Q. & A. 711 to 1707 with solved Papers css 1971 to date

MUIZZ
The Fourth Fatimid Caliph (341-365 A.H.)
Muizz was born at Mahdiya in 319 A.H. His entire upbringing was in an atmosphere of war and he was trained to be a good soldier. He had also to acquired a knowledge of many languages like Arabic, Berber, Nubian, old Italian, Greek and the Slav languages. On the death of his father in 341 A.H. he was
Farhad Daftary, P 159

760 Political and Cultural History of Islam
appointed tnext Caliph at Mahdiya. His first problem was to subjugate th*e Maghrib which had revolted under the instigation of Abdur Rahf”811 HI °f Spain and the Idrisids of Morocco. Muizz utilized the ;able services of Ziri bin Manad of the Sanhaja tribe and Jawhar, a fr”eed Sicilian slave, in bringing the entire North African territory onc^e again under the rule of the Fatimids.
Abdflur Rahman in of Spain had also declared himself Caliph in 317 A.H. (929 A.D.) and had entered into a bitter rivalry with the Fatimids. W^hen Jawhar took the district of Ceuta (Tangiers) on the African co^st* opposite Gibraltar, the last outpost of Umayyad influence in- the Maghrib was lost. The Umayyad began to withdraw into their Spanish affairs, and the Fatimids to devote their attention towards the conquest of Egypt. The Maghrib, therefore, was for the time being Left in peace.
Create, this Mediterranean island was ruled by Muslims exiled fron”1 Spain since 204 A.H. It was now threatened by the Byzantines. The Abbasids of Baghdad, the Ikhshidis of Egypt and the Hamdar’ids of Syria were all aspiring for the occupation of Crete But Muizz was quick in sending help to the Cretans, isolating the Umayyad 5?pain from Byzantine help, spoiling the chances of the Abbasids a^d the Ikhshidids, and using Crete as a base for the future conquest of Egypt. Crete remained a district of the Fatimid Empire until 351 A--H.
Th^ island of Sicily was ruled by the Arab dynasty of Amir Ahmad bu’1 Hassan since the time of and on behalf of the first Fatimid C#’’Pn Mahdi. Now it was attacked by the Byzantines. Muizz was successful in sending help so that Sicily was not only saved but