Abu Hafs (pirate)

Abu Hafs or al-Ikritishiciteweb|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=pN8TAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA376&dq=Abu+Hafs+%2B+crete#PPA376,M1|title=The Origins of the Islamic State|accessdate=2007-05-09|publisher=Longmans, Green & Co.|last=Hitti|first=Philip Khūri|year=1916|pages=376] was a Muslim Corsair who was primarily active between 816 and 827. After being involved in an unsuccessful uprising in Cordova, Spain in the early 800's, Abu fled with a group of rebels to Alexandria. With the intention of taking advantage of local unrest, the group of rebels selected Abu as their leader. As leader, Abu led the group which took control of Alexandria in 816. citeweb|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=WUGJVMEqRkMC&pg=PA205&ots=ajIA-BE4k6&dq=Jacobszoon+Lucifer&sig=bulFPnY_ndR71mA3adb-tYA1OzE|title=Pirates!: Brigands, Buccaneers, and Privateers in Fact, Fiction, and Legend|accessdate=2007-05-09|last=Rogoziński|first=Jan|publisher=Da Capo Press|ISBN=0-306-80722-X|year=1995|pages=2]

After being forced to leave Alexandria, the rebel group set for Crete. Upon arriving, they landed at Cape Kahrax in the gulf of Messará. From there the group headed north under the leaderhsip of Abu.citeweb|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=bDQJ5ubpxzcC&pg=PA177&ots=EWZ1dmo8nE&dq=Abu+Hafs+%2B+crete&sig=D9LQboFdwj2pASM6QjagPhKznto#PPA177,M1|title=Across Crete: From Khania to Herakleion|accessdate=2007-05-09|publisher=Logo Testproducties|year=2001|last=Bakker|first=Johan de|pages=177] Abu and his group of adventurers seized Crete from the Byzantine Empire in 824 and made it into a pirate base.citeweb|url=http://www.alpine.gr/page.asp?id=159|title=Byzantine Period, Greece|accessdate=2007-05-09]

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