The Saqaliba at Bani Umayyad palaces
Ekhlas Mohammad Al-Eidi

Abstract
The word "Saqaliba" was givenin Andalusia, during the reign of Umayyad State, to the salves, brought in as children by sea pirates to be reared up in the palace on loyalty and obedience of emirs and caliphs, then some of them engaged in the military corps, and part stayed in the palace to serve its harem. And, with the increase if their numbers and getting closer to the emirs and caliphs, they became more prominent, an could form a social class similar somehow to the Turkish Mamluksclass in the Islamic Orient.This study seeks to shed light on Saqaliba in Andalusia as regards: identification of their origins and the countries from which they came to Andalusia, their development in Bani Umayyad palaces, and their relation with emirs and caliphs, and the historical evolution of their duties from simple employment at houses and palaces as servants and guards until they were able to assume a leading military and administrative positions which enabled them to seize the power .

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