Dar on the Abbasid Syrian Frontiers

Some historical sources refer to many dars on the al-Tugur al-Šamiya or Abbasid Syrian frontiers (Cilicia), especially in Tarsus from the late 2/8th century until the Byzantine reconquest of it in 354/965. These dars were a kind of military establishment built to accommodate the warriors who participated in holy wars on behalf of the founders of the dars.The dar founded by Qabiha, mother of the Caliph al-Mu'tazz, contained an armory and a residence for soldiers; it housed 150 slave warriors and their leader who were selected from among the mawlas or retainers of al-Mu'tazz. The warriors were well known because while marched they shouted out the name of the caliph. There were also 150 military slaves in the dar of Sayyida, mother of the Caliph al-Muqtadir. Some Tarsus armorers were appointed to repair their weapons. The dar of Zuhayr b. al-Harit was a smaller one but had similar features; seven war horses which were stabled there with their equipment were allotted to seven commanders, and veterinarians and grooms for these horses were employed.It should be noted that the dars were financed by waqfs or religious donations and that the spread of the dars along the Syrian frontiers was promoted by the intensity of the spirit of holy war

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