Difference between revisions of "Al-Muhtadi" - New World Encyclopedia
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| + | ==Background== | ||
| + | Since the assassination of [[Al-Mutawakkil]] in 681, the [[Turkey}Turkish]] Guard had chosen and controlled the caliph, although this was retained within the Abbasid line. After Al-Mutawakkil, his son, [[Al-Muntasir]] was made caliph but died in less than a year. Instead of choosing his brother, [[Al-Mu'tazz]] whom they had imprisoned, the guards chose [[Al-Musta'in]], grandson of [[al-Mu'tasim]] as caliph, expecting that he would be more malleable. His short reign was marked by unrest, revolt, plot and counter plot as the Turkish Guard and [[Arab]] Muslims clashed over whose right it was to choose and control the caliphate. Forced to flee from the capital in 865 he had abdicated by 866 in favor of his younger brother, [[al-Mu'tazz]], who, before the end of the year ordered his execution. Many Muslims remained furious that Turks were controlling the caliphate, and revolts continued. The target of these revolt was less Al-Mu'tazz himself than the Turks who manipulated him but the result was anarchy, the secession of [[Egypt]] under a Turkish commander and bankruptcy at the center. The young caliph was killed when the army, unpaid for months, tricked him into allowing their commanders into the palace. | ||
| − | == | + | ===Succession=== |
| − | + | After the death of [[al-Mu'tazz]], the [[Turkic peoples|Turks]] chose his cousin, al-Muhtadi, son of [[al-Wathiq]] by a Grecian slave-girl, as the new Caliph. Al-Muhtadi turned out be firm and virtuous compared to the last few Caliphs.<ref>Muir, page 539.</ref> If he had succeeded to the caliphate earlier, he might have restored its authority. However, by now the Turks held more power. Ṭabarī has an account of al-Mu'tazz abdicating and personally handing over power; he stated that "he was unequal to the responsibilities he had to shoulder."<ref>Tabari and Waines, page 3.</ref> | |
| + | |||
| + | Under him, the Court did see a transformation. Singing girls and [[music|musicians]] were expelled; [[justice]] was enacted daily in open court; [[wine]] and games were prohibited. He set [[Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz]], the [[Umayyad|Umayyad Caliph]], as his model and exemplar. | ||
| + | There was some early resistance to his appointment, mainly from the [[Baghdad]] region where al-Mu'tazz brother, Abu Ahmed, was the favored candidate. He had been imprisoned by al-Mu'tazz to prevent a challenge for power. | ||
| − | + | Over the last century, the issue of determining the succession had plagued the caliphate, causing rivalry, plots and counter-plots and the frequent incarceration of contenders. Subsequently, when they were released to become caliph, they had accumulated little or no practical experience. | |
| − | + | To his credit, Al-Muhtadi attempted to restore caliphal authority and dismissed some corrupt officials and tried to reduce the power of the Turkish Guard. Significantly, he held open court and dealt directly with peoples' grievances. He succeeded in deposing several Turkish emirs but faced a [[slavery|slave]] rebellion in [[Iraq]], which may have been led by a [[Shi'a]] claimant to the Imamate. Known as the Revolt of the Zanj, this seriously threatened the empire's stability and it was difficult for Al-Muhtadi to respond adequately due to threats closer to home. In June 870, his second year in office, he was killed by Turkish officers who stormed the palace, captured, tortured and killed him. | |
| − | + | He was thirty-eight. The early Arab writers praise his [[justice]] and piety; and had he not been killed so soon, he might have been placed among the best of Abbasid Caliphs.<ref>Muir, page 542.</ref> | |
==References== | ==References== | ||
| + | |||
| + | * Muir, William. 1924. [http://www.answering-islam.org/Books/Muir/Caliphate/index.htm''The Caliphate: its rise, decline and fall: from orig. sources.''] Edinburgh, UK: Grant. Retrieved February 22, 2009. | ||
| + | * Ṭabarī, and David Waines. 1992. ''The revolt of the Zanj.'' SUNY series in Near Eastern studies. Albany: State University of New York Press. ISBN 9780791407639 | ||
| + | |||
*''This text is adapted from [[William Muir]]'s [[public domain]], The Caliphate: Its Rise, Decline, and Fall.'' | *''This text is adapted from [[William Muir]]'s [[public domain]], The Caliphate: Its Rise, Decline, and Fall.'' | ||
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Al-Muhtadi (Arabic: المهتدي) (d. June, 870) was the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad from 869 to 870.
