Alid revolt of 762–763
Alid revolt of 762–763 | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Abbasid Caliphate | Alids | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
al-Mansur Isa ibn Musa |
Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya † Ibrahim ibn Abdallah (DOW) |
Battle of soulking Alid revolt of 762–763 or Revolt of Muhammad the Pure Soul was an uprising by the
The Hasanid's lack of co-ordination and organization, as well as the lukewarm support of their followers, allowed the Abbasids under Caliph
The failure of the rebellion did not mark the end of Alid unrest, but it consolidated the power of the Abbasid dynasty.
Background
Following the death of
Following their takeover of the Caliphate, the Abbasids tried to ensure the Alids' acquiescence through honours and pensions. However, some Alids remained opposed to Abbasid rule, going into hiding and once again trying to rouse the discontented against the new regime.
Muhammad's revolt in Medina
As al-Mansur's persecution intensified, pressure began to mount on the brothers to react. Kufa, the traditional Alid base, was kept under close surveillance by the Abbasid government, and the two brothers resolved to launch a simultaneous rebellion in Basra and Medina.[8][11][13] Although the Alids could count on a large network of sympathizers throughout the Caliphate, the action was rushed and lacked organization.[10][11]
On 25 September 762, Muhammad declared himself at Medina, catching the Abbasid governor, Riyah ibn Uthman, by surprise. The rebellion was bloodless and Muhammad quickly gained the support of the old Muslim families of Medina and
Isa ibn Musa, the Caliph's nephew, was sent against Medina with 4,000 men, but Muhammad refused to abandon the holy city and insisted on meeting the Abbasid attack there. In the meantime, he imitated the actions of Muhammad, like restoring the famous ditch around the city. Muhammad's supporters nevertheless began deserting him. When Isa appeared before the city, he waited a few days before the ditch and repeatedly offered amnesty. Then his troops laid a few doors over the ditch and entered Medina, where Muhammad and his remaining 300 supporters fell fighting on 6 December 762. Muhammad's corpse was beheaded and his head dispatched to the Caliph.[10]
Ibrahim's uprising in Basra
Due to Muhammad's rushed actions, Ibrahim failed to co-ordinate his uprising with his brother's, and only declared himself two weeks before Muhammad's death, on 23 November.
Al-Mansur in the meantime used his time more effectively: he mobilized troops in Syria and Iran and brought them to Iraq, and recalled Isa ibn Musa from Medina to lead them.[11][13] Finally, Ibrahim decided to march on Kufa, but on the way he abandoned this plan and turned back. Instead of returning to Basra, however, he encamped at Bakhamra, a location on the road between the two cities. There, on 21 January, Ibrahim with his troops, reduced by defections to some 15,000 men, confronted the Abbasid army under Isa ibn Musa. Isa's vanguard was at first beaten, but the battle ended in a crushing Abbasid victory. Ibrahim himself was severely wounded and escaped with a handful of supporters. He died of his wounds on 14 February 763, signalling the end of the rebellion.[11][13]
Aftermath
The failure and brutal suppression of Muhammad and Ibrahim's revolt was followed by a large-scale reprisal campaign against the Alids, many of whom were imprisoned or killed, until the death of al-Mansur brought about another period of attempts at conciliation under
References
- ^ Kennedy (2004), pp. 123–124
- ^ a b c d Lewis (1960), p. 402
- ^ Cobb (2010), pp. 261–263
- ^ El-Hibri (2010), pp. 269–271
- ^ Kennedy (2004), pp. 123–127
- ^ Kennedy (2004), p. 130
- ^ a b c El-Hibri (2010), p. 271
- ^ a b c Buhl (1993), p. 388
- ^ Veccia Vagleri (1971), pp. 983–984
- ^ a b c d e f Buhl (1993), p. 389
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Kennedy (2004), p. 131
- ^ Veccia Vagleri (1971), p. 985
- ^ a b c d e f Veccia Vagleri (1971), p. 984
- ^ El-Hibri (2010), pp. 271–272
- ^ Veccia Vagleri (1971), pp. 984–985
Sources
- Buhl, F. (1993). "Muḥammad b. ʿAbd Allāh". In ISBN 978-90-04-09419-2.
- Cobb, Paul M. (2010). "The empire in Syria, 705–763". In ISBN 978-0-521-83823-8.
- Elad, Amikam (2015). The Rebellion of Muḥammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya in 145/762: Ṭālibīs and Early ʿAbbāsīs in Conflict. Leiden: BRILL. ISBN 9789004296220.
- El-Hibri, Tayeb (2010). "The empire in Iraq, 763–861". In ISBN 978-0-521-83823-8.
- ISBN 978-0-582-40525-7.
- Lewis, B. (1960). "ʿAlids". In OCLC 495469456.
- Veccia Vagleri, L. (1971). "Ibrāhīm b. ʿAbd Allāh". In OCLC 495469525.