Razzia (military): Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Rapid incursionattack into enemy territory in order to attack}}

A '''razzia''' (from French ''razzia'' 'incursion', and from Algerian Arabic ''ġaziya'' (غزية),'' "algara"'' or 'raid') is a term used to refer to a [[Raid (military)|surprise attack]] against an enemy settlement. Although it primarily sought to obtain booty, historically the objectives of a razzia have been diverse: the capture of [[Slavery|slaves]], [[Ethnic cleansing|ethnic]] or [[Religious persecution|religious]] cleansing, expansion of territory, and intimidation of the enemy.

The word is from French ''razzia'' 'incursion', and from Algerian Arabic ''ġaziya'' (غزية),'' "algara"'' or 'raid'. ''Ghazwah'' (plural ''ghazawat'') ([[Arabic]]: غزوة) is an originally Arabic term meaning "invasion".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Zahid |first=Ishaq |title=GLOSSARY OF ISLAMIC TERMS |url=http://www.islam101.com/selections/glossaryGH.html |access-date=20 November 2008}}</ref> It comes from the triconsonantal root ''g.z.w.'' ("to attack"). It has the same connotation as the words ''ghaziya'' and ''maghazi'', which in pre-Islamic times referred to raids organized by [[nomad]]ic [[Bedouin]] warriors for the purpose of plundering rival tribes or sedentary, wealthier neighbors.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Lynch |first=George |title=List of languages: Ghazw |url=https://essaywriter.org/language-essay-topics |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209042750/http://www.aboutlanguageschools.com/language/list/list_g.asp |archive-date=9 December 2008 |access-date=20 November 2008}}</ref> The plural ''ghazawat'' is used in some [[Islam]]ic countries as a synonym for "judgment".<ref name=":2" />

Internal strife in the [[Emirate of Córdoba|emirate of Cordoba]] interrupted the raids, at least intensively, until the accession to the throne of [[Abd al-Rahman II|Abderraman II]]. After putting an end to his uncle [[Abd Allah (name)|Abdallah's]] pretensions to the throne and putting down a revolt in Murcia, he organized annual aceifas against the Christians (at their most intense, up to three were organized in the same year). Most were directed against [[Álava|Alava]] and, especially, [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]], which was the most vulnerable region of the [[Kingdom of Asturias]]. Despite this, there was no lack of attacks against Ausona ([[Vic, Spain|Vic]]h), [[Barcelona]], [[Girona]] and even [[Narbonne]] in the expeditions of the years [[828]], [[840]] and [[850]].