«Freedom or death» 🗡
Dihya («Al Kahina» - the nickname given to by her Muslim opponents) was The Queen of the Berber - Jewish Principality in North Africa during the Arab conquests. She was a religious and military leader who led indigenous resistance to the Muslim conquest of the Maghreb, the region then known as Numidia.
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The cruel ruler of the principality of Ores (southeastern Algeria) fell in love with one poor girl who lived in one village - Dihya - Bint - Tabitha. She did not love him, but he began to terrorize her fellow villagers. She had supposedly freed her people from a tyrant by agreeing to marry him and then murdering him on their wedding night.
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After the death of the head of the Berbers in 689, the Berber principalities recognized her as «The Queen of the Berbers» of the United Berber State - the Kingdom of Africa. By the time of the Arab invasion, Dihya was already the leader of all 9 Judeo-Berber principalities.
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In 698, the Arabs sent a large army against the African kingdom. Dihya chose a place for the ambush. Before the battle, she admonished her soldiers: «The Lions of Africa and Judea! Show the Arabs that you will never let Islam enslave yourself! Our beloved Africa will remain free! Let our ancient cry of the Zealots be our battle cry: «Freedom or death!»
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The armies met near Meskiana in the present-day province of Oum el-Bouaghi at the «Battle of the Camels» where the army of Arabs was destroyed and completely defeated. But the Arabs did not calm down and again sent a new 40,000th army against the African kingdom under the command of one of their best commanders - Hassan ibn Numan.
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Avoiding a general battle, Dihya entered the rear of the Arabs and approached the city of Bagia, held by the Byzantine garrison. The Byzantines and the Christian population of the city met the army of Dihya as allies, opened the gates to them and let them into the city. After this battle, the Arab army was utterly defeated and fled in panic. The kingdom of Africa went on the counteroffensive, freeing the lands occupied by the Arabs, destroying the invaders. Carthage, which became the capital of the new state, was liberated. Dihya was greeted as a liberator by both the Berbers, Jews, and Christians. The bishop of the city of Bula Regia meeting Dihya with his own hands covered flowers with earth in front of the hooves of her war horse.
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The African kingdom began to gradually stabilize, turning from an amorphous conglomerate of nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes into a clearly structured organization with a state apparatus, cities, trade, and crafts. Dihya’s army went from victory to victory.
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So, Hassan proposed to Dihya a seductive plan: the Arab and Berber armies jointly invade Spain and divide it among themselves, and the Jews of the Arab part will be given full rights or the opportunity to freely move to Africa. From the Berber kingdom was required to let the 60-thousandth Arab army through its territory. Queen Dihya agreed. Soon, however, it became clear that the Arabs did not just pass through the territory of the kingdom, but simply conquered it. But even now, the Berbers could still face off against the Arabs - if not for betrayal. The young Arab aristocrat Khalid ibn Yazid al-Qaisi, who was captured by the Berbers during the 1st Arab-Berber War, turned to their side for a look, but secretly remained faithful to the Arab cause. He got into confidence in Dihya and informed Hassan about Berber plans.
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In 703, in the area of the modern city of El Jern, the Berber and Arab troops met in the last desperate battle. Shortly before the battle, Khalid ibn al-Qaisi escaped from the Berber camp and led one of the largest units of the Arab army. The Berber Queen understood that she would die in this battle, nevertheless Dihya did not avoid from the battle, «because giving her country to the invaders would be a shame for her people».
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According to the Arab historian Ibn Nuvayri, Jews and Berbers fought with the courage of despair, and only overwhelming superiority allowed the Arabs to gain up. Dihya Al Kahina fought with a sword in her hands at the head of her warriors and died in her last battle. Her severed head was sent to Caliph Abd al-Malik to prove that she won’t return and the Arabs won’t feel fear again. 🗡
