أثر حركة عبد الرحمن بن الأشعث على الحياة السياسية والعسكرية في المشرق الإســــلامي

Abstract

The Umayyad state knew many movements and revolutions that took place against the Umayyad governors and rulers, especially in Iraq, where the movement of Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Ash'ath is considered the most important movement witnessed by the Umayyad state. What distinguished the movement of Ibn al-Ash'ath from other revolutions carried out by the people of Iraq against the Umayyad rule is that it was not based on sectarian foundations like other revolutions carried out by the Shiites and Kharijites. Rather, the motives of this movement were personal and linked to personal grudges and mutual hatred between Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Ash'ath and alHajjaj ibn Yusuf al-Thaqafi. This revolution began in the region of Sistan in the far east of the Umayyad state when al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf assigned Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Ash'ath to eliminate the rebellion of Ratbil, the leader of Sistan, who had exploited the difficult circumstances that the Umayyad state was going through, so he declared his rebellion and refused to pay what was due from him. The Umayyad state's tax, so Al-Hajjaj sent Ibn Al-Ash'ath to eliminate the rebellion of Ratbil, and Ibn Al-Ash'ath was able to achieve some victories over Ratbil, but he differed in points of view with Al-Hajjaj, as Al-Hajjaj wanted to speed up the elimination of Ratbil, while Ibn Al-Ash'ath saw no rush in eliminating Ratbil, preferring to establish Umayyad control over the areas seized from Ratbil before moving to control new areas, this difference in points of view between the two men led to Ibn Al-Ash'ath's rebellion against Al-Hajjaj and his return with his army to Iraq and his entry into several battles with the Umayyad army led by Al-Hajjaj, where they exchanged victories before Al-Hajjaj was finally able to defeat Ibn AlAsh'ath.