Background
Since the assassination of Al-Mutawakkil in 681, the [[Turkey}Turkish]] Guard had chosen and controlled the caliph, although this was retained within the Abbasid line. After Al-Mutawakkil, his son, Al-Muntasir was made caliph but died in less than a year. Instead of choosing his brother, Al-Mu'tazz whom they had imprisoned, the guards chose Al-Musta'in, grandson of al-Mu'tasim as caliph, expecting that he would be more malleable. His short reign was marked by unrest, revolt, plot and counter plot as the Turkish Guard and Arab Muslims clashed over whose right it was to choose and control the caliphate. Forced to flee from the capital in 865 he had abdicated by 866 in favor of his younger brother, al-Mu'tazz, who, before the end of the year ordered his execution. Many Muslims remained furious that Turks were controlling the caliphate, and revolts continued. The target of these revolt was less Al-Mu'tazz himself than the Turks who manipulated him but the result was anarchy, the secession of Egypt under a Turkish commander and bankruptcy at the center. The young caliph was killed when the army, unpaid for months, tricked him into allowing their commanders into the palace.
Succession
After the death of al-Mu'tazz, the Turks chose his cousin, al-Muhtadi, son of al-Wathiq by a Grecian slave-girl, as the new Caliph. Al-Muhtadi turned out be firm and virtuous compared to the last few Caliphs.[1] If he had succeeded to the caliphate earlier, he might have restored its authority. However, by now the Turks held more power. Ṭabarī has an account of al-Mu'tazz abdicating and personally handing over power; he stated that "he was unequal to the responsibilities he had to shoulder."[2]
Under him, the Court did see a transformation. Singing girls and musicians were expelled; justice was enacted daily in open court; wine and games were prohibited. He set Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, the Umayyad Caliph, as his model and exemplar.
There was some early resistance to his appointment, mainly from the Baghdad region where al-Mu'tazz brother, Abu Ahmed, was the favored candidate. He had been imprisoned by al-Mu'tazz to prevent a challenge for power.
Over the last century, the issue of determining the succession had plagued the caliphate, causing rivalry, plots and counter-plots and the frequent incarceration of contenders. Subsequently, when they were released to become caliph, they had accumulated little or no practical experience.
To his credit, Al-Muhtadi attempted to restore caliphal authority and dismissed some corrupt officials and tried to reduce the power of the Turkish Guard. Significantly, he held open court and dealt directly with peoples' grievances. He succeeded in deposing several Turkish emirs but faced a slave rebellion in Iraq, which may have been led by a Shi'a claimant to the Imamate. Known as the Revolt of the Zanj, this seriously threatened the empire's stability and it was difficult for Al-Muhtadi to respond adequately due to threats closer to home. In June 870, his second year in office, he was killed by Turkish officers who stormed the palace, captured, tortured and killed him.
He was thirty-eight. The early Arab writers praise his justice and piety; and had he not been killed so soon, he might have been placed among the best of Abbasid Caliphs.[3]
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Muir, William. 1924. The Caliphate: its rise, decline and fall: from orig. sources. Edinburgh, UK: Grant. Retrieved February 22, 2009.
- Ṭabarī, and David Waines. 1992. The revolt of the Zanj. SUNY series in Near Eastern studies. Albany: State University of New York Press. ISBN 9780791407639
- This text is adapted from William Muir's public domain, The Caliphate: Its Rise, Decline, and Fall.
| Abbasid Born: ?; Died: 870 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sunni Islam titles | ||
| Preceded by: Al-Mu'tazz |
Caliph of Islam 869 – 870 |
Succeeded by: Al-Mu'tamid |
ar:أبو إسحاق محمد المهتدي بالله de:Al-Muhtadi es:Al-Muhtadi fa:ابواسحاق محمد مهتدی fr:Al-Muhtadi id:Al-Muhtadi
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