In the previous article, we tackled the problems that ignited wars between al-Amin and al-Ma’mun. These problems started when al-Amin sent his army to Rey to fight al-Ma’mun, arrest him and bring him to Baghdad. Yet, the attempt was a failure. After that, al-Ma’mun’s troops started marching toward Baghdad from the east and west. Meanwhile, al-Amin’s started losing control: for rebellions against him had increased. Moreover, al-Hussein bin Ali bin Eissa tried to dethrone him. At that time, al-Ma’mun’s troops proceeded, conquering Persia, Wasit, Kufa, Basra, and al-Mada’in, which opened the way to Baghdad. This took place in 196 Hijri (812 A.D.)
Conquest of Baghdad
Al-Ma’mun’s troops, led by Tahir bin al-Hussein, besieged Baghdad from the west, and those led by Hartama besieged it from the east. The siege endured for more than a year. It was a time of tribulation: whereby many of the city’s inhabitants died and chaos prevailed.
The people of Baghdad defended her bravely until al-Ma’mun’s troops, led by Tahir bin al-Hussein, were able to conquer the city. Yet, they ruined many places therein, killed many people, and demolished luxurious palaces. Some historians maintain that some of al-Amin’s commanders started joining al-Ma’mun’s army. Meanwhile, the people of Baghdad continued to support him until 197 Hijri.
But, Tahir and Hartama decided to attack the city together, which confounded al-Amin who realized that al-Ma’mun’s troops were in control. So, he left al-Khuld palace, and went to al-Qarar palace where he stayed for about three days. Finding that he had no chance except surrendering or fleeing, al-Amin considered fleeing to the Levant. However, in the end, he decided to surrender to Hartama. Meanwhile, Tahir took from him the royal ring, the caliph’s cloak and sword. Historians have different opinions regarding the end of al-Amin’s tenure. Some maintain that he was escorted by Hartama to Tigris where he was taken to the latter’s camp in a boat. Yet, no sooner than the boat had started sailing, than al-Hussein bin Tahir’s Persian troops started throwing stones and arrows at the boat. So, it was overturned and Hartama was about to drown, had it not been for someone who saved him.
Others assert that al-Amin surrendered to Hartama, after which they embarked on a boat to cross Tigris. The boat was overturned by the crowd. On the other hand, al-Amin swam to the other bank where he was arrested and placed in a small house, after which he was killed by some Persians who were enticed by Tahir to do so at night. This took place in 198 Hijri (812-813 A.D.) As such, Abdullah al-Ma’mun became caliph.
The Proconsuls of Egypt
Speaking of Egypt’s proconsuls, we stopped at Ismail bin Salih who was appointed by Harun al-Rashid in 182-183 Hijri (798-799 A.D.). He was deposed and succeeded by Ismail bin Eissa.
Ismail bin Eissa (183 Hijri) (799 A.D.)
Ismail bin Eissa bin Mussa bin Mohammed was appointed proconsul of Egypt by Harun al-Rashid. His reign lasted for almost three months, after which he headed to al-Rashid who was quite generous to him and made him stay with him until 189 Hijri (804 A.D.). Then, Ismail was commanded to lead armies. Al-Layth bin Fadl took over after Ismail.
Al-Layth bin Fadl (183-187 Hijri) (799-803 A.D.)
Al-Layth bin al-Fadl of Baverd was appointed proconsul and tax-collector of Egypt. He remained as such until he headed to Harun al-Rashid, leaving these affairs to his brother Ali who he had appointed police chief. Al-Layth remained with the caliph till the end of the year, after which he returned to Egypt. He stayed in office until he left it once more heading to the caliph in 185 Hijri (801 A.D.), assigning her affairs to Hisham bin Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman. Al-Layth returned to Egypt in 186 Hijri (802 A.D.) He used to collect taxes from Egypt, give sentries their salaries, and then head to the caliph. This went on until the people of al-Houf rebelled against him in 186 Hijri. So, he fought them, and assigned Abdul Rahman bin Mussa the affairs of Egypt who also fought the people of al-Houf who defeated his troops at first, then he killed many of them.
When al-Layth returned to Egypt, he found that the people of al-Houf had refrained from paying taxes. So, he asked the caliph to send him troops in order to be able to collect taxes from them. But the caliph denied the request, sending a “Mahfuz” who was able to collect taxes without causing trouble, which is why the caliph assigned him tax collection.
Al-Layth was deposed in 187 Hijri (803 A.D.), having ruled Egypt for four years and seven months. At that time, al-Rashid had named his son al-Qassim heir apparent after al-Amin and al-Ma’mun respectively. He assigned him al-Jazeera and the capitalisms. Then came the Barmakids’ downfall. Ahmed bin Ismail took over Egypt’s affairs after al-Layth.
Ahmed bin Ismail (187-189 Hijri) (803-805 A.D.)
His name is Ahmed bin Ismail bin Ali bin Abdullah bin al-Abbas. During his tenure, the prince of Africa, Ibrahim bin al-Aghlab sought his help to overcome the rebellion of the people of Tripoli who used to oust their proconsuls. He sent him troops until matters settled down. Ahmed bin Ismail ruled Egypt for almost two years, after which he was deposed. This took place in 189 Hijri (805 A.D.) Abdullah bin Mohammed the Abbasid was appointed in his stead.
Abdullah bin Mohammed (189-190 Hijri) (805-806 A.D.)
Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim (aka. Abu Mohammed the Hashemite) was appointed proconsul of Egypt after the deposition of Ahmed bin Ismail. He did not rule Egypt for a long time, for he was deposed after eight and a half months. He was succeeded by al-Hussein bin Jamil.
Al-Hussein bin Jamil (190-192 Hijri) (806-808 A.D.)
Al-Hussein bin Jamil was appointed by al-Rashid proconsul of Egypt, after which he was also assigned tax-collection in 191 Hijri (807 A.D.). He was harsh in tax-collection. So, the people of al-Houf rebelled against him, refusing to pay taxes. So much so that he assigned their affair to an “Abu al-Nida’” He was accompanied by one thousand men who blocked roads and roamed the Levant, raiding some of its villages. Many people joined them. They robbed many places. When the caliph got to know, he sent an army to fight them. Abu al-Nida’ was defeated. He fled to Belbeis. When the people of al-Houf saw what had taken place, they succumbed and paid the taxes. Thus, al-Rashid’s army returned to Baghdad. Al-Hussein bin Jamil remained in office until he was deposed in 192 Hijri (808 A.D.), having spent a year and seven months in Egypt. He was succeeded by Malik bin Dalham.
Malik bin Dalham (192-193 Hijri) (808 A.D.)
Malik bin Dalham bin Eissa was appointed by al-Rashid proconsul of Egypt. He spent a year and five months in office, after which he was deposed to be succeeded by al-Hassan bin al-Bahbah.
Al-Hassan bin al-Bahbah (193 Hijri) (809 A.D.)
Al-Hassan bin al-Bahbah was assigned Egypt’s affairs during which time al-Rashid died. This took place in Jumadi al-Akhira, 193 Hijri (809 A.D.) As al-Amin became caliph, Egypt’s troops rebelled against al-Hassan. War broke out in which many people from both sides were killed. This endured until al-Hassan settled down. He collected the taxes and sent then to the caliph. He remained in office for a year and a month, after which al-Amin appointed Hatim bin Hartama in his stead. Egypt was affected by the conflict that took place between al-Amin and al-Ma’mun, a sad story… Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
