List of Abbasid caliphs

Caliphs of the Abbasid Caliphate From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Abbasid caliphs were the holders of the Islamic title of caliph who were members of the Abbasid dynasty, a branch of the Quraysh tribe descended from the uncle of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, Al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib.

The family came to power in the Abbasid Revolution in 748–750, supplanting the Umayyad Caliphate. They were the rulers of the Abbasid Caliphate, as well as the generally recognized ecumenical heads of Islam, until the 10th century, when the Shi'a Fatimid Caliphate (established in 909) and the Caliphate of Córdoba (established in 929) challenged their primacy. The political decline of the Abbasids had begun earlier, during the Anarchy at Samarra (861–870), which accelerated the fragmentation of the Muslim world into autonomous dynasties. The caliphs lost their temporal power in 936–946, first to a series of military strongmen and then to the Shi'a Buyid Emirs that seized control of Baghdad; the Buyids were in turn replaced by the Sunni Seljuk Turks in the mid-11th century, and Turkish rulers assumed the title of "Sultan" to denote their temporal authority. The Abbasid caliphs remained the generally recognized suzerains of Sunni Islam, however. In the mid-12th century, the Abbasids regained their independence from the Seljuks, but the revival of Abbasid power ended with the Sack of Baghdad by the Mongols in 1258.

Most Abbasid caliphs were born to a concubine mother, known as umm al-walad (Arabic: أم الولد, lit. 'mother of the child'). The term refers to a slave woman who had a child from her owner; those women were renowned for their beauty and intelligence, in that the owner might recognize the legitimacy of his children from them to be legally free and with full rights of inheritance, and refrain from trading the mothers afterwards.[1] Those concubines where from non-Muslim lands and brought to slavery in the Abbasid Caliphate via a number of different slave trade routes. The slave concubines mostly were Abyssinians, Armenians, Berbers, Byzantine Greeks, Turkish or even from Sicily.[2][3][4]

Abbasid Caliphs (750–1258)

Further information: Abbasid Caliphate

This is the list of Abbasid Caliphs.[5]

