muslims, the Maltese had their own assembly called ġemgħa composed of both Christians and Muslims under an Arab hakim or governor..." https://culturemalta.org/arab-rule-in-malta-2/
Citation :How it's possible to only find these information on Maltagenealogy and copy/paste websites ?
Yes, the specific names are only on that website but the wider historical context of Norman-Muslim rule are documented in other historical sources too.
Citation :How it's possible that none "emirs of malta" have a new name but always an already used by an old sicilian emirs ?
Paying homage and tribute to an ancestor was a very common practice for a very long time. This naming practice persisted in Malta up until the recent day. Repeated names are extremely common in Maltese families, being named after a grandfather/grandmother etc.. With nobility it makes even more sense. Giving the common names of Jafar and Hassan Samsam established a link with the legitimate nobility and rulers of Sicily. But around the 1200s is when new names started to be given (supposedly the origin of many Maltese surnames like Seychell, Calafato, Zrinzo etc etc..)
Citation :How it's possible that the vast majority of "emirs of malta", so muslim, married christians italians women and no arab women ?
This was extremely common even in Sicily. Nobility married nobility and Muslim men are allowed to marry Christian or Jewish women because the children would be Muslim. It was a common mode of alliances, independent historical sources also back these up. Some of the Hakims did marry a Muslim woman (a cousin usually - again, noble) but it was mainly their Harem that was composed of Muslim women.
Citation :How it's possible that after the expulsion of all muslims in 1224, "emirs of malta" stayed ?
The Muslims who refused to convert were expelled however many converted, including the descendants of Hakims etc.. and stayed in Malta. if they were threatened with expulsion in 1224 you would start seeing conversions around this time. However, in 1240 more than eight hundred Muslim families still lived in the Maltese islands. But how to know if the Muslims began converting? Look at their children's names around this decade. According to MaltaGenealogy, Christian names start entering these Hakims' family trees around 1250. In fact, the year we should be looking at is not 1224 BUT 1249:
"Around 1249, some Maltese Muslims were sent to the Italian colony of Lucera, established for Sicilian Muslims. For some historians, including Godfrey Wettinger, who follow on this Ibn Khaldun, this event marked the end of Islam in Malta. According to Wettinger, "there is no doubt that by the beginning of Angevin times [i.e. shortly after 1249] no professed Muslim Maltese remained either as free persons or even as serfs on the island."
https://vassallohistory.wordpress.com/va...nt-page-4/
Citation :Seykil in Zejtun around 1600, never saw this name.
Do you mean Seichel ?
Yes, exactly so. I wrote Seykil in reference to the "original" name..but yes, Seichel in the records.
Sorry for my long reply!