Treaty of Orihuela
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Treaty of Orihuela also known as the treaty of Tudmir was an early Dhimmi treaty imposed by the invading Moors on the Christians in the city of Orihuela in the Iberian Peninsula in the year 713 AD.
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[edit] History
When the moors invaded the Iberian Peninsula in 711 the Visigothic count Tudmir defended the mountain passes of Murcia for some time with great valour and prudence. But at last, he over-confidently engaged in a pitched battle on the plain against the more numerous Moorish forces and his army was cut to pieces.
Tudmir escaped with a single page to the city of Orihuela. There he practised an ingenious deception upon his pursuers. Having hardly any men left in the city, for the youth of Murcia had fallen in the field, he made the women put on male attire, arm themselves with helmets and long rods like lances, and bring their hair over their chins as though they wore beards. Then he lined the ramparts with this strange garrison, and when the enemy approached in the shades of evening, they were disheartened to see the walls so well defended. Theodemir then took a flag of truce in his hand, and put a herald's tunic on his page, and the two sallied forth to capitulate, and were graciously received by the Moorish general, who did not recognize the prince. "I come," said Theodemir, "on behalf of the commander of this city to treat for terms worthy of your magnanimity and of his dignity. You perceive that the city is capable of withstanding a long siege; but he is desirous of sparing the lives of his soldiers. Promise that the inhabitants shall be at liberty to depart unmolested with their property, and the city will be delivered up to you to-morrow morning without a blow; otherwise we me prepared to fight until not a man be left."
The articles of capitulation were then drawn out; and when the Moor had affixed his seal, Theodemir took the pen and wrote his signature. "Behold in me," said he, "the governor of the city!" At the dawn of day the gates were thrown open, and the Moslems looked to see a great force issuing forth, but beheld merely Theodemir and his page, in battered armour, followed by a multitude of old men, women, and children. "Where are the soldiers," asked the Moor, "that I saw lining the walls last evening?" "Soldiers have I none," answered Theodemir. "As to my garrison, behold it before you. With these women did I man my walls; and this page is my herald, guard, and retinue!" So struck was the Moorish general with the boldness and ingenuity of the trick which had been played upon him, that he made Theodemir governor of the province of Murcia, which was ever afterwards known in Arabic as "Theodemir's land."
[edit] The Treaty
- This edict of Abd al- Aziz ibn Musa ibn Nusair to Tudmir ibn Abdush (Arabic for the Visigothic count Tudmir)) made in recognition of the surrender by means of capitulation and submission to the terms of this pact made through Allah and granting dhimmi protection of the Prophet, who blesses and saves.
- It is guaranteed that neither his status or position nor that of his subjects will be altered nor will he be deprived of his domain and that they will not be killed or enslaved, nor be separated of their children or spouses nor forced to abandon their religion nor will have their churches burned down conditional upon fulfilling the obligations that we impose.
- The following cities will be surrendered: Orihuela, Baltana, Alicante, Mula, Villena, Lorca and Ello.
- He will not give shelter to anyone who flees from us or who is our enemy; nor will he attack anyone who is under our good graces or amnesty ; nor will he hide information from us regarding our enemies that they may discover.
- He and his subjects will each pay an annual tribute of one dinar in coin, four measures of wheat, four of barley, four of yeast, four of grape and vinegar, two of honey and two of olive oil
- The servants will pay half of the above quantities.
- Witnesses to this document were `Uzmán ibn Abi `Abda, Habib ibn Abi `Ubaida, Idrís ibn Maisara and Abul Qasim al-Mazáli.
- Written in the month of Raÿab, year 94 of the Hégira (713 AD)
