Abbasid Caliphate: Difference between revisions
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==History== | ==History== | ||
=== | ===Origins and early years=== | ||
The Abbasids were descended from {{Wiki|Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib}}, who was an uncle of Muhammad. This lineage gained them a number of influence and, with their powerful military,<ref name="Loading Screen">''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]'' – Loading Screen: The Abbasids</ref> the Abbasids overthrow the [[Umayyad Caliphate]] during the [[Abbasid Revolution]] from 747 to 750, installing [[al-Saffah]] as the new empire's first [[caliph]].<ref name="Wikipedia"//> | The Abbasids were descended from {{Wiki|Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib}}, who was an uncle of Muhammad. This lineage gained them a number of influence and, with their powerful military,<ref name="Loading Screen">''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]'' – Loading Screen: The Abbasids</ref> the Abbasids overthrow the [[Umayyad Caliphate]] during the [[Abbasid Revolution]] from 747 to 750, installing [[al-Saffah]] as the new empire's first [[caliph]].<ref name="Wikipedia"//> | ||
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===Islamic Golden Age=== | ===Islamic Golden Age=== | ||
During the [[Islamic Golden Age]], a number of notable Abbasid polymaths made important contributions to the fields of astronomy, mathematics and engineering, such as [[Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi|al-Khwarizmi]]; [[Al-Mahani]]; [[Hunayn ibn Ishaq]]; and the Banū Mūsā brothers [[Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Musa|Abu Jafar]], [[Ahmad ibn Musa|Ahmad]], and [[Al-Hasan ibn Musa|Al-Hasan]]. It was also a thriving period for literature, with authors such as [[Arib Al-Ma'muniyya]] and [[Al-Jahiz]] making a name for themselves in | During the [[Islamic Golden Age]], a number of notable Abbasid polymaths made important contributions to the fields of astronomy, mathematics and engineering, such as [[Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi|al-Khwarizmi]]; [[Al-Mahani]]; [[Hunayn ibn Ishaq]]; and the Banū Mūsā brothers [[Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Musa|Abu Jafar]], [[Ahmad ibn Musa|Ahmad]], and [[Al-Hasan ibn Musa|Al-Hasan]]. It was also a thriving period for literature, with authors such as [[Arib Al-Ma'muniyya]] and [[Al-Jahiz]] making a name for themselves in [[Baghdad]].<ref name="EoH">''[[Echoes of History]]'' – Episode 6: Figures of Baghdad</ref> The [[House of Wisdom]] served as a major intellectual center, drawing scholars from all across the Islamic world.<ref name="HoW DB">''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]'' – [[Database: House of Wisdom]]</ref> | ||
[[File:ACMir Baghdad Overview.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Baghdad during the Golden Age]] | [[File:ACMir Baghdad Overview.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Baghdad during the Golden Age]] | ||
By the time of [[al-Mutawakkil]]'s reign as caliph in the mid-9th century, the [[Order of the Ancients]], enemies of the Hidden Ones, held power and sway over the caliphate, with some of its member holding key positions within the Abbasid court, such as the warlord [[Wasif al-Turki]] commanding the [[Turkic Army]],<ref name="Den of the Beast>''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]'' – [[Den of the Beast]]</ref> and [[Qabiha]], al-Mutawakkil's favorite [[concubine]], leading the Order as its [[Ra's Al-Af'a]].<ref name="The Serpent's Nest">''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]'' – [[The Serpent's Nest]]</ref> | By the time of [[al-Mutawakkil]]'s reign as caliph in the mid-9th century, the [[Order of the Ancients]], enemies of the Hidden Ones, held power and sway over the caliphate, with some of its member holding key positions within the Abbasid court, such as the warlord [[Wasif al-Turki]] commanding the [[Turkic Army]],<ref name="Den of the Beast>''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]'' – [[Den of the Beast]]</ref> and [[Qabiha]], al-Mutawakkil's favorite [[concubine]], leading the Order as its [[Ra's Al-Af'a]].<ref name="The Serpent's Nest">''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]'' – [[The Serpent's Nest]]</ref> | ||
