In the rivalry between the Christian empire of Constantinople and the expanding Islamic realms of the Arabs, there was always religious tension from the start. Although we think of clashing states and religions often occupying or demolishing or repurposing the temples of rival religions, that was not always the case. One of the early Arab leaders, Mu’awiya (r. 661-680)—founder of the Umayyad Dynasty—was not particularly peaceful to his Christian neighbors, as he was a conqueror and even besieged (unsuccessfully) the imperial capital city of Constantinople between 674-678. Yet, Mu’awiya also had the capacity to show tolerance and charity toward Christian communities who came under his governance.
Following the unsuccessful siege of the imperial capital in 678, Mu’awiya agreed to a peace with Emperor Constantine IV of Constantinople (r. 668/669-685). Around the time of the peace deal, an earthquake struck Mu’awiya‘s realm, which notably caused great damage to a Christian church in Edessa. Particularly, the church’s dome was said to have collapsed during the shaking. News of this earthquake and the damaged church came to the attention of Mu’awiya, who decided to help rebuild the church for the community. News of the Arab ruler’s charitable deed spread all the way back to Constantinople, where chroniclers made note of the event. One such chronicler, named Theophanes (c. 750-818), briefly mentioned the incident in his entry for the year Annus Mundi 6170 (September 678-August 679). He wrote: “In this year there was a severe earthquake in Mesopotamia. In it, the pulpit and dome of the Church at Edessa fell. Because of the Christians’ zealous exertions, Muawiyah rebuilt it” (Theophanes, Chronographia, entry for Annus Mundi 6170). As is evident from the spread of the story all the way from Edessa to Constantinople, the Christian populations were impressed and grateful for Mu’awiya‘s rebuilding of the church. Some disgruntled Arabs in the Umayyad realm, however, were less amused by the good gesture, as Mu’awiya‘s government was often criticized by his zealous peers for being too secular.
Written by C. Keith Hansley
Picture Attribute: (Illustration labeled Liber Alchandrei philosophi by the Virgil Master (c. 1380 – 1420), [Public Domain] via Creative Commons and the Getty Museum).
Sources:
- Theophanes, The Chronicle of Theophanes, translated by Harry Turtledove. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1982.
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/Umayyad-dynasty-Islamic-history
