51:
473:. 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 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.
441:
to temporarily disperse, but riots broke out in the city two days later and it was only with difficulty that they were quelled. Meanwhile, negotiations between
Muhammad and Abu Ahmad continued; emissaries were sent by Muhammad to Abu Ahmad's camp, and Samarran prisoners of war were released. Toward the end of December, a provisional agreement between the two sides to depose al-Musta'in was reached, and Abu Ahmad sent five ships loaded with foodstuffs and fodder to relieve the shortages in the city.
458:
gate, and the two men agreed that the state revenues would be split among the parties, with two thirds going to the Turks and one third going to
Muhammad and the Baghdadi army, and al-Musta'in should be held liable for part of the soldiers' pay. On the following day, Muhammad went to al-Musta'in and attempted to convince him to abdicate. At first al-Musta'in adamantly refused, but when the Turkish officers Wasif and Bugha stated that they had sided with Muhammad, he agreed to step down.
344:
335:. In December 861 al-Mutawakkil was assassinated by a group of Turkic military officers, likely with the support of al-Muntasir. 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 the dead caliph's cousin al-Musta'in on the throne.
482:
al-Musta'in, and, having assured them he had done what he had for the best and to stop further bloodshed, sent them to
Samarra to pay homage to the new Caliph. Al-Mu'tazz ratified the terms and took possession of Baghdad in the early days of 252 AH (866 CE). He also sent to al-Musta'in his mother and family from Samarra, but not until they had been stripped of everything they possessed.
437:
before
Muhammad's palace, crying "hunger!" and demanding a resolution to their problems. Muhammad held off the crowds with promises, and at the same time sent an offer of peace to al-Mu'tazz. This was responded to favorably, and beginning on December 8 a representative from Abu Ahmad's camp began meeting Muhammad in private to discuss how to end the conflict.
440:
As the siege progressed into
December, the population of Baghdad became more agitated. On December 16, some of the regular infantry and commoners gathered together, with the former demanding their pay and the latter complaining about how food prices had skyrocketed. Muhammad was able to convince them
436:
Muhammad and al-Mu'tazz had already started negotiating with each other when the former launched his failed sally. After the battle, al-Mu'tazz criticized
Muhammad for acting in bad faith, and the Samarran army intensified the siege. Soon the city was running low on resources. Crowds began appearing
432:
As the siege of
Baghdad wore on, it began to have its intended effect. Food and money slowly became scarce, and discontent among the populace began to emerge. As early as August, a group of members of the Abbasid family complained to Muhammad ibn 'Abdallah that their stipends were not being paid. As
382:
With such cries the city rose in uproar; the prisons were broken into and bridges burned. But
Baghdad could no longer dictate to its rulers; it could only riot. The fighting spirit was, however, strong enough to draw men from the surrounding provinces, who flocked as free lances to fight against the
359:
The governor of
Baghdad persuaded the city to submit, and the succession was thereafter acknowledged throughout the land. Al-Mu'tazz and his brother, threatened by the Turkic and Berber troops, resigned their titles to succeed, and were then, by way of protection, kept in confinement. After a second
485:
Instead of finding a refuge at Medina, al-Musta'in found himself kept in
Baghdad. There he 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
481:
By the beginning of 866, with plots and treachery all around, al-Musta'in was persuaded by alternating threats and promises to abdicate in favor of al-Mu'tazz. He was to live at Medina with a sufficient income. The conditions signed, the Governor of Baghdad received the ministers and courtiers of
449:
the next morning. The following day, December 28, he failed to appear; in response, the houses of Muhammad's subordinates were looted and a large crowd again approached Muhammad's palace, forcing al-Musta'in to make another public appearance. Shortly after this he moved out of Muhammad's palace to
444:
When the citizens of Baghdad learned that Muhammad had agreed to depose al-Musta'in, they angrily assembled outside his palace. Out of loyalty to al-Musta'in and fears that Muhammad's surrender could result in the Samarrans plundering the city, they attacked the palace gates and fought against the
457:
Muhammad, for his part, strove to convince the people that he was still acting in al-Musta'in's best interests, while at the same time continuing to negotiate with Abu Ahmad regarding the terms of surrender. On January 7, Muhammad and Abu Ahmad met in person under a canopy outside the Shammasiyah
355:
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-Mua'yyad could press their claims to the caliphate, first attempted to buy them off and then threw them in prison.