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In 861, al-Mutawakkil was killed by a young thief, [[Basim Ibn Ishaq]], in [[Anbar]], while the latter was attempting to steal an [[Memory Seals|artifact]] that the caliph safeguarded on the Order's behalf.<ref name="Master Thief>''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]'' – [[The Master Thief of Anbar]]</ref> This robbed the Order of their puppet, forcing them to reset their plans to control Baghdad,<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]'' – [[Notes from Basim's travels]]: "The Path Ahead"</ref> and started a period of extreme instability for the caliphate known as the [[Anarchy at Samarra]].<ref name="Anarchy at Samarra">{{WP|Anarchy at Samarra}}</ref> | In 861, al-Mutawakkil was killed by a young thief, [[Basim Ibn Ishaq]], in [[Anbar]], while the latter was attempting to steal an [[Memory Seals|artifact]] that the caliph safeguarded on the Order's behalf.<ref name="Master Thief>''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]'' – [[The Master Thief of Anbar]]</ref> This robbed the Order of their puppet, forcing them to reset their plans to control Baghdad,<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]'' – [[Notes from Basim's travels]]: "The Path Ahead"</ref> and started a period of extreme instability for the caliphate known as the [[Anarchy at Samarra]].<ref name="Anarchy at Samarra">{{WP|Anarchy at Samarra}}</ref> | ||
After the death of al-Mutawakkil's son and successor [[al-Muntasir]] in early 862, [[al-Musta'in]] took control of the caliphate with the support of the Turkic Army. His cousin, al-Mutawakkil's other son [[Al-Mu'tazz|Abu 'Abdallah]], opposed al-Musta'in's ascension to the throne, leading to the caliph placing him under house arrest. However, Abu ' Abdallah was soon able to gather [[civilian]] support, instigating a {{Wiki|Abbasid civil war (865–866)|civil war}} similar to the [[Fourth Fitna]] from a generation earlier, fought between [[al-Amin]] and [[al-Ma'mun]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]'' – [[Notes from Basim's travels]]: "Trouble at the Court"</ref> | After the death of al-Mutawakkil's son and successor [[al-Muntasir]] in early 862, [[al-Musta'in]] took control of the caliphate with the support of the Turkic Army. His cousin, al-Mutawakkil's other son [[Al-Mu'tazz|Abu 'Abdallah]], opposed al-Musta'in's ascension to the throne, leading to the caliph placing him under house arrest. However, Abu 'Abdallah was soon able to gather [[civilian]] support, instigating a {{Wiki|Abbasid civil war (865–866)|civil war}} similar to the [[Fourth Fitna]] from a generation earlier, fought between [[al-Amin]] and [[al-Ma'mun]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]'' – [[Notes from Basim's travels]]: "Trouble at the Court"</ref> | ||
[[File:ACMir Den of the Beast 26.png|thumb|250px|Ali ibn Muhammad leading the Zanj rebels]] | [[File:ACMir Den of the Beast 26.png|thumb|250px|Ali ibn Muhammad leading the Zanj rebels]] | ||
At the same, the [[Zanj Rebellion]] started under the leadership of [[Ali ibn Muhammad]], a former Abbasid dignitary who sought to liberate the caliphate's [[Slavery|enslaved]] population.<ref name="Rebels DB">''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]'' – [[Database: Rebels]]</ref> The Zanj rebels were secretly aided by the [[Hidden Ones of Alamut]], who wished to undermine the Order of the Ancients' control over Baghdad.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]'' – [[A New Beginning]]</ref> Over the course of several months, the Order's leaders in the capital were assassinated by the Hidden One Basim Ibn Ishaq,<ref name="ACMir">''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]''</ref> prompting Qabiha to strike a deal with Baghdad's governor [[Muhammad ibn Tahir]].<ref name="Judge and Executioner">''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]'' – [[Judge and Executioner]]</ref> | At the same, the [[Zanj Rebellion]] started under the leadership of [[Ali ibn Muhammad]], a former Abbasid dignitary who sought to liberate the caliphate's [[Slavery|enslaved]] population.<ref name="Rebels DB">''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]'' – [[Database: Rebels]]</ref> The Zanj rebels were secretly aided by the [[Hidden Ones of Alamut]], who wished to undermine the Order of the Ancients' control over Baghdad.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]'' – [[A New Beginning]]</ref> Over the course of several months, the Order's leaders in the capital were assassinated by the Hidden One Basim Ibn Ishaq,<ref name="ACMir">''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]''</ref> prompting Qabiha to strike a deal with Baghdad's governor [[Muhammad ibn Tahir]].<ref name="Judge and Executioner">''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]'' – [[Judge and Executioner]]</ref> | ||
