Barda's Silenced Screams: The Weaponisation of Rape in Miskawayh's Account of the Siege of Barda

Abstract

The weaponisation of rape and sexual assault in warfare has been used since time immemorial. The siege of Barda in 943 AD by the Rūs was no exception. This thesis offers a gendered reading of Ibn Miskawayh’s tenth-century account of the siege, to discuss whether rape was weaponised at Barda. The discussion of the weaponisation of rape at Barda begins with a discussion of who the Rūs were, and how gender was perceived amongst Miskawayh’s Rūs. Gender roles are discussed to understand the rape-conducive conditions that flourished amongst the Rūs. These conditions are then used to understand the four main purposes of the weaponisation of rape at Barda. The gendered reading of Miskawayh’s account suggested that rape was used in warfare to incite fear, to humiliate the enemy, reward the Rūs besiegers, and offer a medium for male-bonding. These conclusions were reached through analysing Rūs gender roles and applying war rape theory to Barda to understand the purpose of its weaponisation there. The contents of this thesis deal with rape and sexual violence, and although the topics are dealt with in a sensitive manner, readers should be advised that the content is distressing. By grasping a deeper understanding of war rape, a more inclusive and complete historical narrative can be achieved.