433:
conditions in the city deteriorated, Muhammad gradually became convinced that victory through force of arms was impossible. By November at the latest, and without the knowledge or permission of al-Musta'in, he had opened negotiations with al-Mu'tazz regarding al-Musta'in's surrender.
409:, left Samarra on a boat to East Baghdad. The Turks sent after him a party of their captains, requesting him to return to Samarra. But the Caliph refused, and hard words followed between the two sides, in the heat of which one of the Turkic speakers received a blow.
379:. The tidings created anger and riots in Baghdad. The ancient cry for a Holy War rang through the streets. People blamed the Turks that had brought disaster on the faith, murdered their Caliphs, and set up others at their pleasure.
292:, displeased at the choice, attacked the assembly, broke open the prison, and plundered the armory. They were attacked by the Turkic and Berber soldiers, and after some fighting in which many died, succumbed.
445:
guards. In order to calm the protestors, al-Musta'in appeared above the palace gate with Muhammad at his side, and he gave assurances to the crowd that he was still caliph and that he would lead the
323:
His uncle, caliph al-Mutawakkil (r. 847–861) had created a plan of succession that would allow his sons to inherit the caliphate after his death; he would be succeeded first by his eldest son,
401:
In 865, the end for al-Musta'in himself was now at hand. After some disagreements between the Turkish leaders that placed al-Musta'in in much danger, he, along with two other Turkic leaders,
486:
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.
139:
631:
The History of al-Ṭabarī, Volume XXXV: The Crisis of the ʿAbbāsid Caliphate: The Caliphates of al-Mustaʿīn and al-Muʿtazz, A.D. 862–869/A.H. 248–255
257:(who had not appointed any successors), the Turkic military leaders held a council to select his successor. They were not willing to have
495:
892:
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intervened and saved their lives, for which act of mercy, his property was seized by the Turkic soldiers, and himself banished to
1062:
1312:
1225:
672:
639:
615:
566:
580:
1307:
1262:
412:
The insult rankled the Turkic officers, and on returning to Samarra, the Turkic troops rose together, and bringing forth
601:
552:
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attempt to overturn the decision made by the Turks, al-Mu'tazz and his brother would have been put to death, but the
501:
20:
531:
885:
667:. Harvard Middle Eastern monographs. Center for Middle Eastern Studies of Harvard University. p. 221.
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41:
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634:. SUNY Series in Near Eastern Studies. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press.
417:
1230:
954:
8:
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376:
371:
In 863, the Muslim campaign against the Christians was going badly. Two whole corps in
250:
461:
As part of the terms of al-Musta'in's abdication, he was to be given an estate in the
1255:
1245:
1215:
852:
668:
635:
611:
562:
134:
69:
50:
368:. The Empire, in fact, both at home and abroad, had passed into the hands of Turks.
1235:
1175:
1124:
1082:
402:
1205:
1190:
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1117:
943:
810:
629:
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228:
177:
113:
37:
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another residence in the city, and on January 2, 866, he led the prayer for the
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and Asia Minor, some 8,000 strong, with their leaders, were killed during the
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from his confinement, saluted him as Caliph. Within a few weeks, his brother
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258:
97:
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infidel. But the Turks cared for none of these things, nor did the Caliph.
1170:
1165:
1047:
1042:
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87:
1155:
1097:
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55:
300:
Ahmad ibn Muhammad (future al-Musta'in) was the son of Abbasid prince
970:
928:
923:
395:
313:
1102:
1057:
1027:
933:
1275:
indicates ephemeral caliphs recognized in the city of Baghdad only
870:
1032:
948:
938:
913:
372:
351:
The new caliph was almost immediately faced with a large riot in
289:
243:
172:
126:
1136:
909:
470:
305:
246:
65:
1140:
466:
462:
365:
236:
208:
205:
308:
called Makhariq. Al-Musta'in was the grandson of caliph
347:
Family tree of the Abbasid caliphs of the ninth century
427:
386:
In 864, his forces put down a rebellion by the Alid
424:, a siege that would last throughout the year 865.
