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55-511: The Abbasids descended from Abbas , one of Muhammad 's companions (as well as his uncle) and one of the early Qur'an scholars. Therefore, their roots trace back to Hashim ibn 'Abd Manaf and also Adnan in the following line: Al-‘Abbas ibn Abdul-Muttalib ibn Hashim ibn Abd Manaf ibn Qusai ibn Kilab ibn Murrah ibn Ka'b ibn Lu'ay ibn Ghalib ibn Fihr ibn Malik ibn An-Nadr ibn Kinanah ibn Khuzaima ibn Mudrikah ibn Ilyas ibn Mudar ibn Nizar ibn Ma'add ibn Adnan . The Abbasid dynasty

110-406: A personal example and forming ties of loyalty, reinforced by patronage, between the ruler and the soldiers. Al-Muktafi, on the other hand, did not "in his character and comportment [...], being a sedentary figure, instil much loyalty, let alone inspiration, in the soldiers" (Michael Bonner). The Caliphate was still able to secure major successes over the next few years, including the reincorporation of

165-523: A plot to assassinate the Caliph. They were soon joined, or at least had the tacit approval, of al-Muntasir, who smarted from a succession of humiliations: on 5 December, on the recommendation of al-Fath and Ubayd Allah, he was bypassed in favour of al-Mu'tazz for leading the Friday prayer at the end of Ramadan , while three days later, when al-Mutawakkil was feeling ill and chose al-Muntasir to represent him on

220-462: A remote room in the palace. Al-Radi 's reign marked the end of the Caliph's political power and the rise of military strongmen, who competed for the title of Amir al-umara. Al-Radi is commonly spoken of as the last of the real Caliphs: the last to deliver orations at the Friday service, to hold assemblies with philosophers to discuss the questions of the day, or to take counsel on the affairs of State;

275-540: A senior Turkic general who had likely been heavily involved in al-Mutawakkil's murder. His reign lasted less than half a year; it ended with his death from unknown causes on Sunday, 7 June 862, at the age of 24 years. During al-Muntasir's short reign (r. 861–862), the Turks pressured him into removing al-Mu'tazz and al-Mu'ayyad from the succession. When al-Muntasir died, the Turkic officers gathered together and decided to install

330-415: A story later circulated that al-Fath and Ubayd Allah were forewarned of the plot by a Turkic woman, but had disregarded it, confident that no-one would dare carry it out. On the night of 10/11 December, about one hour after midnight, the Turks burst into the chamber where the Caliph and al-Fath were having supper. Al-Fath was killed trying to protect the Caliph, who was killed next. Al-Muntasir, who now assumed

385-543: A trade that made him wealthy. Within this role, he managed a caravan network to and from Syria, where he eventually recruited and trained Muhammad as an apprentice for leading the northern leg of the journey. During the years when the Muslim religion was gaining adherents (610–622), Abbas provided protection to his kinsman but did not adopt the faith. He acted as a spokesman at the Second Pledge of Aqaba, but he

440-485: A year; it ended with his death from unknown causes on Sunday 7 June 862, at the age of 24 years (solar). There are various accounts of the illness that led to his death, including that he was bled with a poisoned lancet. After the death of the previous Caliph, al-Muntasir (who had not appointed any successors), the Turkic military leaders held a council to select his successor. They were not willing to have al-Mu'tazz or his brothers; so they elected Ahmad ibn Muhammad, son of

495-537: The Kalhoras of Sindh , Daudpotas of Bahawalpur, Abbasi's of Murree Pakistan , Abbasi's of Bagh, Azad Kashmir the Berber Banu Abbas, and the modern-day Bawazir of Yemen and Shaigiya and Ja'alin of Sudan . Anarchy at Samarra The Anarchy at Samarra ( Arabic : فوضى سامراء , romanized :  fawḍā Sāmarrāʾ ) was a period of extreme internal instability from 861 to 870 in

550-512: The oath of allegiance from the leading men of the state. Al-Muntasir's sudden elevation to the Caliphate served to benefit several of his close associates, who gained senior positions in the government after his ascension. Included among these were his secretary, Ahmad ibn al-Khasib , who became vizier , and Wasif , a senior Turkic general who had likely been heavily involved in al-Mutawakkil's murder. Al-Muntasir's reign lasted less than half

605-414: The "Center of Learning". The Abbasid leadership had to work hard in the last half of the 8th century (750–800) under several competent caliphs and their viziers to usher in the administrative changes needed to keep order of the political challenges created by the far-flung nature of the empire, and the limited communication across it. It was also during this early period of the dynasty, in particular during

