The Historians' History of the World 08

940 Death of Radhi, succeeded by his brother, Muttaki. Al-Baridi, the head of a Chaldean principality, besieges Baghdad, but is repulsed.

944 Turun seizes Muttaki and puts his eyes out. Mustafki, son of Muktafi, is chosen by Turun to succeed. Owing to the unpopularity of Zirak, the emir of the emirs, the people call upon Akhmed, the Buyid ruler, who establishes himself vizir to the caliph with title Muiz ad-Daula. He and his successors, under the title of emir of the emirs, absorb all political power.

946 Mustafki conspires against Akhmed, who seizes him and puts his eyes out. Muktadir’s son, Muti, is chosen to succeed. Constant war with the Byzantines.

958 The Fatimite caliph, Muiz ad-Din, subdues all Africa and Egypt and is acknowledged by Arabia.

961 Foundation of the principality of Ghazni.

968 Nicephorus takes Antioch from the Mohammedans.

974 Abdication of Muti. His son, Tai, succeeds. The Buyid princes contend furiously for the office of emir.

991 The emir, Baha ad-Daula, compels Tai to abdicate, and appoints Kadir, grandson of Muktadir, to the caliphate.

995 Aleppo taken from the Mohammedans by the emperor Basil.

997 Mahmud, of Ghazni, comes to the throne. He reigns until 1028.

1020 Firdusi, the Persian Homer, flourishes. The power of the Seljuk Turks increases.

1030 Mohammedan victory over the Byzantines at Azaz.

1031 Death of Kadir. His son, Kaim, succeeds.

1038 Mohammedans regain Edessa.

1055 The caliph, oppressed by the emir, calls upon Toghril Beg, the Seljuk. The latter enters Baghdad, overthrows the Buyids, and takes their place.

1063 Death of Toghril, leaving the power to his nephew, Alp Arslan.

1074 Suleiman, the Seljuk, conquers Asia Minor and founds kingdom of Rum or Iconium.

1075 Death of Kaim. His grandson, Muktadi, succeeds.

1076 The Seljuk Turks conquer Syria from the Fatimites and take Jerusalem.

1090 Hassan b. Sabba, of Nishapur, organises a band of Karmathians, named the “Assassins.”

1092 Death of Malik Shah, successor of Alp Arslan. Decline of Seljuk power.

1094 Death of Muktadi. His son, Mustazhir, succeeds.

1096 The Fatimite caliph, Mustali, takes Jerusalem.

1099 The crusaders succeed in getting the whole of Asia Minor.

1118 Death of Mustazhir. His son, Mustarshid, succeeds.

1135 Murder of Mustarshid by the Assassins. His son, Rashid, succeeds.

1136 Rashid defends Baghdad against the Turks, but is murdered by the Assassins. His uncle, Muktafi, succeeds. He is captured by the Ghuz Turks and carried about in an iron cage, but afterwards escapes.

1160 Death of Muktafi. His son, Mustanjid, succeeds. His reign is marked by great disorders in Persia, where the governors have all made themselves independent.

1170 Death of Mustanjid. His son, Mustadi, succeeds.

1171 Saladin, sultan of Egypt, destroys the Fatimite dynasty.

1180 Death of Mustadi. His son, Nasir, succeeds. He recognises the usurpation of Saladin.

1183 Fall of Ghazni.

1206 Jenghiz proclaims himself khan of the Mongols.

1218-1221 Conquests of Jenghiz Khan.

1225 Death of Nasir. His son, Dhahir, succeeds.

1226 Death of Dhahir. His son, Mustansir, succeeds. The whole of Persia is subject to the Mongols.

1245 Death of Mustansir. His son, Mustasim, succeeds.

1256 Hulagu, khan of the Mongols, invades Persia and extirpates the Assassins.

1258 Hulagu takes Baghdad, and puts Mustasim to death. End of the Abbasid dynasty.

THE MOHAMMEDANS IN SPAIN (711-1492 A.D.)

Within four years after the landing of Tarik in Spain, the whole peninsula, except the mountainous districts in the north, is in the hands of the Mohammedans. The first forty years of the occupation is a period of discord, and a number of emirs succeed each other in rapid succession. The Mohammedans fight with the Christians in the north, and penetrate into France, whence they are driven back by Charles Martel, in 732. The Arab power is on the eve of falling to pieces, when Abd ar-Rahman, the sole survivor of the Omayyad massacre in Arabia, arrives in Spain. In 755 Abd ar-Rahman is elected king of Mohammedan Spain.

THE OMAYYAD DYNASTY (756-1031 A.D.)

756 Abd ar-Rahman I defeats the Abbasid emirs, and founds his kingdom at Cordova. His reign is one of constant warfare, for he has to suppress many revolts.

778 Destruction of Charlemagne’s army at Roncesvalles, on its return from the invasion to restore Hosein to power.

780 Capture of Saragossa. Hosein taken and executed.

786 Suppression of the rebellion of the Beni Yusuf.

788 Death of Abd ar-Rahman. His son and appointed heir, Hisham I, succeeds. He proclaims the holy war and finishes the mosque of Cordova.

796 Death of Hisham. His son, Al-Hakim, succeeds. He is victorious over his rebel uncles.

800-801 The Franks invade Catalonia and recover Barcelona from the Moslems.