al-Qahir
al-Qahir القاهر | |
---|---|
Caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate | |
Reign | 1 March 929 – 2 March 929 (1st reign) |
Predecessor | al-Muqtadir |
Successor | al-Muqtadir |
Reign | 31 October 932 – 24 April 934 (2nd reign) |
Predecessor | al-Muqtadir |
Successor | al-Radi |
Born | 899 Baghdad, Iraq |
Died | 950 (aged 50–51) Baghdad |
Consort | Umm al-Mansur |
Issue | Mansur |
Dynasty | Abbasid |
Father | al-Mu'tadid |
Mother | Fitnah |
Religion | Sunni Islam |
Abu Mansur Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Mu'tadid (
Early life
Al-Qahir was a son of the 16th
Rise to the throne
Al-Qahir came to the throne as part of his brother's conflict with the increasingly powerful commander-in-chief, Mu'nis al-Muzaffar.[4] He was first chosen as Caliph in March 929,[1] when Mu'nis launched a coup and deposed al-Muqtadir. Although al-Muqtadir was restored after a few days, Mu'nis now possessed virtually dictatorial authority over the Abbasid government.[5][4]
In 932, after another breach with al-Muqtadir, Mu'nis marched on Baghdad. Al-Muqtadir tried to confront him, and was killed in the ensuing battle.[5][4] However, in the subsequent assembly of dignitaries, Mu'nis' candidacy of al-Muqtadir's son Ahmad (the future al-Radi) was rejected in favour of al-Qahir (31 October 932).[1][6] He was then 35 years old.[6]
Caliphate
The new caliph had a pronounced "headstrong and vindictive personality", according to Dominique Sourdel, which made itself felt soon after his accession, when he tortured his brother's sons and officials, as well as al-Muqtadir's mother Shaghab, to extract their fortune.[1][6] He was more energetic than his predecessor and cultivated an image of austerity and puritanism at his court, in deliberate contrast to the extravagantly dissolute life led by al-Muqtadir, but behind the scenes he too indulged in drunkenness.[7]
Trying to counteract the influence of Mu'nis and of the vizier Ibn Muqla, who controlled government, and re-assert the power of his office,[1] al-Qahir resumed contacts with the defeated court faction through Muhammad ibn Yaqut.[8] This alarmed Mu'nis and his supporters, but they were too late. In July 933, al-Qahir struck: the plans of the chamberlain Ibn Yalbaq to depose him were thwarted, and he and Mu'nis were arrested and executed, while Ibn Muqla was forced to flee the capital.[9][10]
Al-Qahir appointed
The contemporary Baghdadi historian
Downfall and death
The exiled vizier Ibn Muqla continued plotting against al-Qahir; he won over the caliphal guard, which on 24 April 934 staged a coup and took the Caliph prisoner while the latter was drunk.[10][11]
Refusing to abdicate in favour of al-Radi (r. 932–940), he was blinded and cast into prison.[6][11] According to al-Mas'udi, al-Radi "kept news of him hidden", so that he vanished from common knowledge.[12] He was not freed until eleven years later, when al-Mustakfi (r. 944–946) came to the throne and discovered him locked away in a remote room in the palace.[11][12] He lived the remainder of his life as a beggar, dying in October 950.[6][11]
References
- ^ a b c d e Sourdel 1978, p. 423.
- ^ Hasan, M. (1998). History of Islam: Classical period, 571-1258 C.E. History of Islam. Islamic Publications. p. 255.
- ISBN 978-9987-9022-4-8.
- ^ a b c Bonner 2010, p. 351.
- ^ a b Bowen 1993, p. 575.
- ^ a b c d e Zetterstéen 1987, p. 627.
- ^ Kennedy 2004, p. 193.
- ^ Kennedy 2004, pp. 193–194.
- ^ Sourdel 1978, pp. 423–424.
- ^ a b Kennedy 2004, p. 194.
- ^ a b c d e f Sourdel 1978, p. 424.
- ^ a b c Masudi 2010, p. 386.
Sources
- ISBN 978-0-521-83823-8.
- Bowen, H. (1993). "Muʾnis al-Muẓaffar". In ISBN 978-90-04-09419-2.
- ISBN 978-0-582-40525-7.
- ISBN 978-0-7103-0246-5.
- Sourdel, Dominique (1978). "al-Ḳāhir Bi'llāh". In OCLC 758278456.
- ISBN 978-90-04-08265-6.