by The Tale of Princess Fatima, Warrior Woman- The Arabic Epic of Dhat al-Himma (retail) (epub)
The caliph acquiesced, calling for the prisoners to be brought before him. Walid and his father appeared, fear upon their faces. The caliph ordered them to obey ʿAbdelwahhab and his mother, Dhat al-Himma. They agreed, and the entire group returned together to dismantle the camp by the river. When everything was packed, the riders continued their journey toward Malatya.
Zalim and Walid rode slightly apart, at the head of one thousand warriors, in conference with ʿUqba. The latter said, “Tell me if you want anything done, and I will do all I can for you.”
“What shall we do?” asked Zalim. “What is left for us to do? Who among the Arabs would listen to us after the caliph shamed us? It seems we must resort to Mary and the cross. All you can do for us is keep your mouth shut.”
“I will keep my silence and do all I can for you. If you end up changing religions, I hardly think anyone could blame you. After all, religions are not so far from one another, and peoples resemble one another. I will write to you from Malatya and keep you informed of events there.”
“We thank you.”
* * *
—
The riders moved swiftly, folding the land by its length and its width. At last they arrived in Malatya. ʿAbdullah smiled as he dismounted. Princess Fatima, relieved of the burden that had prompted her departure, made her way to her tent. Zalim and Walid continued riding to the Manjiq Castle, which was nearest the border with Byzantium. News of Dhat al-Himma and her trial had spread, causing many to doubt the authority and integrity of the clan of Bani Kilab. Zalim found supporters in his ride toward the border, growing his army to some twelve thousand disgruntled soldiers. ʿAbdullah attempted to reach Zalim and Walid, sending a letter after them, but they replied with a scathing message, accusing ʿAbdullah of following a slut.
Princess Fatima was present for the public reading of this message. She stood in front of the crowded gathering and said to ʿAbdullah, “Sir, there is no need to worry yourself about us. If you prefer to give us up, for the sake of our people, I am willing to take ʿAbdelwahhab and leave you in peace. Do what you consider to be best; we will think no ill of you.” A tear slid down her cheek, and many of the people gathered there also shed tears and thanked her for her graciousness.
Then the devious ʿUqba came forward, and with a charming smile said, “Dear, precious amira! God forbid that we should hand you over to your enemies—even if it meant sacrificing ourselves! How could we ever give up your son, now that he is growing into such a fine young man, now confirmed as an amir of Bani Kilab? Even the Prophet—peace be upon him—testified on his behalf! Clearly, we are bound to help you.”
“Thank you,” said the amira.
“May God bless you,” added ʿAbdullah. “You are a pillar of the community. We must send a search party after Zalim and Walid before they join the Rum.” Everyone thanked ʿUqba for speaking up on behalf of Dhat al-Himma and her son.
The search party arrived at the place where Zalim and Walid were staying, but they never located them—for ʿUqba, fearing that Zalim would take revenge on him, had hurried home to write to Zalim. When Zalim received the messenger, at first he thought the message would bring news that Dhat al-Himma and her son had been turned out. However, when he read ʿUqba’s letter, he understood its significance. After relating what had transpired in Malatya, ʿUqba warned Zalim: Do not, I repeat, do not stay where you are. You are in mortal danger.
By the time the messenger arrived with ʿUqba’s letter, Zalim and Walid had reached Marj al-Dabbaj, located just seven days from Constantinople. Every time they had reached a new village in the lands of the Rum, the village leader had come out to meet Zalim and his army. Zalim would then say, “I am en route to the emperor of the Rum to join him.” They would welcome him and provide for him and his followers. Finally, Zalim had selected an eloquent messenger to ride to the palace to convey his greetings to the emperor. Then he had awaited the response.
Having now received ʿUqba’s letter, Zalim took action immediately. He instructed Walid to hide the possessions and families of the army, and to lay low. As for himself, he selected one thousand skilled warriors and doubled back toward Malatya. He did not want to simply defect to the Rum; he wanted a valuable pawn with which to make his next move.
