in 947, the fatimid caliph al-mansur billah sent al-hasan ibn ali al-kalbi to subdue a revolt on sicily, where he would go on to establish his own ruling dynasty, the kalbids. al-hasan was succeeded by his son, ahmad ibn al-hasan al-kalbi, in 954. in 969 ahmad was recalled to north africa to assist in subduing a revolt by berber tribesmen. briefly in 969, one of ahmad's freed slaves, ya'ish, was appointed governor of sicily. the next year abu'l-qasim, ahmad's brother, was elevated to governor.