Muhammad's [[Tahirids|Tahirid]] relatives governed the region of {{Wiki| | Muhammad's [[Tahirids|Tahirid]] relatives governed the region of {{Wiki|Khorasan}}, which included the Hidden Ones' stronghold of [[Alamut]], and so Qabiha convinced Muhammad to reach out to his cousin [[Ubaydallah ibn Abdallah ibn Tahir|Abdallah ibn Tahir]] and have him remove his protection of Alamut, leaving the Hidden Ones' stronghold vulnerable. In exchange, Qabiha would force her son Abu 'Abdallah to sign away his birthright to the caliphate's throne and swear allegiance to al-Musta'in as a way to end the civil war and restore peace to Baghdad.<ref name="Judge and Executioner"//> However, Qabiha was assassinated shortly after by the Hidden Ones, and so the civil war continued.<ref name="The Serpent's Nest"//> | ||
In 866, Abu 'Abdallah ascended the throne after al-Musta'in abdicated in his favor, ruling under the name al-Mu'tazz. However, his reign was ultimately short-lived, as in 869 he was overthrown by the Turkic Army and died during his imprisonment.<ref>{{WP|al-Mu'tazz}}</ref> By 870, with the ascension of caliph {{Wiki|al-Mu'tamid}}, the Anarchy at Samarra came to an end.<ref name="Anarchy at Samarra"//> A decade later, the Zanj Rebellion was also quenched, restoring order to the caliphate.<ref>{{WP|Zanj Rebellion}}</ref> | In 866, Abu 'Abdallah ascended the throne after al-Musta'in abdicated in his favor, ruling under the name al-Mu'tazz. However, his reign was ultimately short-lived, as in 869 he was overthrown by the Turkic Army and died during his imprisonment.<ref>{{WP|al-Mu'tazz}}</ref> By 870, with the ascension of caliph {{Wiki|al-Mu'tamid}}, the Anarchy at Samarra came to an end.<ref name="Anarchy at Samarra"//> A decade later, the Zanj Rebellion was also quenched, restoring order to the caliphate.<ref>{{WP|Zanj Rebellion}}</ref> | ||
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*''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]'' | *''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]'' | ||
**''[[The Forty Thieves]]'' | **''[[The Forty Thieves]]'' | ||
**''[[Valley of Memory]]'' | |||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Daughter of No One]]'' | *''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Daughter of No One]]'' | ||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage – A Soar of Eagles]]'' | |||
*''[[Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game]]'' {{Mo}} | *''[[Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game]]'' {{Mo}} | ||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]'' {{Mdat}} | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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[[Category:Arabia]] | [[Category:Arabia]] | ||
[[Category:Iran]] | [[Category:Iran]] | ||
[[Category:Iraq]] | |||
[[Category:Caliphates]] | [[Category:Caliphates]] | ||
Latest revision as of 15:47, 8 October 2025
The Abbasid Caliphate, also known as the Arabian Empire,[1] was the third caliphate, an Islamic state regarded as succeeding the prophet Muhammad.[2] It was established in 750 in the wake of a revolution against the Umayyad Caliphate. Because their banners were black, they were known to the Tang as the "Black Arabs" (黑衣大食).[3] The long period of Abbasid rule is often remembered as the Islamic Golden Age for being a zenith of scientific and artistic flowering across the Islamic world.[4]
History[edit | edit source]
Origins and early years[edit | edit source]
The Abbasids were descended from Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, who was an uncle of Muhammad. This lineage gained them a number of influence and, with their powerful military,[5] the Abbasids overthrow the Umayyad Caliphate during the Abbasid Revolution from 747 to 750, installing al-Saffah as the new empire's first caliph.[2]
Almost immediately upon being installed on the throne, al-Saffah turned against his supporters in brutal purges,[6] and he was subsequently branded with the pejorative epithet of "Bloodshedder" from his enemies such as the Hidden Ones.[7]
In 751, they clashed with the Tang at the Battle of Talas, where the sudden betrayal of the Karluk mercenaries fighting under Tang forces resulted in a decisive victory for the Abbasids.[3] The band of Hidden Ones led by Éléna arrived too late to affect the outcome, but they did manage to save the life of a Tang crossbowman named Li E, upon which they recruited him into their order.[7] By 754, al-Saffah had eradicated the Hidden Ones in the region after assaulting their headquarters, and Li E escaped as the sole survivor.[8]
Islamic Golden Age[edit | edit source]
During the Islamic Golden Age, a number of notable Abbasid polymaths made important contributions to the fields of astronomy, mathematics and engineering, such as al-Khwarizmi; Al-Mahani; Hunayn ibn Ishaq; and the Banū Mūsā brothers Abu Jafar, Ahmad, and Al-Hasan. It was also a thriving period for literature, with authors such as Arib Al-Ma'muniyya and Al-Jahiz making a name for themselves in Baghdad.[9] The House of Wisdom served as a major intellectual center, drawing scholars from all across the Islamic world.[10]
