Tudmir

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Teodomiro, or Theodemir, cited by contemporary Arabs as Tudmir sometimes Tadmir, was a Visigothic count from the VIII century. He was governor of an Eastern region of the Iberian peninsula (in the current Spanish provinces of Alicante and Murcia). He fought against the Muslims when they invaded the Iberian peninsula, but finally capitulated in 713 AD signing the Treaty of Orhuela, which allowed the region to keep some autonomy. Tudmir died in 743 AD.

When the moors invaded the Iberian Peninsula in 711 the Visigothic count Theodemir defended the mountain passes of Murcia for some time with great valour and prudence. But at last, he over-confidently engaged in a pitched battle on the plain against the more numerous Moorish forces and his army was cut to pieces.

Theodemir escaped with a single page to the city of Orihuela. There he practised an ingenious deception upon his pursuers. Having hardly any men left in the city, for the youth of Murcia had fallen in the field, he made the women put on male attire, arm themselves with helmets and long rods like lances, and bring their hair over their chins as though they wore beards. Then he lined the ramparts with this strange garrison, and when the enemy approached in the shades of evening, they were disheartened to see the walls so well defended. Theodemir then took a flag of truce in his hand, and put a herald's tunic on his page, and the two sallied forth to capitulate, and were graciously received by the Moorish general, who did not recognize the prince. "I come," said Theodemir, "on behalf of the commander of this city to treat for terms worthy of your magnanimity and of his dignity. You perceive that the city is capable of withstanding a long siege; but he is desirous of sparing the lives of his soldiers. Promise that the inhabitants shall be at liberty to depart unmolested with their property, and the city will be delivered up to you to-morrow morning without a blow; otherwise we me prepared to fight until not a man be left." The articles of capitulation were then rawn out; and when the Moor had affixed his seal, Theodemir took the pen and wrote his signature. "Behold in me," said he, "the governor of the city!" At the dawn of day the gates were thrown open, and the Moslems looked to see a great force issuing forth, but beheld merely Theodemir and his page, in battered armour, followed by a multitude of old men, women, and children. "Where are the soldiers," asked the Moor, "that I saw lining the walls last evening?" "Soldiers have I none," answered Theodemir. "As to my garrison, behold it before you. With these women did I man my walls; and this page is my herald, guard, and retinue!" So struck was the Moorish general with the boldness and ingenuity of the trick which had been played upon him, that he made Theodemir governor of the province of Murcia, which was ever afterwards known in Arabic as "Theodemir's land."