Waqq??a
WAQQ??A
WAQQ??A (or Ruqqasa ), Moroccan family known in *Ceuta and *Fez from the 13th century. The Waqq??a family maintained contacts with the first *Merinid princes, particularly with the future sultan Ab?-Ya?q?b Y?suf, whose private affairs they managed. According to the historian Ibn Khald?n (14th century), the family encouraged the ruler's desire for wine. The Waqq??as' influence grew within the retinue of the prince, and when Abu-Ya?q?b ascended the throne in 1286, he chose khalifa ben ?ayun ben waqq??a, known as Khal?fa al-Kab?r (Khalifa the Elder), first as qahram?n al-d?r (palace intendant) and then officially as chamberlain with very extensive powers. From then onward the Waqq??as dominated the viziers and other Muslim officials of the government and provided a growing number of intendants and stewards. Khal?fa al-Kab?r, who was very favorably looked upon by the sovereign and had amassed an immense fortune, acted as a dictator with unlimited powers. He was assisted by his brother abraham, his brother-in-law Moses Sebti, and his cousin khal?fa al-?agh?r (Khalifa the Younger), who shared their relative's powers in every sphere. The vizier Abdallah ben Abu-Medyen, who was jealous of their position, plotted against them, succeeded in slandering them before the sovereign, and suggested a method of striking out at them. They were suddenly disgraced and arrested near *Tlemcen, which was besieged at the time by the Merinid army. Khal?fa al-Kab?r and all his relatives were executed in 1302, the only exception being Khal?fa al-?agh?r. The latter subsequently entered the service of another sultan, Abu Rab??a, and became an all-powerful chamberlain. The kings of Aragon flattered this great personality and sent emissaries to him to assist them in inducing the sultan to join in an alliance against the kingdom of Grenada. Prior to this, Khal?fa al-?agh?r found the opportunity to take vengeance against the vizier Abu-Medyen, who was put to death on the basis of the former's accusations. New intrigues subsequently resulted in the execution of Khal?fa al-?agh?r and his entire retinue in 1309.
bibliography:
D. Corcos, in: jqr, 56 (1964), 137–50; Hirschberg, Afrikah, 281–2, 389; c.e. Dufourcq, L' Espagne Catalane et le Maghreb aux xiii et xiv siècles (1966), 392–5.
[David Corcos]