Abu Awn Abd al-Malik ibn Yazid

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Abu Awn Abd al-Malik ibn Yazid
al-Saffah
Preceded bySalih ibn Ali
Succeeded bySalih ibn Ali
Abbasid Governor of Egypt
In office
755–758
Monarchal-Mansur
Preceded bySalih ibn Ali
Succeeded byMusa ibn Ka'b al-Tamimi
Abbasid Governor of Khorasan
In office
766 – 767
(one year)
Monarchal-Mansur
Preceded byHumayd ibn Qahtaba
Succeeded byMu'adh ibn Muslim
Personal details
Died784/785
Parent
  • Yazid (father)
NicknameAbu Awn

Abū ʿAwn ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Yazīd al-Khurasānī (

Khurasan
.

Biography

Abu Awn Abd al-Malik was a native

Khurasan.[2][3] He was the first recipient of the black banners which came to symbolise the Abbasid dynasty.[4] When the Abbasid Revolution broke out in June 747, he was named as the commander of a unit recruited from Jurjan, and was sent to suppress the Kharijites in the region, a task which he carried out with success.[2][5]

Abu Awn participated in the westwards campaign against the Umayyads under

Shahrazur to counter an Umayyad army under Uthman ibn Sufyan which was threatening his right flank. Abu Awn joined forces with another Abbasid force under Amir ibn Isma'il, and a local tribal chieftain, but his forces, some 4,000 men, were not as strong as the Umayyad army. Nevertheless, he decided to attack and on 10 August 749 his army routed the forces of Uthman (who according to some accounts fell in the battle) and captured the district of Shahrazur.[6][7]

Despite the presence of Caliph Marwan II with the main Umayyad army nearby in the Jazira, Abu Awn was not bothered by the Umayyads[8] and was able to join the new Abbasid general, Abd Allah ibn Ali, in the decisive Battle of the Zab on 25 January 750, which resulted in the defeat and flight of Marwan II and the capitulation of the Umayyad heartland, Syria.[6]

While Abd Allah ibn Ali remained in Palestine, he dispatched his brother, Salih ibn Ali, along with Abu Awn to continue the pursuit of Marwan II, who fled to Egypt in May/June 750. Salih and Abu Awn invaded the country, and in August 750 the last Umayyad resistance was crushed at Busir, with Marwan II and many of his followers being killed.[6][9] Salih became the new governor of Egypt, and was succeeded by Abu Awn in 751. Abu Awn served as governor until 753, when Salih returned to the post, and again in 755–758.[10][11]

Abu Awn re-appears in 766/67, when he participated in the suppression of the revolt of

Ustadh Sis in Khurasan.[1][6] When Ustadh Sis, hard-pressed by the armies of Khazim ibn Khuzayma al-Tamimi, decided to surrender, he chose to submit himself and his followers to the arbitration of Abu Awn (whom some sources suggest he personally knew, perhaps from the time of the Abbasid Revolution). Abu Awn ordered the arrest and deportation of Ustadh Sis and his family to Baghdad, but let the remainder of his followers, some 30,000 men, go free.[12]

Abu Aw was named governor of Khurasan in 775/76, but was dismissed the following year for failing to suppress the rebellion of al-Muqanna, and replaced by Mu'adh ibn Muslim.[6][11][13] According to Hugh N. Kennedy, he died ca. 784/785.[11][14]

References

  1. ^ a b Crone (1980), p. 174
  2. ^ a b Sharon (1990), p. 197
  3. ^ Daniel (1979), pp. 40, 49
  4. ^ Daniel (1979), pp. 40–41
  5. ^ Daniel (1979), p. 76
  6. ^ a b c d e Zetterstéen (1960), p. 108
  7. ^ Sharon (1990), pp. 207–208
  8. ^ Sharon (1990), pp. 208–209
  9. ^ Kennedy (1998), p. 76
  10. ^ Kennedy (1998), pp. 76–77
  11. ^ a b c Kennedy (1990), p. 48 note 121
  12. ^ Daniel (1979), p. 135
  13. ^ Daniel (1979), p. 142
  14. ^ Elton (1979), p. 146

Sources

  • ISBN 0-521-52940-9
    .
  • ISBN 0-88297-025-9
    .
  • ISBN 978-0-7914-0142-2
    .
  • ISBN 0-521-47137-0
    .
  • Sharon, Moshe (1990). Revolt: the social and military aspects of the ʿAbbāsid revolution. Jerusalem: Graph Press Ltd.
    ISBN 965-223-388-9
    .
  • Zetterstéen, K.V. (1960). "Abū ʿAwn". In
    OCLC 495469456
    .
Preceded by
Governor of Egypt

751–753 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Governor of Egypt

755–758 		Succeeded by
Musa ibn Ka'b
Preceded by Governor of
Khurasan

766–767 		Succeeded by
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