More information No., Reign ...
No. Reign Regnal Name Personal Name Parents Notable Events
1 750 – 8 June 754 al-Saffāḥ Abū’l-ʿAbbās ʿAbd Allāh
2 10 June 754 – 775 al-Manṣūr Abū Jaʿfar ʿAbd Allāh
3 775 – 4 August 785 al-Mahdī bi-'llāh Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad
  • Nominated heir by his father al-Mansur.
4 August 785 – 14 September 786 al-Hādī Abū Muḥammad Mūsā
  • Nominated first heir by his father al-Mahdi.
5 14 September 786 – 24 March 809 al-Rashīd Hārūn
  • Nominated second heir by his father al-Mahdi.
6 March 809 – 24/25 September 813 al-Amīn Abū Mūsā Muḥammad
7 September 813 – 9 August 833 al-Maʾmūn Abū'l-ʿAbbās ʿAbd Allāh
8 9 August 833 – 5 January 842 al-Muʿtaṣim bi-’llāh Abū Isḥāq Muḥammad
  • According to al-Tabari, Al-Ma'mun, on his deathbed, dictated a letter appointing his brother Al-Mu'tasim, rather than his son, as his successor. [6]
  • Establishment of the Turkic ghilman in positions of power. Militarization of the administration.
  • Samarra founded and made the new capital (836).
9 5 January 842 – 10 August 847 al-Wāthiq bi-'llāh Abū Jaʿfar Hārūn
  • Nominated heir by his father.
  • Died from dropsy, while seated in an oven in an attempt to cure it.[7]
10 10 August 847 – 11 December 861 al-Mutawakkil ʿalā 'llāh Jaʿfar
  • End of official support for Mu'tazilism. Abolition of the miḥnah (848/851). Return to traditional orthodoxy.
  • Assassinated by his guards with support of his son Al-Muntasir.
11 861 – 7 or 8 June 862 al-Muntaṣir bi-'llāh Abū Jaʿfar Muḥammad
  • Nominated first heir by al-Mutawakkil [8]. Succeeded him after his assassination.
  • Beginning of Anarchy at Samarra
  • Died of illness. Possibly poisoned.
12 862–866 al-Mustaʿīn bi-ʾllāh Aḥmad
  • Cousin of Al-Muntasir. Installed by Turkic troops.
  • Defeated in Fifth Fitna, and forced to abdicate.
  • Executed soon afterwards on the orders of Al-Mu'tazz.
13 866–869 al-Muʿtazz bi-ʾllāh Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad
  • Nominated second heir by Al-Mutawakkil [9], but bypassed when his cousin Al-Musta'in was installed by the Turkic military.
  • Overthrew Al-Musta'in in a civil war with the help of Turkic troops.
  • Attempted to curb the power of the Turkic military elite.
  • Deposed and imprisoned by the Turkic generals; died three days later.
14 869 – 21 June 870 al-Muhtadī bi-'llāh Abū Isḥāq Muḥammad
15 21 June 870 – 15 October 892 al-Muʿtamid ʿalā ’llāh Abū'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad
  • Installed by Turkic military. End of Anarchy at Samarra
  • Real power held by his brother Al-Muwaffaq and later his nephew Al-Mu'tadid, who had the loyalty of the military.
  • Beginning of the "Abbasid revival". Repulsion of the Saffarid rebellion and subjugation of the Zanj Revolt.
  • Establishment of the autonomous Tulunid dynasty in Egypt.
  • Put under house arrest after a failed escape to Tulunid Egypt.
16 October 892 – 5 April 902 al-Muʿtaḍid bi-'llāh Abū'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad
  • Al-Muwaffaq, Abbasid prince and Commander-in-chief
  • Dirar (Hariz), Greek concubine
  • Al-Mu'tamid's nephew. Added his name in line of succession and removed his cousin as heir.
  • Height of the "Abbasid revival". Recovery of Jazira, Thughur, Jibal.
  • Return of the capital to Baghdad.
  • Start of the Qarmatian missionary activity and raids.
17 5 April 902 – 13 August 908 al-Muktafī bi-'llāh Abū Muḥammad ʿAlī
  • Son and nominated heir of Al-Mu'tadid.
  • Recovery of Egypt and Syria from the Tulunids. End of the "Abbasid revival".
18 13 August 908 – 929 al-Muqtadir bi-'llāh Abū'l-Faḍl Jaʿfar
19 929 al-Qāhir bi-'llāh Abū al-Manṣūr Muḥammad
(18) 929 – 31 October 932 al-Muqtadir bi-'llāh Abū'l-Faḍl Jaʿfar
(19) 31 October 932 – 934 al-Qāhir bi-'llāh Abū al-Manṣūr Muḥammad
  • Installed by Mu'nis al-Muzaffar
  • Deposed by vizier Ibn Muqla in a coup.
  • Deposed, blinded and imprisoned after refusing to abdicate.
  • Freed by Al-Mustakfi eleven years later. Spent rest of his life as a beggar, dying in 950.[11]
20 934 – 23 December 940 al-Rāḍī bi-'llāh Abū'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad/Muḥammad
  • Originally nominated heir by his father Al-Muqtadir, but sidelined by Mu'nis in favour of his uncle, Al-Qahir, who imprisoned him.
  • Made caliph after Al-Qahir's deposition.
  • Creation of the office of amīr al-umarāʾ as the de facto ruler.
21 940–944 al-Muttaqī li-'llāh Abū Isḥāq Ibrāhīm
  • Selected by amir al-umara Bajkam after the death of his brother Al-Radi.
  • Deposed and blinded by amir al-umara Tuzun. Died in 968.
22 September 944 – 29 January 946 al-Mustakfī bi-ʾllāh ʿAbd Allāh
  • Installed by the amīr al-umarāʾ Tuzun after deposition of his nephew.
  • Deposed and blinded after the Buyid takeover of Baghdad.
  • Died under house arrest in 949.
23 29 January 946 – 974 al-Muṭīʿ li-ʾllāh Abū'l-Qāsim al-Faḍl
  • Went into hiding upon his uncle Al-Muktafi's enthronement, who sought to have him captured.
  • Installed by the Buyid Amir Mu'izz al-Dawla.
  • Complete loss of Egypt, Palestine and Hejaz to Fatimids.
  • Induced to abdicate with his health as a pretext by Turkic generals.
24 974–991 al-Ṭāʾiʿ li-amri ʿllāh Abd al-Karīm
25 1 November 991 – 29 November 1031 al-Qādir bi-'llāh Aḥmad
26 29 November 1031 – 2 April 1075 al-Qāʾim bi-amri 'llāh Abu Ja'far Abdallah
  • End of the Caliphate of Córdoba (1031). Recognition of Abbasid religious and nominal authority by Almoravids (c. 1062).
  • End of Qarmatian state (1067).
  • Beginning of Seljuk Turks influence in Baghdad. End of Buyid influence.
27 2 April 1075 – February 1094 al-Muqtadī bi-amri ’llāh Abū'l-Qāsim ʿAbd Allāh
  • Grandson and heir of Al-Qa'im.
  • Recognition of Abbasid authority in Arabia due to Seljuk conquest.
28 February 1094 – 6 August 1118 al-Mustaẓhir bi-'llāh Abū l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad
29 6 August 1118 – 29 August 1135 al-Mustarshid bi-'llāh Abū'l-Manṣūr al-Faḍl
  • Nominated heir by his father.
  • Almohad Empire claimed in the Maghreb and Al-Andalus (1121).
  • Failed to seek military independence from the Seljuks.
  • Murdered, possibly by the Assassins.
30 29 August 1135 – 1136 al-Rāshid bi-'llāh Abu Jaʿfar al-Manṣūr
31 1136 – 12 March 1160 al-Muqtafī li-ʾamri ’llāh Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad
32 12 March 1160 – 20 December 1170 al-Mustanjid bi-'llāh Abū'l-Muẓaffar Yūsuf
  • Son and heir of Al-Muqtafi.
33 20 December 1170 – 30 March 1180 al-Mustaḍīʾ bi-amri ʾllāh al-Ḥasan
  • Son and heir of Al-Mustanjid.
  • End of the Fatimid Caliphate in 1171. Restoration of Abbasid authority in Egypt under Saladin.
34 2 March 1180 – 4 October 1225 al-Nāṣir li-Dīn Allāh Abu'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad
35 5 October 1225 – 11 July 1226 al-Ẓāhir bi-amri’llāh Abu Nasr Muḥammad
  • Heir and son of Al-Nasir.
36 11 July 1226 – 2 December 1242 al-Mustanṣir bi-'llāh Abū Jaʿfar al-Manṣūr
  • Heir and son of Al-Zahir.
37 2 December 1242 – 20 February 1258 al-Mustaʿṣim bi-'llāh ʿAbd Allāh
  • Heir and son of Al-Mustansir.
  • Last Abbasid caliph. End of the Caliphate as a political and religious entity.
  • Executed after the Mongol sack of Baghdad.
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Caliphs of Cairo (1261–1517)