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660-548: The 1774 Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca .   Caliphs of the Abbasid Caliphate   Caliphs of Cairo Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib Al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib ( c.  566–653 CE ) was a paternal uncle and sahabi (companion) of the Islamic prophet Muhammad , just three years older than his nephew. A wealthy merchant, during the early years of Islam he protected Muhammad while he

715-489: The Abbasid central government, encouraging and facilitating secessionist and rebellious tendencies in the Caliphate's provinces. Al-Muntasir became caliph on December 11, 861, after his father al-Mutawakkil was assassinated by members of his Turkic guard. Although he was suspected of being involved in the plot to kill al-Mutawakkil, he was able to quickly take control of affairs in the capital city of Samarra and receive

770-607: The Abbasid prince Muhammad ibn al-Mu'tasim , who took the regnal name al-Mustaʿin. He reigned for four and half years and then abdicated in favor of al-Mu'tazz because of the Abbasid civil war . As part of the terms of al-Musta'in's abdication, he was to be given an estate in the Hijaz and allowed to travel between the cities of Mecca and Medina . On January 12, Muhammad brought a group of judges and jurists to witness that al-Musta'in had entrusted his affairs to him. Delegates carrying

825-533: The Battle of Badr. It is elsewhere implied that Abbas did not formally profess Islam until January 630, just before the fall of Mecca , twenty years after his wife Lubaba converted. Muhammad then named him "last of the migrants" ( Muhajirun ), which entitled him to the proceeds of the spoils of war. He was given the right to provide Zamzam water to pilgrims, a right which was passed down to his descendants. Abbas immediately joined Muhammad's army, participating in

880-540: The Caliphate, initially claimed that al-Fath had murdered his father, and that he had been killed after; within a short time, however, the official story changed to al-Mutawakkil choking on his drink. The murder of al-Mutawakkil began the tumultuous period known as " Anarchy at Samarra ", which lasted until 870 and brought the Abbasid Caliphate to the brink of collapse. The decline of the Abbasids started with

935-655: The Conquest of Mecca, the Battle of Hunayn and the Siege of Ta'if . He defended Muhammad at Hunayn when other warriors deserted him. After these military exploits, Abbas brought his family to live in Medina, where Muhammad frequently visited them and even proposed marriage to his daughter. Later Abbas fought in the expedition to Tabuk . Abbas had at least five wives. The known children of Abbas were: The following were all

990-565: The Tulunid domains in 904 and victories over the Qarmatians, but with al-Muktafi's death in 908, the so-called "Abbasid restoration" passed its high-water mark, and a new period of crisis began. After al-Muktafi's death, al-Muqtadir came to the throne. He came to the throne at the age of 13, the youngest Caliph in Abbasid history. Al-Muqtadir's long reign (908–932) had brought the Abbasids to their lowest ebb, in which most of Northern Africa

1045-562: The Turkish military chiefs. He was succeeded by al-Musta'in . Divisions within the Turkish army leadership enabled Musta'in to flee to Baghdad in 865 with the support of some Turkish chiefs ( Bugha the Younger and Wasif ) and the Police chief and governor of Baghdad Muhammad , but the rest of the Turkish army chose a new caliph in the person of al-Mu'tazz and besieged Baghdad , forcing

1100-420: The ascendant and secured the removal of Ahmad ibn Isra'il. Finally, unable to meet the financial demands of the Turkic troops, in mid-July a palace coup deposed al-Mu'tazz. He was imprisoned and maltreated to such an extent that he died after three days, on 16 July 869. He was succeeded by his cousin al-Muhtadi . After the deposition and murder of his cousin al-Mu'tazz ( r.  866–869 ) on 15 July 869,

1155-411: The ascension of al-Mu'tamid , the Turkish faction around Musa ibn Bugha , closely associated with Mu'tamid's brother and regent al-Muwaffaq , became dominant in the caliphal court, ending the "anarchy". Although the Abbasid Caliphate was able to stage a modest recovery in the following decades, the troubles of the "Anarchy at Samarra" inflicted great and lasting damage on the structures and prestige of

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1210-529: The caliph Al-Mansur founded the city of Baghdad , near the ancient Babylonian capital city of Babylon . Baghdad became the center of science , culture and invention in what became known as the Golden Age of Islam . This, in addition to housing several key academic institutions, including the House of Wisdom , as well as a multiethnic and multi-religious environment, garnered it a worldwide reputation as

