Beautiful Egypt 206 – The Counsel – May 14, 2017

   In the previous article, we started talking about Caliph al-Mu’tasim who took over after his brother al-Ma’mun and his granting more privileges to the Turkish soldiers than the Arab. So much so, that the formers became more influential. Moreover, he moved from Baghdad to Samarra after the Turkish soldiers had ignited riots. We also tackled some rebellions like that of the Jat people, Babak Khorramdin, and Abu Harb al-Mubarqa’, then the conspiracy of Ujaif bin Anabasah and the Pisin’s treason and death in prison.

Internal Affairs

   Abul Fadl bin Marawan was al-Mu’tasim’s first chief minister. He was the one who informed him of al-Ma’mun’s death. He remained in his post for two years. Yet, he started handling the State’s affairs autonomously. Upon getting informed, the Caliph deposed him, appointing Ahmed bin Ammar of Khorasan in his stead; yet he deposed him as he was illiterate! Then, al-Mu’tasim appointed Mohammed bin Abdul Malik, also known as, bin al-Zayyat who managed the State’s affairs well. He remained in his post until al-Mu’tasim’s death. Historians maintain that bin al-Zayyat was, “a scholar and man of letters who was adept at working for kings. He used to recite poetry. On the other hand, he was strict with the proconsuls who were proved to be negligent.”

Ahmed bin Abu Dawoud

   Ahmed bin Abu Dawoud al-Ayyadi was close to al-Mu’tasim. So much so that historians assert, “He was as close to al-Mu’tasim as Yahya bin Aktham was close to al-Ma’mun. He appointed him minister of justice, and befriended him for he never did anything save with his opinion. In effect, he handled a post in which nobody rivaled him.”

   It is said that he was close to al-Ma’mun at first: for the latter admired his logic and sensibility. That was through Yahya bin Aktham’s recommendation. So, al-Ma’mun made him close to him, which provided him with influence. Additionally, he commanded his brother, al-Mu’tasim, “Never do anything without the counsel of Abu Ubaydullah Ahmed bin Abu Dawoud: for he is quite qualified.”

   When al-Mu’tasim took over, he made him minister of justice instead of Yahya bin Aktham. He was cherished and respected by al-Mu’tasim who never denied him any request. He used to visit him so regularly that people asked him, “How come you visit him when he does not visit his relatives?” He answered, “How come I do not visit a man who always guides me to good deeds, makes me thanked, or gives me a piece of advice that I benefit by in my life and religion, without asking anything for himself?”

   Likewise, historians consented that Abu Dawoud was quite generous. It is said, “Abu Dawoud was the second in generosity in the Abbasid State after the Barmakids.” Indeed, caliphs gave him a lot of money, and he gave people, especially scholars and men of letters, a lot of money: for he was a poet. Historians assert that, “Abu Dawoud was an eloquent poet.” Moreover, his name and poems were mentioned and cited. Yet, historians cannot forgive his complicity in the religious conflicts which took place during the tenures of al-Ma’mun, al-Mu’tasim, and al-Mutawakil which were called “the great tribulation”. It is said, “Had it not been for his unprecedented generosity and the people’s love for him, people would have rebelled against him.”

External Wars

   Because al-Mu’tasim was preoccupied with overcoming rebellions, especially that of Babak, the Byzantines raided and ruined Isparta and Melitene. Then, they headed toward Syria and conquered her. When al-Mu’tasim was informed, he mobilized armies to fight the Romans. In 233 Hijri (838 A.D.), he led his armies to Tarsus. He divided the troops to three categories, each of which had a Turkish commander, namely, Ashinas, Etakh, and Ja’far bin Dinar. The Pisin invaded the Byzantine cities and the battle of Dezmon broke out where he emerged victorious, compelling the Emperor to return to Constantinople.

   At that time, al-Mu’tasim had entered Ankara with Ashnas. Nobody resisted them. So, al-Mu’tasim decided to continue to Amorium, which is the Roman Emperor’s birth place. When the army reached Amorium, it found it great and quite fortified. So much so that historians said, “Troops fought for fifty-five days until they found a breach in the city’s fence. So, they attacked with their manganons until they demolished it. Then, they entered to ruin and burn the city, after which they returned to Tarsus, then to Samarra. Abu Tammam Habib bin Aws wrote a famous poem commemorating that battle:

Swords are more faithful than books

Their blades are more serious than vows

A sword more than a word does glitter

clearing up all mess and clutter

Armies are more knowledgeable than stars

Their spears sparkle with future sparks

Where are soothsayers and prophecies?

Where are their sugar-coated lies?

Al-Mu’tasim’s Death

   Al-Mu’tasim died in 227 Hijri (841 A.D.), having declared his son, Harun, heir apparent. Harun was brave. Yet, historians blame him for, “lacking in far-sightedness. He was also responsible for what alighted upon the Abbasids after him: for the State got tumultuous and sovereigns weak. Moreover, the Turkish got a strong hold over the Arab nation.”

Egypt’s Conditions and Proconsuls during al-Mu’tasim’s Tenure

   At the beginning of al-Mu’tasim’s tenure, Egypt was ruled by Kaydar al-Safadi who the Caliph ordered to detain the Arabs from his court and prevent their financing. In effect, Yahya bin al-Wazir al-Jarawi and others rebelled against him. Yet, Kaydar died while preparing an army to overcome the rebels. He had declared his son, al-Mudhafar, successor. When al-Mu’tasim got to know of his death, he reaffirmed al-Mudhafar proconsul of Egypt.

Al-Mudhafar bin Kaydar 219 Hijri (834 A.D.)

   No sooner had al-Mudhafar taken over Egypt’s affairs, than he started to mobilize an army to fight Yahya bin al-Wazir. They embarked on a fierce battle which ended up in al-Mudhafar’s victory. When al-Mu’tasim settled down, he granted Abu Ja’far Ashnas Egypt’s rein, deposing al-Mudhafar, and appointing Mussa bin Abul Abbas in his stead. Thus, al-Mudhafar ruled Egypt for a few months which were said to be about four. They were full of wars. Taghribirdi writes, “All in all, he ruled Egypt for a few months; yet his wars and evils were a multitude.” During that year, Egypt was alighted upon by a terrible earthquake, and darkness overwhelmed her between noon and evening!

Mussa bin Abul Abbas 219 Hijri (834 A.D.)

   He was Ashnas’ deputy on Egypt. At the beginning of his tenure, some people of al-Houf rebelled against him. They had many fights, yet reconciled eventually. However, by the end of his tenure he treated religious and “fiqh” scholars harshly due to the religious conflicts with al-Mu’tasim and his predecessor, al-Ma’mun. He remained proconsul until Ashnas deposed him in 224 Hijri (839 A.D.), having ruled the country for four years and seven months.

   He was succeeded by Malik bin Kaydar al-Safadi during whose tenure war broke out with Babak Khorramidin, Maziar, the Jat people were imprisoned, the war with the Romans broke out, the battle of Amorium, as well as g the planning and building of Samarra were accomplished. In 221, the plague spread in Baghdad, killing many people. In 223, an earthquake alighted upon Fergana, eastern Uzbekistan, killing about fifteen thousand people! What a story! Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.

General Bishop

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center