Emirate of Sicily: Map & History
The island of Sicily was under Islamic rule from the late ninth to the late eleventh centuries.
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The island of Sicily was under Islamic rule from the late ninth to the late eleventh centuries. It became a prosperous and influential commercial power in the Mediterranean, with its capital of Palermo serving as a major cultural and political center of the Muslim world.
Modern Countries Once Part of Emirate of Sicily
At its mapped extent, Emirate of Sicily covered territory in 2 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Emirate of Sicily's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Emirate of Sicily in Depth
History
In 535, Emperor Justinian I reconquered Sicily for the Roman Empire, which by then was ruled from Constantinople. As the power of what is now known as the Byzantine Empire waned in the West, a new and expansionist power was emerging in the Middle East: the Rashidun Caliphate, the first major Muslim state to emerge following the death of the Islamic prophet Muhammad in 632. Over a period of twenty five years, the caliphate succeeded in annexing much of the Persian Sasanian Empire and former Roman territories in the Levant and North Africa. In 652, under Caliph Uthman, an invasion captured most of the island, but Muslims occupation was short-lived, as they left following his death.
Government
Seated in what is now the Royal Palace in Palermo, the emir held authority over most affairs of state, including the army, administration, justice, and the treasury. He appointed the governors of major cities, high ranking judges (qāḍī), and arbitrators for minor disputes between individuals (hakam). An assembly of notables called giamà'a played a consultative role, albeit sometimes making important decisions in lieu of the emir. It is also very likely that the authorities operated a tiraz, an official workshop that produced valuable fabrics such as silk, which were granted as a sign of appreciation to their subject or as a gift to foreign dignitaries.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Muslim Sicily (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Emirate of Sicily: Key Facts
| Founded | 827 CE |
|---|---|
| Dissolved | 1091 |
Facts from Wikidata Q118780154 (CC0).
Emirate of Sicily Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Emirate of Sicily appears, with the other states of the time.
Emirate of Sicily Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 22,528 km² in 894 CE.
Emirate of Sicily: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Emirate of Sicily exist?
Emirate of Sicily is dated to 850 CE – 1093 CE, in the Early Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Emirate of Sicily?
The capital of Emirate of Sicily was Palermo.
How large was Emirate of Sicily at its peak?
At its peak in 894 AD Emirate of Sicily covered about 22,528 km².
How did the map of Emirate of Sicily change over time?
Emirate of Sicily appears on 2 dated world maps in the atlas, from 900 CE to 1000 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
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