1265-534: The capital back to Baghdad, where he engaged in major building activities. Al-Mu'tadid had taken care to prepare his son and successor, al-Muktafi , for his role by appointing him as governor in Rayy and the Jazira. Although al-Muktafi tried to follow his father's policies, he lacked his energy. The heavily militarized system of al-Muwaffaq and al-Mu'tadid required the Caliph to actively participate in campaigns, setting

1320-536: The chronicles of his reign, and medieval historians generally considered his period as the lowest ebb of the Abbasid caliphate, an opinion shared by modern scholars as well. al-Muti was succeeded by his son al-Ta'i who made attempts to restore his political authority until he was deposed by Baha al-Dawla . He was succeeded by his cousin al-Qadir , in his long reign, al-Qadir was successful in restoration his political authority in Baghdad and its surrounding territory. He

1375-510: The city's capitulation in 866. Musta'in was exiled and executed. Mu'tazz was able and energetic, and he tried to control the military chiefs and exclude the military from the civil administration. His policies were resisted, and in July 869 he too was deposed and killed. His successor, al-Muhtadi , also tried to reaffirm the Caliph's authority, but he too was killed in June 870. With Muhtadi's death and

1430-418: The cost of gearing the economy almost exclusively towards the maintenance of the army, which resulted in the expansion and rise to power of the central fiscal bureaucracy and contributed to the Caliph's lasting reputation for avarice. Al-Mu'tadid was renowned for his cruelty when punishing criminals, and subsequent chroniclers recorded his extensive and ingenious use of torture. His reign saw the permanent move of

1485-542: The dead caliph's cousin al-Musta'in (son of al-Mutawakkil's brother Muhammad ) on the throne. The new caliph was almost immediately faced with a large riot in Samarra in support of the disenfranchised al-Mu'tazz; the rioters were put down by the military but casualties on both sides were heavy. Al-Musta'in, worried that al-Mu'tazz or al-Mu'ayyad could press their claims to the caliphate, first attempted to buy them off and then threw them in prison. In 866 his nephew al-Musta'in

1540-475: The death of al-Mutawakkil. After his assassination the Anarchy at Samarra began, which was a period of extreme internal instability from 861 to 870 in the history of the Abbasid Caliphate, marked by the violent succession of four caliphs. Al-Muntasir became Caliph on 11 December 861, after his father al-Mutawakkil was assassinated by members of his Turkic guard. Although he was suspected of being involved in

1595-460: The governance of Al-Mansur, Harun al-Rashid, and al-Ma'mun , that its reputation and power were created. Abbasid Caliphate was at its peak until the assassination of Caliph Al-Mutawakkil in 861. Al-Mutawakkil had appointed his oldest son, al-Muntasir , as his heir in 849/50, but slowly had shifted his favour to his second son, al-Mu'tazz , encouraged by al-Fath ibn Khaqan and the vizier Ubayd Allah ibn Yahya ibn Khaqan . This rivalry extended into

1650-425: The history of the Abbasid Caliphate , marked by the violent succession of four caliphs, who became puppets in the hands of powerful rival military groups. The term derives from the then capital and seat of the caliphal court, Samarra . The "anarchy" began in 861, with the murder of Caliph al-Mutawakkil by his Turkish guards. His successor, al-Muntasir , ruled for six months before his death, possibly poisoned by

1705-483: The last to distribute largess among the needy, or to interpose to temper the severity of cruel officers. Al-Muttaqi and his successors were all considered as later Abbasids. Al-Muti was a weak figure, for all intents and purposes a puppet ruler of the Buyid emir , first Mu'izz al-Dawla, and then his son, Izz al-Dawla ( r.  967–978 ). As a result of his lack of real power, al-Muti' himself barely figures in

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1760-516: The leaders of the Turkic guard chose al-Muhtadi as the new Caliph on 21/22 July. As a ruler, al-Muhtadi sought to emulate the Caliph Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz , widely considered a model Islamic ruler. He therefore lived an austere and pious life—notably removing all musical instruments from the court—and made a point of presiding in person over the courts of grievances ( mazalim ), thus gaining

1815-616: The offspring of Lubaba. Other children Abbas died in February 653 at the age of 89. He is buried at the Jannatul Baqee cemetery in Medina , Saudi Arabia . The Abbasid dynasty founded in 750 by Abu al-ʻAbbās ʻAbdallāh as-Saffāh better known as As-Saffah claimed the title of caliph (literally "successor") through their descent from Abbas's son Abdallah . Many other families claimed direct descent from Abbas, including

