Al-Mu'tazz

Al-Mu'tazz (Arabic: المعتز) (d. 869) was the title of the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad from 866 to 869.

Background

Two issues were determining the fate of the Abbasid caliphs at this point. First, the problem of succession. This, by tradition dating back to Muawiyah's designation of his son, Yazid I was by nomination during the previous caliph's life-time, followed by leading citizens giving the oath of loyalty, renewed one the heir succeeded. Harun al-Rashid had actually stipulated that his younger son, al-Amin succeed him but that after his death, his older son, Al-Ma'mun should follow. This did not happen smoothly and Al-Ma'mun had to rebel when his brother took steps to appoint his son, Musa as heir instead. Al-Ma'mun chose to appoint his half-brother, Al-Mu'tasim as heir, by-passing his own son, al-Abbas. Later, al-Abbas rebelled and was executed. The next two caliphs were brothers, sons of Al-Mu'tasim. The second brother, Al-Mutawakkil succeeded without having been nominated due to al-Wāthiq's sudden death. Al-Mutawakkil fell victim to a plot hatched by his own estranged son, Al-Muntasir, who had grown jealous of his apparent preference for his brother, Al-Mu'tazz. The second problem was the growing power of the Turkish Guard, who carried out the assassination at Al-Muntasir's instigation. Al-Mutawakkil had tried to curb their power. He had removed some of the commanders, transferring their land-grants to others. Al-Muntasir became a puppet-caliph but was dead from unknown causes a year later. Now, the Guards took it upon themselves to appoint his successor. They chose Al-Musta'in, a grandson of Al-Mu'tasim and imprisoned Al-Mu'tazz, to prevent him from rebelling. Unrest followed, not least of all because Arabs resented the fact that the Turks now controlled the caliphate. During the long period of civil unrest that followed, Al-Musta'in fled from the capital. He was subsequently persuaded to abdicate in favor of Al-Mu'tazz, whom the Guards now favored and released.

Succession

Al-Mu'tazz was placed on the throne by the Turks in 866. Those Muslims in the capital, Samarra, pledged allegiance but in Baghdad many remained loyal to his brother. Others, including Arabs and Persians were unhappy with either; the first because they saw them as tools of the Turks; the second because of their Shi'a convictions.

Al-Mu'tazz also found himself surrounded by people who were ready for treachery whether against each other or against al-Mu'tazz. Following the example of no few predecessors, he decided to eliminate the threat from his brother by executing him. He had sent Another brother, Abu Ahmed, to subdue Bagdhad, which despite the fact that he had fought loyally at his side, was thrown into prison. The Turks attempted his release, but al-Mu'tazz, the more alarmed, resolved on his death. He was smothered in a downy robe (or, as others say, frozen in a bed of ice); and the body was then exposed before the Court, as if, being without mark of violence, he had died a natural death. <ref>Muir,

The revenues were squandered at the reckless Court, and little was left to pay the troops. The city guards at the Capital surrounded the palace at Baghdad, demanding for their pay. The Governor wrote to al-Mu'tazz for an advance; but he, prompted by the Turks, replied that "if the guards were needed for himself, he himself might pay them; if for the Caliph, he cared not for them." Thereupon the insurgency was renewed; the mob refused to let the Caliph be named in the Mosque, and so there were no prayers observed that Friday. Before the revolt was put down, the Governor had to burn one of the bridges, and set fire to an adjoining bazaar, in order to keep the rebels off. But the next year all joined together—Turks, Africans, and Persians—stormed the palace for their pay.

The army's pay having been withheld, Salih son of Wasif, one of the rebels, seized the personal secretaries of al-Mu'tazz and demanded the money embezzled or concealed by them. There being no answer but an empty treasury, they were put in irons. The Caliph implored the rebels to release his private secretary, but they were deaf to his plea. The accounts of the unfortunate ministers were seized, but nothing could be extracted from them.

Salih, and another rebel Musa, planned to depose al-Mu'tazz, and carried out the design with brutal inhumanity. Followed by a clamorous troop, they seated themselves at the palace gate, and called for the Caliph to come out. Not suspecting treachery, Caliph called them in. Entering, they beat him with clubs and kicked him; then dragging him by his torn robes outside; they left him seated there in the scorching heat of a mid summer sun. He was then shut up in a room alone without food or water; and so after three days the wretched Caliph died, at the early age of twenty-four.

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Ṭabarī, and George Saliba. 1985. The crisis of the ʻAbbāsid Caliphate. SUNY series in Near Eastern studies. Albany: State University of New York Press. ISBN 9780873958837.
• Ṭabarī, and Joel L. Kraemer. 1989. Incipient decline. SUNY series in Near Eastern studies. Albany: State University of New York Press. ISBN 9780887068744.
• Muir, William. 1924. The Caliphate: its rise, decline and fall: from orig. sources. Edinburgh: Grant. OCLC 162939099.
• Muir, William. 2000. The Caliphate: its rise, decline, and fall. Orientalism : early sources, v.3. London: Routledge. ISBN 9780415209014.

• This text is adapted from William Muir's public domain, The Caliphate: Its Rise, Decline, and Fall.

Abbasid Born: ?; Died: 869
Sunni Islam titles
Preceded by: Al-Musta'in	Caliph of Islam 866 – 869	Succeeded by: Al-Muhtadi

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