Near the Manjiq Castle, Zalim and his warriors spied a group of about fifty warriors. Thinking that Princess Fatima or her son might be among them, Zalim instructed his warriors to capture the group and bring it to him. They did so swiftly, delivering the captives to Zalim in a secluded area. ʿAbdullah’s seven-year-old son, ʿAmr, was in the group, riding next to his guard. The others were kinsmen from among Bani Sulaym; ʿAmr had gone out with them to observe their hunting methods. Zalim was overjoyed: With this one, I can ask the emperor of the Rum for anything! He called for everyone to mount their horses, and they set off to join Walid.
* * *
—
When ʿAbdullah returned to Malatya, a group of shepherds and herders ran to meet him and inform him of the disappearance of the hunting party. ʿAbdullah was devastated to learn of his son’s capture. The people of Bani Sulaym shared in his agony and concern. One of them told him, “Don’t beat yourself up. The one who took your son is a marked man. It is only a matter of time.”
At that moment, Princess Fatima entered the tent where they had gathered. She gripped ʿAbdullah’s arm in greeting and offered her condolences. “Amir, we must go into the lands of the Rum before Zalim gives them the upper hand and calls them to march on us.”
“Amira, I am not the sort to leave my son alone. He is my whole world. Tomorrow I must write to the Hijaz for all the reinforcements they can spare. We will storm the Rum if we have to in order to rescue my son!”
“I will write to Bani Kilab. All our resources are at your disposal, and God willing I will not return until I have your son returned to you safely.”
“Thank you.”
* * *
—
Having captured ʿAmr, Zalim joined Walid. There he found the vizier of Emperor Leo. When the emperor had received the message—“There are twelve thousand soldiers coming to join you”—he had been afraid. He thought it was some kind of trick and asked his vizier, “How can we trust twelve thousand Muslim soldiers within our borders?”
“If they convert and eat pork, let them stay, as long as they are genuine about becoming Christian. They have been driven here by necessity. I heard reports that there was some kind of disagreement in Malatya, to the point of bloodshed. I think the newcomers have no recourse but to join us.”
“If that is the case, then go and tell them whatever conditions you like. If they’ll listen to you and agree to your conditions, then it’s all to the good. If they don’t agree, then I’ll call out the army from Constantinople and write to all our commanders to prevent their passage out of our lands.”
“Yes, Sir. I am on my way.” The vizier set out with fifty armed commanders from among the emperor’s special forces, each wearing a silk sash. They were accompanied by twenty men, priests and monks trained in Christian theology.
Walid had received the vizier warmly, explaining, “I am the son of the commander of this army. My father went to raid Malatya.” And he proceeded to tell the vizier their story. The vizier was reassured and waited for Zalim’s return.
Zalim arrived with ʿAmr in tow, and the vizier explained the situation. “When the emperor received your message, he feared that your arrival was some kind of trick to enter our lands. We will only know that we can trust you if you convert, eat pork, and drink wine. If you agree, then we will allow you to settle here, designating residences for you and providing for you.”
“We came to these lands fully expecting to wear the belt.3 All that you mentioned, we will do. We will eat as you eat, drink as you drink, and fight as you fight. As you can see, I have just returned from raiding in the lands of the Muslims and have captured the son of an amir of
the Arabs as a hostage, along with fifty men. I will bring them all to the emperor, and if he commands it, I’ll finish them all off. He can be sure that I mean business.”
Seeing how serious Zalim was, the vizier instructed him to follow him to Constantinople. The vizier went ahead, arriving in Constantinople a day before Zalim to inform the emperor of the hostage situation.
* * *
—
The vizier spoke excitedly: “Sir, if you wanted to use them to take all the Muslim lands, you could! I spoke with their leader, and he has agreed to all your conditions.” The emperor smiled and called for representatives of his court to ride out and welcome the newcomers. Many townspeople joined them, decorating the path from the city gates. The daughters of the Byzantine commanders came out, shining like stars in their finery.
