The Historians' History of the World 08

809 Death of Harun on the way to quell disturbances in Khorasan. His reign is a flourishing period of art and science. His son, Emin, succeeds. His reign is mostly taken up with the rebellion of his brother, Mamun, who gradually wins all the provinces, except Baghdad, to his side.

813 Capture and assassination of Emin. Mamun proclaimed at Baghdad. The civil war continues.

817 Mamun appoints Musa b. Ali heir to the throne, whereupon the people of Baghdad declare Mamun deposed and elect his uncle, Ibrahim, caliph. Sudden death of Musa.

820 Appointment of Tahir as governor of Khorasan, where his descendants rule until 872—sometimes called Tahirite dynasty.

829 Euphemius invites the Mohammedans from Africa into Sicily. They take Palermo.

831 The Mohammedans begin a long invasion of Asia Minor.

832 Capture of Heraclea.

833 Death of Mamun. His reign is the Augustan age of Arabian literature. Works on science and philosophy translated from the Greek. Mamun orders the measurement of a degree of the earth’s circumference. The designated heir, his brother Mutasim, succeeds. A party in favour of Mamun’s son, Abbas, is put down. Mutasim employs Turks in his body-guard, and their excesses cause Baghdad to revolt. The caliph removes the capital to Samarra.

836 The emperor Theophilus destroys Zapetra in his savage war on the Moslems.

838 Moslem victory at Dasymon. Amorium captured. Second revolt of Abbas, who dies in prison.

841 Death of Mutasim. His son, Wathik, succeeds. The caliphate begins to decline.

845 Truce with the empress Theodora.

847 Death of Wathik. The state officials elect his son, Muhammed, to succeed, but immediately recall their choice and substitute Wathik’s brother, Mutawakkil. He is noteworthy for his atrocious cruelty, and persecutes the Jews and Christians.

852 Serious revolt in Armenia suppressed in four years.

858 A great war with the Byzantines begins in Asia Minor. The Mohammedans capture the Byzantine commander.

860 Byzantine defeat near Melitene.

861 Murder of Mutawakkil by his Turkish guard, bribed by his son, Muntasir, who takes the caliphate.

862 Death of Muntasir, probably by poison. His cousin, Akhmed, who takes name of Mustain, is chosen to succeed by the Turkish soldiery.

863 Great victory of the Byzantines over the Moslems at Amasia. Death of the general, Omar. Peace for some years results.

866 The Turks revolt against Mustain and choose his brother, Motazz, caliph. Surrender of Motazz, who is put to death. He tries to free himself of the yoke of the Turkish soldiery.

869 The Turks besiege the caliph, who is imprisoned and dies. Mutahdi, son of Wathik, is chosen caliph. He tries in vain to reform the empire.

870 Mutahdi slain by the Turks. Mutamid, son of Mutawakkil, chosen as caliph. He reduces the power of the Turkish soldiery, and re-establishes capital at Baghdad.

872 The Tahirites overthrown in Persia, and the Saffarid dynasty founded. War with Byzantines recommences.

878 Akhmed b. Tulun, governor of Egypt, makes himself independent, and founds Tulunite dynasty that lasts until 905.

887-888 Mohammedan invasions of Asia Minor.

892 Death of Mutamid. His nephew, Mutadid, succeeds. Rise of the Karmathian sect, inimical to the pomp of the Baghdad court. Turkestan becomes independent under Samani, who afterwards conquers Persia and extinguishes the Saffarid dynasty.

894 The Karmathians having ravaged Mecca, the caliph rebuilds the city.

902 Death of Mutadid, leaving the throne to his son, Muktafi. Struggles with the Karmathians. They plunder the pilgrimage to Mecca and slay twenty thousand pilgrims. They are badly defeated and remain quiet for a while.

904 The Mohammedans capture Thessalonica.

905 Muktafi takes Egypt from the Tulunites and gives it to the Ikhshidites.

908 Death of Muktafi. His son, Muktadir, succeeds. Rebellion in favour of Abdallah b. Motazz is put down and Abdallah killed. Muktadir is a weak caliph, who leaves the government to his ministers. Establishment of the Fatimite dynasty in Egypt and Africa. It subverts the Aglabite and Edrisite dynasties. During the remainder of Muktadir’s reign, the Byzantines invade Mesopotamia and the Karmathians recommence their disorders. The caliph’s inaction and indolence cause a reaction against him.

930 He is deposed and his brother, Kahir, made caliph, but he recovers the throne. Revolt of Mosul and foundation of the Hamdanite dynasty in Mesopotamia. The Karmathians seize Mecca and carry off the Black Stone of the Kaaba.

932 Death of Muktadir in battle with his rebellious minister, Munis. His brother, Kahir, succeeds.

933 Foundation of the Buyid dynasty in Persia. The caliphate is reduced to the province of Baghdad.

934 Kahir deposed and blinded. His nephew, Radhi, succeeds. He creates the office of emir of the emirs, corresponding to mayor of the palace. He is the last caliph to possess any considerable spiritual or temporal power.

939 Capture of Mosul.