1284:
662:
304:and his mother was a concubine from province of
465:, and allowed to travel between the cities of
886:
522:, The Caliphate: Its Rise, Decline, and Fall.
235:; 836 – 17 October 866), better known by his
280:
266:
893:
879:
602:The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition
553:The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition
312:(r. 833–842). He was the nephew of caliph
663:al-Zubayr, A.R.I.; Qaddūmī, G.Ḥ. (1996).
656:
575:
526:
498:, an Abbasid chief judge of al-Musta'in.
496:Ja'far ibn Muhammad ibn Ammar al-Burjumi
342:
19:For other people named al-Musta'in, see
768:Shaban, p. 84; Saliba (1985) pp. 104-5
420:, with 50,000 Turks and 2,000 Berbers,
295:
253:". After the death of previous Caliph,
1285:
624:
874:
900:
281:
267:
232:
13:
14:
1324:
428:Abdication in favor of al-Mu'tazz
285:"he who looks for help to God").
261:or his brothers; so they elected
49:
16:12th Abbasid caliph (r. 862–866)
789:
780:
771:
762:
753:
405:(known as Bugha al-Saghir) and
288:Arab and other troops based in
242:(836 – 17 October 866) was the
233:أبو العباس أحمد بن محمد بن محمد
744:
735:
726:
717:
708:
699:
690:
681:
1:
1313:9th-century murdered monarchs
649:
249:from 862 to 866, during the "
696:Bosworth, "Muntasir," p. 583
21:al-Musta'in (disambiguation)
7:
1308:9th-century Abbasid caliphs
687:Bosworth, "Mu'tazz," p. 793
489:
275:, who took the regnal name
124:17 October 866 (aged 29–30)
79:8 June 862 — 17 October 866
10:
1329:
665:Book of Gifts and Rarities
514:This text is adapted from
18:
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741:Saliba (1985) pp. 99-102
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120:
107:
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63:
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42:Commander of the Faithful
35:
28:
786:Saliba (1985) pp. 106-8
777:Saliba (1985) pp. 106-7
476:
338:
316:(r. 842–847) and caliph
302:Muhammad ibn al-Mu'tasim
217:Abū al-ʿAbbās Aḥmad ibn
188:Muhammad ibn al-Mu'tasim
155:Abū al-ʿAbbās Aḥmad ibn
1022:Abdallah ibn al-Mu'tazz
723:Saliba (1985) pp. 96-7
714:Saliba (1985) pp. 87-8
610:. Leiden: E. J. Brill.
561:. Leiden: E. J. Brill.
732:Saliba (1985) pp. 97-8
705:Saliba (1985) pp. 6-7
348:
795:Saliba (1985) p. 113
759:Saliba (1985) p. 102
750:Saliba (1985) p. 104
581:"al-Mu'tazz Bi 'llah"
418:Abu Ahmad al-Muwaffaq
346:
955:Ibrahim ibn al-Mahdi
296:Birth and background
277:al-Mustaʿīn bi-ʾllāh
225:al-Mustaʿīn bi-ʾllāh
163:al-Mustaʿīn bi-ʾllāh
129:, Abbasid Caliphate
116:, Abbasid Caliphate
29:al-Musta'in bi-llah
833:Sunni Islam titles
452:Feast of Sacrifice
377:Battle of Lalakaon
349:
263:Ahmad ibn Muhammad
251:Anarchy at Samarra
1280:
1279:
1256:al-Mutawakkil III
1246:al-Mutawakkil III
869:
868:
860:Succeeded by
853:Abbasid Caliphate
674:978-0-932885-13-5
641:978-0-87395-883-7
617:978-90-04-09419-2
568:978-90-04-09419-2
214:
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167:
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70:Abbasid Caliphate
1320:
1263:Ottoman conquest
1236:al-Mutawakkil II
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839:Preceded by
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422:besieged Baghdad
403:Bugha al-Sharabi
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1206:al-Mutawakkil I
1191:al-Mutawakkil I
1181:al-Mutawakkil I
1151:al-Mustansir II
1143:
1131:
1125:Mongol conquest
944:Harun al-Rashid
916:
904:
902:Abbasid Caliphs
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447:Friday prayers
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407:Wasif al-Turki
388:Yahya ibn Umar
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320:(r. 847–861).
