Al-Musta'in
Encyclopedia
Al-Musta'in (died 866) was the Abbasid
Caliph
in Baghdad
from 862 to 866. After the death of previous Caliph, al-Muntasir
,(The previous Caliph did not appoint any successors) the Turkish chiefs held a council to select his successor; they would have none of al-Mu'tazz
, nor his brothers; so they elected him, another grandson of al-Mu'tasim
.
The Arabs and western troops from Baghdad
, displeased at the choice, attacked the assembly, broke open the prison, and plundered the armory. They were attacked by the Turkish and Berber soldiers, and after a round fight, in which many fell, succumbed. Baghdad had yet to learn that the Caliphate no longer depended on Arabian choice, but had passed into other hands.
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 troops, resigned their title to succeed, and were then, by way of protection, kept in confinement. On a second outbreak in their favor, the Turks would have put them both to death, but the Vazir interposed and saved their lives, for which act of mercy, his property was seized by the Turkish soldiers, and himself banished to Crete
. The Empire, in fact, both at home and abroad, had passed into the hands of Turks.
In 863, the Muslim campaign against the Christians was singularly unfortunate. Two whole corps in Armenia
and Asia Minor, some 3,000 strong, with their leaders, were killed. The tidings drove Baghdad wild. 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.
With such cries the city rose in uproar; the prisons were broken and the bridges burned. But Baghdad could no longer dictate to its rulers; it could only riot. The crusading spirit was, however, strong enough to draw men from the provinces around, who flocked as free lances to fight against the infidel. But the Turks cared for none of these things, nor did the Caliph.
In 864, his forces put down a rebellion by the Alid Yahya ibn Umar
.
In 865, the end for al-Musta'in himself was now at hand. After some disagreements between Turkish leaders that brought danger to al-Musta'in, he, along with two other Turkish leaders, 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 Turkish speakers received a blow.
The insult rankled in their minds, and on returning to Samarra, the troops rose jointly, and bringing forth al-Mu'tazz from his confinement, saluted him as Caliph. Within a few weeks, his brother Abu Ahmed, with 50,000 Turks and 2,000 Berbers, besieged Baghdad
throughout the year 865.
Beginning of 866, driven to extremities by plots and treachery all around, induced al-Musta'in by alternate 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 received the ministers and courtiers of 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 do homage to the new Caliph, who ratified the terms, and took possession of Baghdad in the early days of 252 AH (866 AD). He also sent to al-Musta'in his mother and family from Samarra, but not until they had been stripped of everything they possessed.
Instead of finding a refuge at Medina, al-Musta'in found himself kept in Baghdad. There he was put to death 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 the heartless 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.
Abbasid
The Abbasid Caliphate or, more simply, the Abbasids , was the third of the Islamic caliphates. It was ruled by the Abbasid dynasty of caliphs, who built their capital in Baghdad after overthrowing the Umayyad caliphate from all but the al-Andalus region....
Caliph
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
from 862 to 866. After the death of previous Caliph, al-Muntasir
Al-Muntasir
Al-Muntasir was the Abbasid caliph in Baghdad from 861 to 862. His pious title means He that Triumphs in the Lord.Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari records that in A.H. 236 al-Muntasir led the pilgrimage. The previous year al-Mutawakkil had named his three son's heirs and seeming to favour al-Muntasir...
,(The previous Caliph did not appoint any successors) the Turkish chiefs held a council to select his successor; they would have none of al-Mu'tazz
Al-Mu'tazz
Al-Mu'tazz was the title of the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad from 866 to 869. Placed upon the throne by the Turks, he proved but too apt a pupil of his Turkish masters.He became the caliph at 19 he was the youngest Abbasaid Caliph to assume power. He was surrounded by parties each jealous of the other...
, nor his brothers; so they elected him, another grandson of al-Mu'tasim
Al-Mu'tasim
Abu Ishaq 'Abbas al-Mu'tasim ibn Harun was an Abbasid caliph . He succeeded his half-brother al-Ma'mun...
.
The Arabs and western troops from Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, displeased at the choice, attacked the assembly, broke open the prison, and plundered the armory. They were attacked by the Turkish and Berber soldiers, and after a round fight, in which many fell, succumbed. Baghdad had yet to learn that the Caliphate no longer depended on Arabian choice, but had passed into other hands.
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 troops, resigned their title to succeed, and were then, by way of protection, kept in confinement. On a second outbreak in their favor, the Turks would have put them both to death, but the Vazir interposed and saved their lives, for which act of mercy, his property was seized by the Turkish soldiers, and himself banished to Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
. The Empire, in fact, both at home and abroad, had passed into the hands of Turks.
In 863, the Muslim campaign against the Christians was singularly unfortunate. Two whole corps in Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
and Asia Minor, some 3,000 strong, with their leaders, were killed. The tidings drove Baghdad wild. 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.
With such cries the city rose in uproar; the prisons were broken and the bridges burned. But Baghdad could no longer dictate to its rulers; it could only riot. The crusading spirit was, however, strong enough to draw men from the provinces around, who flocked as free lances to fight against the infidel. But the Turks cared for none of these things, nor did the Caliph.
In 864, his forces put down a rebellion by the Alid Yahya ibn Umar
Yahya ibn Umar
Yahya ibn Umar ibn Yahya ibn Husayn ibn Zayd ibn Ali Zayn al-Abidin ibn Al-Husayn ibn Ali al-Murtada was an Alid Imam. His mother was Umm al-Husayn Fatimah bint al-Husayn ibn Abdallah ibn Ismail ibn Abdullah ibn Ja`far ibn Abī Tālib. In the days of the Abbasid Caliph Al-Musta'in, he marched out...
.
In 865, the end for al-Musta'in himself was now at hand. After some disagreements between Turkish leaders that brought danger to al-Musta'in, he, along with two other Turkish leaders, left Samarra
Samarra
Sāmarrā is a city in Iraq. It stands on the east bank of the Tigris in the Salah ad-Din Governorate, north of Baghdad and, in 2003, had an estimated population of 348,700....
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 Turkish speakers received a blow.
The insult rankled in their minds, and on returning to Samarra, the troops rose jointly, and bringing forth al-Mu'tazz from his confinement, saluted him as Caliph. Within a few weeks, his brother Abu Ahmed, with 50,000 Turks and 2,000 Berbers, besieged Baghdad
Caliphal Civil War (865-866)
The Caliphal Civil War of 865-866 was an armed conflict between the rival caliphs al-Musta'in and al-Mu'tazz, fought to determine who would gain control over the Abbasid caliphate. The war, which lasted for about a year, largely revolved around a prolonged siege of Baghdad and ended with al-Mu'tazz...
throughout the year 865.
Beginning of 866, driven to extremities by plots and treachery all around, induced al-Musta'in by alternate 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 received the ministers and courtiers of 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 do homage to the new Caliph, who ratified the terms, and took possession of Baghdad in the early days of 252 AH (866 AD). He also sent to al-Musta'in his mother and family from Samarra, but not until they had been stripped of everything they possessed.
Instead of finding a refuge at Medina, al-Musta'in found himself kept in Baghdad. There he was put to death 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 the heartless 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.