Al-Muwaffaq (vizier)
Encyclopedia
Abu Ahmad ibn al-Mutawakkil (842 – June 2, 891), better known as al-Muwaffaq , was the brother and regent of the Abbasid
Caliph
Al-Mu'tamid
.
Abu Ahmad was closely connected to the Turkish military in Samarra
, especially Musa ibn Bugha, and he may have been involved in the murder of his father, Caliph al-Mutawakkil
(r. 847–861). He sided with al-Mu'tazz
against al-Musta'in
, and led the caliphal army against Bahgdad where the latter had found refuge. Initially honoured and then imprisoned by al-Mu'tazz, his life was spared due to his close links with the Turkish military chiefs.
Upon the election of his brother al-Mu'tamid
in 870, Abu Ahmad came from Mekka to Samarra, and was conferred an extensive governorate covering most of the lands still under caliphal authority: western Arabia, southern Iraq
with Baghdad
, and Fars. To denote his authority, he assumed the "quasi-caliphal" title of al-Muwaffaq.
He assumed the leadership of the imperial administration in Baghdad
in 875. Soon, he replaced the weak Al-Mu'tamid
largely by ousting the government. Under Al-Muwaffaq, the Abbasid Caliphate again stabilized. He put down the uprising in southern Iraq known as the Zanj Rebellion
in 883. He increased control over the provinces and also fought the Tulunids
of Syria
vigorously.
Suffering increasingly from elephantiasis
, his son Abu al-Ahmad Abbas Al-Mu'tadid
took charge of government business from 889. After the death of Al-Muwaffaq on June 5, 891 CE, his offices were officially transferred to his son Al-Mu'tadid
who would later succeed his uncle as Caliph Al-Mu'tadid
(892-902).
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"...
Al-Mu'tamid
Al-Mu'tamid
This article is about the Abbasid Caliph al-Mu'tamid of Baghdad. For the Andalusi Arabic poet who was also the Abbadid king of Seville, see Muhammad Ibn Abbad Al Mutamid...
.
Abu Ahmad was closely connected to the Turkish military in 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....
, especially Musa ibn Bugha, and he may have been involved in the murder of his father, Caliph al-Mutawakkil
Al-Mutawakkil
Al-Mutawakkil ʻAlā Allāh Jaʻfar ibn al-Muʻtasim was an Abbasid caliph who reigned in Samarra from 847 until 861...
(r. 847–861). He sided with 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...
against al-Musta'in
Al-Musta'in
Al-Musta'in was the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad from 862 to 866. After the death of previous Caliph, al-Muntasir, 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...
, and led the caliphal army against Bahgdad where the latter had found refuge. Initially honoured and then imprisoned by al-Mu'tazz, his life was spared due to his close links with the Turkish military chiefs.
Upon the election of his brother al-Mu'tamid
Al-Mu'tamid
This article is about the Abbasid Caliph al-Mu'tamid of Baghdad. For the Andalusi Arabic poet who was also the Abbadid king of Seville, see Muhammad Ibn Abbad Al Mutamid...
in 870, Abu Ahmad came from Mekka to Samarra, and was conferred an extensive governorate covering most of the lands still under caliphal authority: western Arabia, southern Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
with 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...
, and Fars. To denote his authority, he assumed the "quasi-caliphal" title of al-Muwaffaq.
He assumed the leadership of the imperial administration 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...
in 875. Soon, he replaced the weak Al-Mu'tamid
Al-Mu'tamid
This article is about the Abbasid Caliph al-Mu'tamid of Baghdad. For the Andalusi Arabic poet who was also the Abbadid king of Seville, see Muhammad Ibn Abbad Al Mutamid...
largely by ousting the government. Under Al-Muwaffaq, the Abbasid Caliphate again stabilized. He put down the uprising in southern Iraq known as the Zanj Rebellion
Zanj Rebellion
The Zanj Rebellion was the culmination of series of small revolts. It took place near the city of Basra, located in southern Iraq over a period of fifteen years . It grew to involve over 500,000 slaves who were imported from across the Muslim empire and claimed over “tens of thousands of lives in...
in 883. He increased control over the provinces and also fought the Tulunids
Tulunids
The Tulunids were the first independent dynasty in Islamic Egypt , when they broke away from the central authority of the Abbasid dynasty that ruled the Islamic Caliphate during that time...
of Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
vigorously.
Suffering increasingly from elephantiasis
Elephantiasis
Elephantiasis is a disease that is characterized by the thickening of the skin and underlying tissues, especially in the legs and male genitals. In some cases the disease can cause certain body parts, such as the scrotum, to swell to the size of a softball or basketball. It is caused by...
, his son Abu al-Ahmad Abbas Al-Mu'tadid
Al-Mu'tadid
Al-Mu'tadid was the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad from 892 to 902. As the son and heir of the powerful vizier and virtual regent Al-Muwaffaq , Mu'tadid was already in possession of supreme power even before he was appointed Caliph, and continued as Caliph to ably administer the Government...
took charge of government business from 889. After the death of Al-Muwaffaq on June 5, 891 CE, his offices were officially transferred to his son Al-Mu'tadid
Al-Mu'tadid
Al-Mu'tadid was the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad from 892 to 902. As the son and heir of the powerful vizier and virtual regent Al-Muwaffaq , Mu'tadid was already in possession of supreme power even before he was appointed Caliph, and continued as Caliph to ably administer the Government...
who would later succeed his uncle as Caliph Al-Mu'tadid
Al-Mu'tadid
Al-Mu'tadid was the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad from 892 to 902. As the son and heir of the powerful vizier and virtual regent Al-Muwaffaq , Mu'tadid was already in possession of supreme power even before he was appointed Caliph, and continued as Caliph to ably administer the Government...
(892-902).