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282:المستعين بالله
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31:المستعين بالله
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976:al-Mutawakkil
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1201:al-Musta'sim
1196:al-Wathiq II
1186:al-Musta'sim
1122:
1118:al-Musta'sim
1093:al-Mustanjid
1073:al-Mustazhir
1020:
985:
953:
847:
823:
816:
809:
791:
782:
773:
764:
755:
746:
737:
728:
719:
710:
701:
692:
683:
664:
658:
630:
607:
600:
558:
551:
516:William Muir
513:
484:
480:
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456:
443:
439:
435:
431:
411:
400:
385:
381:
370:
358:
350:
322:
299:
287:
276:
268:أحمد بن محمد
262:
239:
237:regnal title
216:
215:
36:
1211:al-Musta'in
1171:al-Hakim II
1166:al-Wathiq I
1144:(1261–1517)
1043:al-Mustakfi
1016:al-Muqtadir
1006:al-Mu'tadid
1001:al-Mu'tamid
986:al-Musta'in
981:al-Muntasir
966:al-Mu'tasim
842:al-Muntasir
806:al-Musta'in
606:Volume VII:
597:Pellat, Ch.
557:Volume VII:
548:Pellat, Ch.
502:Fifth Fitna
333:al-Mu'ayyad
325:al-Muntasir
310:al-Mu'tasim
255:al-Muntasir
240:al-Mustaʿīn
88:al-Muntasir
84:Predecessor
1298:866 deaths
1293:836 births
1287:Categories
1156:al-Hakim I
1098:al-Mustadi
1088:al-Muqtafi
1068:al-Muqtadi
1038:al-Muttaqi
1011:al-Muktafi
996:al-Muhtadi
991:al-Mu'tazz
917:(749–1258)
863:al-Mu'tazz
857:862 – 866
650:References
414:al-Mu'tazz
329:al-Mu'tazz
327:, then by
259:al-Mu'tazz
98:al-Mu'tazz
56:Gold dinar
1083:al-Rashid
971:al-Wathiq
961:al-Ma'mun
929:al-Mansur
924:al-Saffah
314:al-Wathiq
94:Successor
1226:al-Qa'im
1108:al-Zahir
1103:al-Nasir
1063:al-Qa'im
1058:al-Qadir
1053:al-Ta'i'
1048:al-Muti'
1028:al-Qahir
934:al-Mahdi
599:(eds.).
579:(1993).
550:(eds.).
530:(1993).
490:See also
223:Muḥammad
219:Muḥammad
202:Religion
197:Makhariq
161:Muḥammad
157:Muḥammad
140:al-Abbas
1137:Caliphs
1033:al-Radi
949:al-Amin
939:al-Hadi
914:Baghdad
910:Caliphs
851:of the
608:Mif–Naz
559:Mif–Naz
373:Armenia
353:Samarra
290:Baghdad
244:Abbasid
178:Abbasid
173:Dynasty
127:Baghdad
114:Samarra
68:of the
849:Caliph
822:
671:
638:
614:
595:&
565:
546:&
508:Source
471:Medina
392:revolt
390:and a
362:vizier
306:Sicily
247:caliph
229:Arabic
194:Mother
184:Father
111:c. 836
66:Caliph
38:Caliph
1141:Cairo
824:Died:
817:Born:
583:. In
534:. In
477:Death
467:Mecca
463:Hijaz
366:Crete
339:Reign
209:Islam
206:Sunni
150:Names
135:Issue
76:Reign
64:12th
669:ISBN
636:ISBN
612:ISBN
563:ISBN
469:and
396:Hims
221:ibn
159:ibn
121:Died
108:Born
1139:of
912:of
826:866
819:836
518:'s
394:in
1289::
604:.
591:;
587:;
555:.
542:;
538:;
454:.
398:.
231::
1265:)
1261:(
1127:)
1123:(
894:e
887:t
880:v
677:.
644:.
620:.
571:.
279:(
265:(
227:(
23:.
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