"Caliphs of Cairo" redirects here. For the Carnival krewe, see Caliphs of Cairo (krewe).
Further information: Mamluk Sultanate

In 1261, the Abbasid dynasty was re-established by a cadet branch of the dynasty at Cairo under the auspices of the local Mamluk sultans, but these caliphs were purely religious and symbolic figures, while temporal power rested with the Mamluks. The revived caliphate in Cairo lasted until the Ottoman conquest of Egypt in 1517, after which the caliphal title passed to the Ottoman dynasty.

The Cairo Abbasids were largely ceremonial caliphs under the patronage of the Mamluk Sultanate that existed after the takeover of the Ayyubid dynasty.[14][15]

More information No., Reign ...
No. Reign Regnal Name Personal Name Parents Notable Events
1 13 June 1261 – 28 November 1261 al-Mustanṣir bi-llāh Abū'l-Qāsim Aḥmad
  • Installed as caliph in Cairo, Egypt by the Mamluk sultan Baybars in 1261.[14]
2 16 November 1262 – 19 January 1302 al-Ḥākim bi-Amri'llāh I Abū'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad
  • Abu Ali Hasan ibn Abu Bakr ibn Hasan
  • Installed as caliph by ruler of Aleppo, Aqqush, in 1261, proclaimed as caliph in Cairo by Baybars after al-Mustansir II died.[14]
3 20 January 1302 – February 1340 al-Mustakfī bi-llāh I Abū ar-Rabīʾ Sulaymān
4 February 1340 – 17 June 1341 al-Wāthiq bi-'llāh I Abū ʾIsḥāq ʾIbrāhīm
5 1341–1352 al-Ḥākim bi-Amri'llāh II Abū'l-ʿAbbas ʾAḥmad
6 1352–1362 al-Muʿtaḍid bi-'llāh I Abū al-Fatḥ Abū Bakr
7 1362–1377 al-Mutawakkil ʿalā'llāh I Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad
8 1377 al-Mustaʿṣim bi-'llāh Abū Yaḥya Zakarīyāʾ
  • First reign.
(7) 1377–1383 al-Mutawakkil ʿalā'llāh I Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad
  • Second reign.
9 September 1383 – 13 November 1386 al-Wāthiq bi-'llāh II Abū Ḥafṣ ʿUmar
(8) 1386–1389 al-Mustaʿṣim bi-'llāh Abū Yaḥya Zakarīyāʾ
  • Second reign.
(7) 1389 – 9 January 1406 al-Mutawakkil ʿalā'llāh I Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad
  • Third reign.
10 22 January 1406 – 9 March 1414 al-Mustaʿīn bi-'llāh Abū al-Faḍl al-ʿAbbas
11 1414–1441 al-Muʿtaḍid bi-'llāh II Abū al-Fatḥ Dāwud
12 1441 – 29 January 1451 al-Mustakfī bi-llāh II Abū al-Rabīʿ Sulaymān
13 1451–1455 al-Qāʾim bi-ʾamr Allāh Abū al-Baqāʾ Ḥamza
14 1455 – 7 April 1479 al-Mustanjid bi-'llāh Abū al-Maḥāsin Yūsuf
15 5 April 1479 – 27 September 1497 al-Mutawakkil ʿalā'llāh II Abū al-ʿIzz ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz
16 1497–1508 al-Mustamsik bi-'llāh Abū al-Ṣabr Yaqūb
  • First reign, abdicated in 1508.[16]
17 1508–1516 al-Mutawakkil ʿalā'llāh III Muḥammad
  • First reign.
(16) 1516–1517 al-Mustamsik bi-'llāh Abū al-Ṣabr Yaqūb
(17) 1517 al-Mutawakkil ʿalā'llāh III Muḥammad
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Genealogy

Genealogical tree of the Abbasid family. In green, the Abbasid caliphs of Baghdad. In yellow, the Caliphs of Cairo. Muhammad is included (in caps) to show the kinship of the Abbasids with him.

References

Bibliography

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