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In this thread I will focus on the genetic impact of the Emirate of Crete. Before any of you go apeshit, this is not a "troll" topic or something, my posts will be based on historical sources and genetic data from gedmatch's datasheet. So if you think I'm "trolling", you are free to check the datasheet, I would also like to see your counter-arguments.
Emirate of Crete (Arab period of the island) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emirate_of_Crete
The Emirate of Crete (called Iqritish or Iqritiya in Arabic[1]) was a Muslim state that existed on the Mediterranean island of Crete from the late 820s to the Byzantine reconquest of the island in 961. Although the emirate recognized the suzerainty of the Abbasid Caliphate and maintained close ties with Tulunid Egypt, it was de facto independent.
Capital: Chandax (Heraklion)
Languages: Arabic, Greek
Religion: Sunni Islam
The emirate of Crete (Ikritis in the Arab sources) was founded approximately in 823 AD and it marked the beginning of a new Arab thalassocracy. It's first Emir and founder was Abu Hafs (Αποχαψ Apohaps in Byzantine sources) who along with other muslims was driven out of Andalusia after an unsuccesful uprising. However before occupying Crete Abu Hafs and his people seized Alexandria for a short time.
From 823 and for 100 years the Cretan Saracens were conducting raids in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean sea. The Byzantine fleet was unable to deal with them because of internal conflicts. As a result all the economic activities in the Aegean collapsed, the population was reduced and in 904 Thessalonica the second biggest city of the Byzantine empire fell after a combined siege by Cretan and Syrian Arabs.
The reconquest of Crete began with the siege and occupation of Chandakas in 961. A crucial point for the success of the Byzantines was that the Cretan Arabs weren't able to secure assistance from neighbouring muslim factions.
The Cretan natives were rechristianised by a missionary who was nicknamed "Nikon the Repent" because of his zeal to convert the population.
~140 years was not a short time and considering the island's population at that time the Arab conquerors (15.000) along with their Berber and African sailors might have changed the genetic structure of the peninsula to some extent.
Some facts about Cretan DNA
• They have more NearEast/Southwest Asian (peaks in Arabia) and North African admixture (peaks in Maghreb) than their neighbours
• Despite being closer to Greek mainland they have elevated Southwest Asian and North African admixture and shift towards south genetically
• They have more Southwest Asian and North African admixture than the Greek islands to the north, which is the most important detail, where did their extra Near Eastern and North African admixture come from? It is easy to answer this question. Emirate of Crete was an Arab base for ~140 years.
MDLP K23b calculator, Near East and North African admixture (check the spreadsheet if you have any doubts)
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