Zalim was delighted to see the effects that his arrival wrought upon Constantinople. He said to Walid, “Here, we are kings. As for the religions, they’re close enough, like ʿUqba said. He has a great deal of knowledge and experience in religion, and I have seen him refer to Christianity most respectfully. He could practically be a Christian!”
“Do as you see fit, Father. I just want to finish off Dhat al-Himma and her son.”
At the city gates, the nobles of the court presented Zalim and Walid with robes of honor. Then they escorted Zalim, Walid, and ten of their soldiers into the emperor’s council room. The newcomers bowed low to the emperor, and he beckoned graciously for them to approach the throne.
Zalim addressed the emperor: “We have come here only to serve the Messiah and yourself. We have come to learn that yours is the true religion. It is my duty to assist you in conquering the lands of Islam, destroying the Kaaba and mosques, and capturing as many people as possible. This here is the son of ʿAbdullah, an amir of the Arabs. We captured fifty men with him, prominent in the Bani Sulaym clan. If you command it, I will finish them off to prove my loyalty.”
“That will not be necessary.” The emperor called for rewards for the newcomers. Then he turned to ʿAmr and the men of Bani Sulaym and asked them if they would like to join their brethren in becoming Christians.
ʿAmr replied, “How could we exchange unity for idolatry?” The emperor called for the captives to be imprisoned, chained by their feet. Zalim and his followers retired to the tents that had been prepared for them on a hillside in the city.
The next day, the emperor rode out among his commanders to personally oversee the presentation of a variety of foods to the newcomers. There was kabab and other foodstuffs, and many varieties of pork. The newcomers ate heartily, although in their hearts, many of the soldiers sent up apologetic prayers. They were guided by a group of priests to the market, where they were given money and clothing. Then they were dunked in the maʿmudiyya, a large basin of water, and they renounced the Prophet Muhammad. They hung crosses around their necks, prayed to icons painted on the walls, tied sashes around their waists. Then they joined the emperor, sitting around his council room. They noticed the daughters of the commanders, dressed in brightly colored, flowing silk garments. The emperor welcomed them to take up residence in the city. But Zalim explained, “My lord, we are accustomed to life in the wilderness. We live in tents on the steppes and plains and have no desire to be contained within walls. The tents where we are staying now suit us much better than houses.”
“As you wish. Do as you like.” The emperor arranged for all their accommodations. In the coming days, he also arranged for the wedding of Walid and others to daughters of the highest commanders. Walid was overjoyed and forgot Princess Fatima entirely. His new wife was beautiful and gracious, joining her husband and his forces in their pavilion campsite on the hillside in Constantinople. The emperor and Zalim began planning their strategies, writing to commanders throughout Byzantium.
* * *
—
ʿAbdullah was at his wits’ end, worrying over the loss of his son. Princess Fatima, seeing him thus, became impatient to relieve him of this burden that he endured for the sake of herself and her son. At last she rode out at the head of five hundred seasoned warriors of Bani Kilab. She rode first to the Hijaz, to unite the Arabs and gather forces. Then she led her army toward the lands of the Rum. By the time they were four days’ ride from Constantinople, everyone in the villages they passed assumed they belonged to the army of Zalim and Walid. Or maybe she was a relative, come to see them, and perhaps even to intercede on behalf of the kidnapped boy’s father.
Suddenly a cloud of dust appeared in the distance. Princess Fatima halted and watched it. As it approached, fifty warriors came into view, carrying their spears upright and riding sturdy horses with pearls on their harnesses. At their head rode a hardened young man, wearing a coat inlaid with jewels and a rose gold crown. Princess Fatima instructed those with her, “Spread out. Clearly these warriors were sent by the emperor.”
The two groups met in battle, their spears flying and staffs clashing in all directions. It was already afternoon. By evening, twenty of the Byzantine warriors were finished off; the other thirty were captured. The amira herself captured the young man who was leading the group. When she gave instructions to her army to set off in the way they had come, the young man declared, “I am the emperor’s son. Why take me back to your lands, when you could just exchange me here for anything you want?”
“Young man,” Princess Fatima replied, “we are not interested in money or livestock. The son of one of our kinsmen is being held hostage. His name is ʿAmr, and his father is an amir. We entered your lands only in order to rescue him.”