1870-440: The opportunity to incite the people against him and his brother, Muhammad ibn Bugha . Muhammad was brought to trial on accusations of embezzlement and was condemned. Although al-Muhtadi had promised a pardon, Muhammad was executed. This cemented the rift with Musa: the latter marched on the capital with his army and defeated the troops loyal to the Caliph. He refused to abdicate but tried to preserve his life and office by recourse to

1925-692: The patronage of the Mamluk Sultanate that existed after the takeover of the Ayyubids . Even though they kept the title for about 250 years more, other than installing the Sultan in ceremonies, these Caliphs had little importance. After the Ottomans conquered Egypt in 1517, the Caliph of Cairo, al-Mutawakkil III was transported to Constantinople . Centuries later, a tradition developed saying that, at this time, al-Mutawakkil III formally surrendered

1980-447: The plot to kill al-Mutawakkil, he was able to quickly take control of affairs in the capital city of Samarra and receive the oath of allegiance from the leading men of the state. Al-Muntasir's sudden elevation to the Caliphate served to benefit several of his close associates, who gained senior positions in the government after his ascension. Included among these were his secretary, Ahmad ibn al-Khasib , who became vizier , and Wasif ,

2035-473: The political sphere, as al-Mu'tazz's succession appears to have been backed by the traditional Abbasid elites as well, while al-Muntasir was backed by the Turkic and Maghariba guard troops. In late autumn 861, matters came to a head: in October, al-Mutawakkil ordered the estates of the Turkic general Wasif to be confiscated and handed over to al-Fath. Feeling backed into a corner, the Turkic leadership began

2090-492: The prayer, once again Ubayd Allah intervened and persuaded the Caliph to go in person. Even worse, according to al-Tabari , on the next day al-Mutawakkil alternately vilified and threatened to kill his eldest son, and even had al-Fath slap him on the face. With rumours circulating that Wasif and the other Turkish leaders would be rounded up and executed on 12 December, the conspirators decided to act. According to al-Tabari,

2145-503: The regime of al-Musta'in in Baghdad. The civil war and the ensuing general anarchy only worsened the situation, as revenue stopped coming in even from the environs of Baghdad, let alone more remote provinces. As a result, al-Mu'tazz refused to honor his agreement with Ibn Tahir in Baghdad, leaving him to provide for his own supporters; this led to unrest in Baghdad and the rapid decline of the Governor's authority. The turmoil in Baghdad

2200-494: The religious status of the caliph, and the support of the people. He was nevertheless murdered on 21 June 870, and replaced by his cousin, al-Mu'tamid ( r.  870–892 ). At the end of Anarchy at Samarra, a rebellion broke out famously known as Zanj Rebellion . It grew to involve slaves and freemen, including both Africans and Arabs , from several regions of the Caliphate and claimed tens of thousands of lives before it

2255-458: The second in line of three heirs of his father al-Mutawakkil , al-Mu'tazz was forced to renounce his rights after the accession of his brother al-Muntasir and was thrown in prison as a dangerous rival during the reign of his cousin al-Musta'in . He was released and raised to the caliphate in January 866, during the civil war between al-Musta'in and the Turkish military of Samarra . Al-Mu'tazz

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2310-491: The support of the common people. Combining "strength and ability", he was determined to restore the Caliph's authority and power, that had been eroded during the ongoing "Anarchy at Samarra" by the squabbles of the Turkish generals. Al-Muhtadi faced Alid risings in the provinces, but the main threat to his power was the Turkic commanders. When Musa ibn Bugha left to campaign against the Kharijites , al-Muhtadi took

2365-478: The terms of abdication were sent to Samarra, where al-Mu'tazz personally signed the document and agreed to the conditions. The delegates returned to Baghdad with the signed document on January 24, accompanied by a group of emissaries sent to secure al-Musta'in's allegiance to al-Mu'tazz. On Friday, January 25, al-Mu'tazz was acknowledged as caliph in the mosques throughout Baghdad. Instead of finding refuge at Medina, al-Musta'in found himself kept in Baghdad. There he

2420-529: The title of caliph as well as its outward emblems—the sword and mantle of Muhammad —to the Ottoman Sultan Selim I , establishing the Ottoman sultans as the new caliphal line . Some historians have noted that this story does not appear in the literature until the 1780s, suggesting that it was advanced to bolster the claims of caliphal jurisdiction over Muslims outside the empire, as asserted in

2475-469: Was determined to reassert the authority of the caliph over the Turkic military but had only limited success. Despite these successes, the Caliph could not overcome the main problem of the period: a shortage of revenue with which to pay the troops. The financial straits of the Caliphate had become evident already at his accession—the customary accession donative of ten months' pay for the troops had to be reduced to two for lack of funds—and had helped bring down

