Yusuf al-Dhahir
- In this Deltinian name, the first or paternal surname is al-Dhahir and the second or maternal family name is al-Akbar.
| Yusuf al-Dhahir يوسف الظاهر | |||||
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| Caliph of the Aljanub Caliphate | |||||
| Tenure | 1 July 1326 – 9 September 1331 | ||||
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| Born | Yusuf Muhammad al-Dhahir al-Akbar 1267/1268 Caliphate of Deltino | ||||
| Died | 9 September 1331 (aged 62–64) Qalajanubia, Aljanub Caliphate | ||||
| Spouse | Nasreen al-Azzam | ||||
| Issue | 7, including Salim and Abdul Azeez | ||||
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| House | House of al-Dhahir | ||||
| Religion | Deltinian Islam | ||||
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| Allegiance |  Caliphate of Deltino Aljanub Caliphate | ||||
| Branch/service | Deltinian Islamic Army Southern Islamic Army | ||||
| Years of service | c. 1288–1331 | ||||
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Yusuf Muhammad al-Dhahir al-Akbar bin al-Janub (Deltinian: يوسف محمد الظاهر الأكبر بن الجنوب;[note 1] 1267/1268 – 9 September 1331) was a Deltinian military officer who is sometimes considered to be the final caliph of Deltino.
Al-Dhahir began his military career during the Honduran Revolt and the Honduran–Deltinian War, and later was one of the most important military figures during the invasions of Creeperian King Miguel I. Despite al-Dhahir suffering numerous defeats against the Creeperans, he was still seen as a competent and capable military leader by both the Creeperans and the Deltinians. On two occasions, he attempted to bring an end to the Creeperian siege of Almadinat Almuqadasa (1324–1326), however, both attempts failed and the city eventually fell in June 1326, brining an end to the Caliphate of Deltino and resulting in the death of Caliph Salim VI bin Abu Arshad.
In July 1326, al-Dhahir declared the establishment of the Aljanub Caliphate and as the leader of Deltinian resistance against further Creeperian expansion south. Eventually, al-Dhahir was forced to defend the city of Qalajanubia (modern-day Guadalajara), his own capital, after Miguel I began to Siege of Qalajanubia in modern-day siege the city in 1331. After a six-month siege, the Creeperans eventually broke through al-Dhahir's defenses, and al-Dhahir was killed during the fall of the city.
Al-Dhahir's military career is seen as a futile resistance against the seemingly unstoppable Creeperian army under Miguel I, which later went on to destroy the emirates of Abdan, Helam, and Jakiz after the death of al-Dhahir. He is seen by Deltinians today as a martyr and as a hero who stood up against Creeperian aggression and expansionism into Deltino's final territories. He is universally recognized by scholars and Deltinian Muslims to be the final caliph, however, the majority of scholars do not regard him to be a "caliph of Deltino," instead referring to him as simply the "Aljanub Caliph" as he never truly held as much power as the historic caliphs of Deltino.
Contents
Early life
Yusuf Muhammad al-Dhahir al-Akbar was born in the year 666 AH (1267 or 1268 AD) in the Caliphate of Deltino. Many details about his early life are not known. The identity of both of his parents are debated, but some Deltinian scholars believe that he may be a direct descendant of Caliph Sulayman III bin Abu Arshad through his father, however, this assertion remains disputed. He was probably born in Almadinat Almuqadasa, but historians have not reached a consensus regarding his exact place of birth.
Al-Dhahir began serving in the Deltinian Islamic Army around the age of 20, or around the year 1288. He began service with the Deltinian cavalry units during the Honduran Revolt and the Honduran–Deltinian War. Al-Dhahir engaged in battle at Qumadi, Buqbuq, Ibarra, Etxeberria, and Safaga between 1289 and 1290. Some historians, however, argue that he may have not actively engaged in battle at some or all of the engagements, citing that the first accounts of his military accomplishments at said battles were from his own reign as caliph in the late-1320s.
Fighting the Creeperans
Miguel's first war
In December 1304, Creeperian King Miguel I launched an invasion of the Caliphate of Deltino. During the invasion, the Creeperans attacked and defeated a 5,000-strong Deltinian army under the command of Haazim al-Latif, who was later tortured and executed by the Creeperans. In 1305, at the age of 37, Caliph Salim VI bin Abu Arshad gave al-Dhahir the command of 60,000 soldiers to stop the advancing Creeperans, a significant show of confidence by the caliph to al-Dhahir.
Al-Dhahir first engaged Miguel I in October 1305 and defeated the Creeperans in the First Battle of Derna. In a second battle at Derna in November 1305, however, Miguel I forced al-Dhahir to withdraw the Deltinian army south. In January 1306, al-Dhahir's soldiers were attacked by the Creeperans, and after another defeat, he was forced to retreat further south. Around 5,000 of his soldiers were captured, tortured, and executed by the Creeperans, beginning the so-called "Reign of Terror" where the Creeperian armies tortured and executed tens of thousands of Deltinians throughout their military campaign.