“Return me to Constantinople, and I swear to you on all that is holy that I will have the boy returned to you safely. I will see to it that he is given a robe of honor, and I will accompany him with you to your lands to ensure your safe passage.” Then he removed his sash and gave it to the amira.
The amira laughed at his expansive gesture, but she could see that he was sincere. Together they rode to Constantinople. When they arrived, the city was in mourning. The emperor was wearing black in honor of his missing son. When Princess Fatima and the emperor’s son were first sighted, messengers scurried to inform the emperor that the boy was in good health. The emperor was overcome with relief. Soon he was embracing his son, saying, “Thank the Messiah for your return!”
The boy told his father about his agreement, and the emperor called for ʿAmr and his kinsmen to be brought at once. He ordered robes of honor for them, returning to them their horses and their weapons. He installed Princess Fatima in the royal guesthouse, guaranteeing her every hospitality. Zalim and Walid were disgusted by this turn of events. They plotted against her, agreeing to wait until her departure before exacting their revenge. They refrained from attending the council, remaining in their tents on the hillside.
Each morning during her stay, the amira went to the practice field to spar with commanders and warriors in front of the Byzantine emperor. He admired her skill, rewarding her with robes of honor. No one could reach her with sword or spear. The emperor insisted that Princess Fatima join him in his council room. As she sat there one day, she was preparing to request official permission to depart the lands of the Rum. Suddenly a messenger rushed in and addressed the emperor: “Your Majesty, the king of Portugal is nearing our city gates by the gold market, and he has sworn by the Messiah and the Cross that he means to take the lands of the Rum, adding them to the lands of the Franks and Greece.”4
The king of Portugal was known for his vicious, independent nature. He had one hundred thousand seasoned warriors with him. He had found himself so powerful that he had decided to march on Constantinople, seeking kingship over all the Christian lands. On arrival in the city, he made his way to the practice square. He stood in the center and called in a voice so loud that it carried far and wide, “Followers of the Messiah and the Cross, I am not here for money, and I have no desire to fight. I am here to unite the Christian lands, and I am committed to r
uling your kingdom. By Jesus and Mary, call upon your king to come out and meet me in the square. If he kills me, he can have all I own. If he loses, I will become king in his place, and I will be the most powerful king in the world!”
The gatekeepers scurried to the emperor, informing him discreetly of this challenge. News had spread throughout the city, and the people were massing like waves in the ocean. Princess Fatima surveyed the emperor’s officers and saw that they were like sailors at sea: swayed by the challenge, confused and at a loss as to what course to take. The emperor was afraid for his life and for the fate of his kingdom.
“Your Majesty, what is the problem?” asked Princess Fatima.
“Amira, the king of Portugal wants to overthrow me. He has come to kill me and rule in my place.”
“Take heart, Your Majesty. Send him a messenger. Tell him that the duel shall take place tomorrow. I will go in your place, wearing your clothing. The priests will process before me as they would for you. I will win the duel, and so relieve you of this worry.”
The emperor was overjoyed and gladly began removing his garments. His messengers rushed to the square and informed the king of Portugal of the plan. The latter returned to his army, instructing them to set up camp. They raised their tents and pavilions, their flags flying high, and the king of Portugal waited for morning.
* * *
—
The next morning, Princess Fatima greeted the emperor, who was already mounted among his retinue. She dressed herself in his garments, and he followed in her wake as one of the officers. The priests preceded her, raising their voices in recitation of scriptures.5 The horses neighed at all the fanfare. The king of Portugal approached them, mounted on a war horse, surrounded by his retinue, their flags flying high. He proceeded to the square, his horse in finely meshed chain mail armor. In one hand, he held a sword made of Indian steel; in the other, a pike with a tip like a pack of afrits. He dismounted in the square, awaiting the Byzantine emperor. Princess Fatima walked into the square like a powerful lioness. The priest had processed in front of her on her approach to the square, and this convinced the king of Portugal that she was the Byzantine emperor.