By the time of al-Mutawakkil's reign as caliph in the mid-9th century, the Order of the Ancients, enemies of the Hidden Ones, held power and sway over the caliphate, with some of its member holding key positions within the Abbasid court, such as the warlord Wasif al-Turki commanding the Turkic Army,[11] and Qabiha, al-Mutawakkil's favorite concubine, leading the Order as its Ra's Al-Af'a.[12]
Anarchy at Samarra[edit | edit source]
In 861, al-Mutawakkil was killed by a young thief, Basim Ibn Ishaq, in Anbar, while the latter was attempting to steal an artifact that the caliph safeguarded on the Order's behalf.[13] This robbed the Order of their puppet, forcing them to reset their plans to control Baghdad,[14] and started a period of extreme instability for the caliphate known as the Anarchy at Samarra.[15]
After the death of al-Mutawakkil's son and successor al-Muntasir in early 862, al-Musta'in took control of the caliphate with the support of the Turkic Army. His cousin, al-Mutawakkil's other son Abu 'Abdallah, opposed al-Musta'in's ascension to the throne, leading to the caliph placing him under house arrest. However, Abu 'Abdallah was soon able to gather civilian support, instigating a civil war similar to the Fourth Fitna from a generation earlier, fought between al-Amin and al-Ma'mun.[16]
At the same, the Zanj Rebellion started under the leadership of Ali ibn Muhammad, a former Abbasid dignitary who sought to liberate the caliphate's enslaved population.[17] The Zanj rebels were secretly aided by the Hidden Ones of Alamut, who wished to undermine the Order of the Ancients' control over Baghdad.[18] Over the course of several months, the Order's leaders in the capital were assassinated by the Hidden One Basim Ibn Ishaq,[19] prompting Qabiha to strike a deal with Baghdad's governor Muhammad ibn Tahir.[20]
Muhammad's Tahirid relatives governed the region of Khorasan, which included the Hidden Ones' stronghold of Alamut, and so Qabiha convinced Muhammad to reach out to his cousin Abdallah ibn Tahir and have him remove his protection of Alamut, leaving the Hidden Ones' stronghold vulnerable. In exchange, Qabiha would force her son Abu 'Abdallah to sign away his birthright to the caliphate's throne and swear allegiance to al-Musta'in as a way to end the civil war and restore peace to Baghdad.[20] However, Qabiha was assassinated shortly after by the Hidden Ones, and so the civil war continued.[12]
In 866, Abu 'Abdallah ascended the throne after al-Musta'in abdicated in his favor, ruling under the name al-Mu'tazz. However, his reign was ultimately short-lived, as in 869 he was overthrown by the Turkic Army and died during his imprisonment.[21] By 870, with the ascension of caliph al-Mu'tamid, the Anarchy at Samarra came to an end.[15] A decade later, the Zanj Rebellion was also quenched, restoring order to the caliphate.[22]
Collapse[edit | edit source]
Eventually, Abbasid power declined, and their control was reduced to only the territory around their capital of Baghdad by the time of the Crusades, although their caliphs continued to wield spiritual prestige. In 1258,[2] Hülegü Khan of the Mongol Empire sacked Baghdad,[23] spelling an apocalyptic end to not just Abbasid cultural power but to the intellectual advances of Islamic society, as the city's philosophers and scientists were exterminated and its libraries and academies razed to the ground.[2]
The Abbasid Caliphate survived for a time in Egypt under the protection of the Mamluk Sultanate, although with little-to-none of their former spiritual authority and largely relegated to crowning the new Sultan, until finally the Mamluk Sultanate fell to the Ottoman Empire in 1517 and the Ottoman Sultans claimed the caliphate for themselves.[2]
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Assassin's Creed: Dynasty (first appearance)
- Assassin's Creed: Valhalla (mentioned only)
- Wrath of the Druids (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga (mentioned only, as "Serkland")
- The World of Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Journey to the North – Logs and Files of a Hidden One (mentioned only)
- Echoes of History (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Mirage
- Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Daughter of No One
- Assassin's Creed: Mirage – A Soar of Eagles
- Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Shadows (mentioned in Database entry only)
References[edit | edit source]
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