We have concluded our previous article by the rule of Caliph al-Qahir, 320-322 AH (932-943 AD), and Abul-Abbas Ahmad ibn al-Muqtadir ar-Radi 322-329 AH (934-940 AD) who took over after the overthrow of al-Qahir and the prevailing troubles at the time. Unrest and wars broke out in Egypt since the fall of the Tulunid dynasty, and because the Abbasids had weak authority over Egypt because of their weakness, chaos prevailed all over the country, thus the de facto ruler of Egypt were the Turkish soldiers. Professor of history Mr. Hassan Khalifah mentions, “The conditions deteriorated after the fall of the Tulunid dynasty, and Egypt was administered as an eyalet affiliated to the caliphs as it was formerly. But the caliphs could not extend their influence over it due to their weakness, then the Turkish soldiers managed its affairs, and the armies that were sent to consolidate the regime were the most powerful, thus chaos prevailed and the situation was intimidating … ” The country then lost its security and was subjected to the raids of the Fatimids, some of which we had previously mentioned. Caliph al-Mo’thaded then appointed Muhammad ibn Tughj as a governor, who was ousted by Ahmad ibn Kayghalagh and then appointed by Caliph ar-Radi again.
Muhammad ibn Tughj, 321 AH (933 AD)
The origin of Mohammed ibn Tughj ibn Juff ibn Yiltakin goes back to the sons of the kings of Farghana, from the Farghana Valley spread across eastern Uzbekistan. Ibn Tughj became a governor of Egypt after the death of Takin, who assigned his son as his successor until Caliph al-Qahir appointed ibn Tughj to rule Egypt because of the disorder that prevailed there. Ibn Tughj could not reach it and was dismissed after thirty-two days! Then Ahmad ibn Kayghalagh took over from him and ruled for about a year and 11 months, but was dismissed by ar-Radi to be replaced by ibn Tughj anew.
The Second Term of Ahmad ibn Kayghalagh, 321 – 323 AH (933 – 935 AD)
Ahmad ibn Kayghalagh was re-appointed to rule Egypt after the dismissal of Mohammed ibn Tughj, and then he assigned Abu al-Fath ibn Eissa al-Nushari as his deputy. Then the troops were rioting over lack of pay, and they asked the tax administrator al-Madara’i to give them their money back, but he ran away so they burned his house along with the houses of members of his family. Then, a lot of wars broke out and many Egyptians were killed until Muhammad ibn Takin came to Egypt in 322 AH (934 AD) but al-Madara’i came back and resisted him. At that time, the people were divided into two groups: One of them opposed ibn Takin, supporting Kayghalagh, while the other supported ibn Takin, rejecting ibn Kayghalagh. Thus, the state of turmoil increased and a lot of wars erupted in Egypt and many of ibn Takin’s supporters joined ibn Kayghalagh. When ibn Takin realized that he is too weak to confront ibn Kayghalagh, he fled from Egypt at night after a stay of one hundred and twelve days; thus the rule of the country returned to ibn Kayghalagh to run its affairs. It is said that great earthquakes and extensive devastation swept Egypt in those days.
It was not long before the news came with the overthrow of Caliph al-Qahir and the takeover of his successor, ar-Radi; so Mohammed ibn Takin came back to Egypt with his fellowmen and it was said that ar-Radi assigned him a ruler to Egypt. A war broke out between ibn Takin, the soldiers of Egypt and the fellowmen of ibn Kayghalagh that ended with the defeat of ibn Takin who was taken as a captive. However, a letter was received from the caliph to dismiss ibn Kayghalagh and appoint Muhammad ibn Tughj as a ruler, as a result ibn Kayghalagh prepared an army to fight ibn Tughj but he was defeated after heavy fighting in Tanis. The army forces of ibn Tughj moved toward Egypt and the whole matter ended up by handing him over the affairs of governance without fighting. Ibn al-Taghri mentions, “The ships of Muhammad ibn Tughj came to “Diyar Misr” (Old Egypt) at the end of Sha’ban, and Ahmad ibn Kayghalagh handed the whole thing over to Muhammad ibn Tughj, without fighting …” Thus, Muhammad ibn Tughj took over Egypt for a second term.
Indeed, talking about “Beautiful Egypt” has not end!
General Bishop Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