Salim V helped raise more soldiers for al-Dhahir, so that by July 1306, he was now in command of a total of 145,000 soldiers in comparison to Miguel I's 90,000 soldiers. That same month, al-Dhahir prepared to engage Miguel I near the village of Ourique. The subsequent battle ended in a crushing defeat for al-Dhahir, who lost over 60,000 soldiers during the battle and was forced to retreat even further south. In December 1307, al-Dhahir attempted to disrupt the Siege of Buraihran, and his efforts were successful to a degree, preventing the Creeperans from capturing the city until March 1309.
In June 1309, al-Dhahir began a siege of the city of Idku. Miguel I attempted to stop al-Dhahir from capturing the city, however, he was unable to do so and the siege continued. In February 1311, however, Miguel I attempted again to end al-Dhahir's siege, now with the support of 20,000 Honduran soldiers. The sudden attack against al-Dhahir's forces succeeded and lifted the siege of Idku. By October 1311, Miguel I was nearing Almadinat Almuqadasa, the capital city of Deltino. Salim V and al-Dhahir were forced to enter negotiations with Miguel I to prevent a siege of the city, and in the subsequent Treaty of Najallah, Deltino relinquished all Deltinian lands east of the Shamaliu River (known today as the San Miguel River) which was also north of the city of Minamalia (modern-day La'Unión) and north of the Kabir River (known today as the Zapatista River) that was also east of the al-Sharqiu al-Kabir Mountain Range (known today as the San Luísian Mountain Range).
Sulayman's Rebellion
Salim V died in 1319 and was succeeded by his son, Salim VI. Another of Salim V's sons, Sulayman, attempted to usurp the throne for himself to claim the position of caliph from Salim VI. In his rebellion, Sulayman attempted to persuade al-Dhahir to join his side, promising to name him as the governor of Alqism Almuqadas, however, he refused Sulayman's offer and swore his allegiance and loyalty to Salim VI.
Al-Dhahir was tasked with defeating Sulayman's rebel army and capturing the usurping caliph alive. Sulayman captured the town of Uyubar and prepare to engage in battle against al-Dhahir. The two sides engaged in battle in September 1319, and after four hours of fighting, al-Dhahir managed to force much of Sulayman's army to flee the battlefield. During the rout, Sulayman was wounded and captured by al-Dhahir's forces. The decisive victory for al-Dhahir ended Sulayman's rebellion, and in October 1319, Sulayman was beheaded in Almadinat Almuqadasa by al-Dhahir himself for treason and sedition against Salim VI.
Miguel's second war
In December 1321, Miguel I began a second invasion of Deltino due to the news about Salim V's death. When Miguel I and his army, numbering 120,000, captured the city of Muzadr, Salim VI sent al-Dhahir to stop the Creeperian invasion. Al-Dhahir's 40,000 soldiers were soundly defeated by the Creeperans at Zliten, Damanhur, and Janzour, forcing him to retreat back to Almadinat Almuqadasa. In mid-1324, Salim VI and al-Dhahir sent a delegation to negotiate for peace with Miguel I, offering further territorial concessions, however, the entire delegation was arrested and all but one of its members were executed, with the sole survivor being sent back to the Deltinians to inform them that Miguel I will destroy the city of Almadinat Almuqadasa.
In September 1324, Miguel I began the Siege of Almadinat Almuqadasa. Salim VI swore to stay and defend the city until his total victory or until his death, while al-Dhahir remained outside of the city with an army to attempt to halt the siege. On 17 September 1324, the Creeperans and Deltinians engaged in the Battle of Altal, an attempt by al-Dhahir to drive Miguel I away from the city, however, the battle ended in a Creeperian victory and forced al-Dhahir to retreat south, away from the city, to rebuild his forces and gather more soldiers.
After the Creeperans severed the city's lake access in March 1326, Salim VI desperately sent messengers to al-Dhahir requesting immediate support. Al-Dhahir returned to the city in May 1326 and fought the Creeperans near the village of Erbitba. Despite al-Dhahir's and his soldiers' efforts, the Creeperans soundly defeated them, and again forced al-Dhahir to retreat south. After his defeat at Erbitba, al-Dhahir never again saw the city of Almadinat Almuqadasa, as on 13 June 1326, the Creeperans breached the city's walls and sacked the city, burning and destroying several important buildings such as mosques, libraries, and barracks, and massacred 200,000 of the city's inhabitants. The fall of the city marked the end of the first phase of the Creeperian Crusade and the end of the Caliphate of Deltino.
Aljanub Caliph
Al-Dhahir was first made aware of the fall of Almadinat Almuqadasa and the death of Salim VI in late-June 1326. In response, on 1 July 1326, al-Dhahir declared the establishment of the Aljanub Caliphate (Southern Caliphate) in opposition to the possibility of Miguel I's further conquest of Deltino's southernmost territories. He declared himself as caliph and as Salim VI's successor, and his claim as caliph was recognized by the emirates of Abdan, Helam, and Jakiz, three Deltinian successor states located in the very south of Deltino's former territories.
Siege of Qalajanubia and death
Notes
See also
Yusuf I al-Dhahir bin al-Janub Born: 1267/1268 Died: 9 September 1331
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| Deltinian Islamic titles | ||
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| New title | Aljanub Caliph 1326–1331 |
Caliphate abolished |