2530-638: Was in Mecca , but only became a convert after the Battle of Badr in 624 CE (2 AH). His descendants founded the Abbasid dynasty in 750. Abbas, born around 565 CE, was one of the younger sons of Abd al-Muttalib . His mother was Nutayla bint Janab of the Namir tribe. After his father's death, he took over the Zamzam Well and the distribution of water to the pilgrims. He became a spice merchant in Mecca,

2585-473: Was killed by al-Mu'tazz after Fifth Fitna . Al-Mu'tazz's reign marks the apogee of the decline of the Caliphate's central authority, and the climax of centrifugal tendencies, expressed through the emergence of the autonomous dynasties in Abbasid Caliphate. Finally, unable to meet the financial demands of the Turkic troops, in mid-July a palace coup deposed al-Mu'tazz. He was imprisoned and maltreated to such an extent that he died after three days, on 16 July 869. He

2640-574: Was lost. Mosul had thrown off its dependence and the Greeks could make raids at pleasure along the poorly protected borders. Yet in the East formal recognition of the Caliphate remained in place, even by those who virtually claimed their independence; and nearer home, the Carmathians had been for the time put down. After Al-Muqtadir's death, al-Qahir came to power in 932. He ruled for two years until he

2695-458: Was not among those who emigrated to Medina . Having fought on the side of the polytheists, Abbas was captured during the Battle of Badr . Muhammad allowed al-Abbas to ransom himself and his nephew. Ibn Hisham said that Abbas had become a secret Muslim before the Battle of Badr; but a clear statement to that effect is missing from Tabari 's citation of the same source. It is said by some authorities that he converted to Islam shortly after

2750-410: Was pressured to abdicate in favour of Al-Muqtadir's nominated heir al-Radi ( r.  932–940 ). When He refused to abdicate, he was blinded and cast into prison. According to al-Mas'udi, al-Radi "kept news of him hidden", so that he vanished from common knowledge. He was not freed until eleven years later, when al-Mustakfi ( r.  944–946 ) came to the throne and discovered him locked away in

2805-420: Was put to death on 17 October 866 by the order of al-Mu'tazz. Carrying al-Musta'in's head to the Caliph, "Here," cried the executioner, "behold thy cousin's head!" "Lay it aside," answered al-Mu'tazz who was playing chess, "till I have finished the game." And then, having satisfied himself that it was really al-Musta'in's head, he commanded 500 pieces to be given to the assassin as his reward. Originally named as

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2860-567: Was succeeded by his cousin al-Muhtadi . He ruled until 870, until he was murdered on 21 June 870, and replaced by his cousin, al-Mu'tamid ( r.  870–892 ). In a series of campaigns al-Mu'tadid recovered the provinces of Jazira, Thughur, and Jibal, and effected a rapprochement with the Saffarids in the east and the Tulunids in the west that secured their—albeit largely nominal—recognition of caliphal suzerainty. These successes came at

2915-745: Was succeeded by his son al-Qa'im , and it was during his reign that the Buyids were replaced by the Seljuks . The Abbasids continued their partnership with the Seljuks until the reign of al-Muqtafi . Then Abbasid continued to rule Iraq directly without disturbance until Mongol Invasion in 1258 . The Mamluk Sultans of Egypt and Syria later appointed an Abbasid prince as Caliph of Cairo , but these Mamluk Abbasid Caliphs were marginalized and merely symbolic, with no temporal power and little religious influence. The Cairo Abbasids were largely ceremonial Caliphs under

2970-753: Was the dynasty that ruled the third caliphate to succeed the Islamic prophet Muhammad . It descends from Muhammad's uncle, Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib (566–653 CE ), from whom the dynasty takes its name. The Abbasids ruled as caliphs for most of the caliphate from their capital in Baghdad in modern-day Iraq , after having overthrown the Umayyad Caliphate in the Abbasid Revolution of 750 CE (132  AH ). The Abbasid Caliphate first centered its government in Kufa , modern-day Iraq, but in 762

3025-404: Was worsened by al-Mu'tazz, who in 869 dismissed Ubaydallah and replaced him with his far less capable brother Sulayman . In the event, this only served to deprive the Caliph of a useful counterweight against the Samarra soldiery, and allowed the Turks to regain their former power. As a result, by 869 the Turkic leaders Salih ibn Wasif (the son of Wasif al-Turki) and Ba'ikbak were again in

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