Al-Mu’tasim

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Al-Mu'tasim bigraphy, stories - Abbasid caliph

Al-Mu’tasim : biography

794 – 842

Abu Ishaq ‘Abbas al-Mu’tasim ibn Harun al-Rashid ( 795 – 5 January 842), better known by his regnal name al-Mu’tasim bi-‘llah ( "he who seeks refuge in God") was the eighth Abbasid caliph, ruling from 833 to his death in 842. A son of Harun al-Rashid, he succeeded his half-brother al-Ma’mun, under whom he served as a military commander and governor. His reign was marked by the introduction of the Turkish slave-soldiers (ghilman or mamalik) and the establishment for them of a new capital at Samarra. This was a watershed in the Caliphate’s history, as the Turks would soon come to dominate the Abbasid government. Domestically, Mu’tasim continued Ma’mun’s support of Mu’tazilism and its inquisition (mihna). Mu’tasim is also notable as a warrior caliph, waging almost continuous wars, both against the Byzantine Empire, where he personally led the celebrated Sack of Amorium, as well as against various internal rebels, most notably achieving the final suppression of the Khurramite rebellion.

Caliphate

In August 833, al-Ma’mun died while preparing to lead his army in a large-scale invasion of the Byzantine Empire. Despite the support of some military leaders for Ma’mun’s son al-Abbas, Mu’tasim, as the designated successor, was able to secure his rise to the throne. Mu’tasim immediately cancelled the invasion and returned to Baghdad.El-Hibri (2011), pp. 291, 296 He sent Ishaq ibn Ibrahim ibn Mu’sab against a Khurramite revolt centred near Hamadhan. Ishaq soundly defeated the rebels. Their survivors, under Nasr, fled to the Byzantines.

In A.H. 219 (834–835) Muhammad ibn Qasim (al-Alawi) rebelled in Khurasan. He was defeated and brought to the caliph. He was imprisoned, but escaped and was never heard of again. ‘Ujayf ibn ‘Anbasa defeated the Zutt in Iraq. The next year he brought them before al-Mu’tasim in an impressive naval parade. The Zutt were sent to the Byzantine frontier where they fell fighting Byzantines.

One of the most difficult problems facing this Caliph, as faced his predecessor, was the uprising of Babak Khorramdin. Babak first rebelled in A.H. 201 (816–817) and overcame a number of caliphate forces sent against him. Finally, al-Mu’tasim provided clear instructions to his general al-Afshin Khaydhar ibn Kawus. Following these al-Afshin patiently overcame the rebel, securing a significant victory of this reign. Babak was brought to Samarra in A.H. 223 (837–838). He entered the city spectacularly riding on a splendid elephant. He was executed by his own executioner and his head sent to Khurasan. His brother was executed in Baghdad.

In that same year of Babak’s death, the Byzantine emperor Theophilus launched an attack against a number of Abbasid fortresses. Al-Mu’tasim launched a well planned response. Al-Afshin met and defeated Theophilus on 21 July 838, known as Battle of Anzen. Ankyra fell to the Muslim army of 50,000 men (with 50,000 camels and 20,000 mules) and from there they advanced on the stronghold of Amorium. A captive escaped and informed the caliph that one section of Amorium’s wall was only a frontal facade. By concentrating bombardment here, al-Mu’tasim captured the city.

On his return home, he became aware of a serious conspiracy centred on al-Abbas ibn al-Ma’mun. A number of senior military commanders were involved. Al-Abbas was executed, as were, among others, al-Shah ibn Sahl, Amr al-Farghana, ‘Ujayf ibn ‘Anbasa and Akhmad ibn al-Khalil. This situation may help explain the increased reliance of this caliph and his successors upon Turkish commanders.

The ghilman (sing. ghulam) were introduced to the Caliphate during al-Mu’tasim’s reign. The ghilman were slave-soldiers taken as prisoners of war from conquered regions, in anticipation of the Mamluk system, and made into caliphal guard. The ghilman, personally responsible only to the Caliph, were to revolt several times during the 860’s, killed 4 caliphs, and be replaced by the Mamluk system, based on captured Turkish children, trained and moulded within the Islamic lands.