The hijaba and the hujjab in Ifriqiya during the Hafsid era

Abstract

The ḥijāba was an official role that appeared in Ifrīqiya (modern Tunisia and parts of Algeria and Libya) in the Aghlabid era (800-909) and continued into the Hafsid era (1228-1574). The role of the ḥujjāb, who acted as a gatekeeper and advisor to the Sultan, developed throughout the middle of the 14th century and reached the peak of its powers towards its end, and numerous sources testify to its importance. The ḥujjāb’s role was diverse and covered various fields. The Sultan appointed its holder by decree, and given the role’s prominence, this was one of the Sultan’s most important policy decisions. The ḥujjāb had various networks of relations through which he was often able to control the wheels of government and set the trajectory of the Hafsid state. This paper discusses the emergence of the ḥijāba, its evolution and its character at its peak. It then looks at the tasks assigned to the role, how its holders were able to weave a network of relationships, and the impact this had on the position, the ḥijāba and the government.