Jasoor ibn Basil
Jasoor ibn Basil (died 860s), also known as Al-Rukh (English: The Roc) was an Abbasid general who served as a commander of the Turkic Army in Baghdad during the 9th century. He was also a member of the Order of the Ancients alongside Nadir ibn Havid and served under the warlord Wasif al-Turki, working against the Zanj Rebellion led by Ali ibn Muhammad.
Biography[edit | edit source]
Early career[edit | edit source]
Although Jasoor had a long and successful military career, allowing him to rise in the ranks of the Turkic Army, in reality he was a coward who hid behind his reputation and took credit for his fellow soldiers' victories. As a result, he went to great lengths to keep his past secret.[1]
Hunting the Zanj rebels[edit | edit source]
- Jasoor: "Of all of us, he scares me the most. You know what he's like. If he learns of my past and finds fault, where can I run? I do not have the luxuries of your ships, Nadir."
- Nadir: "You may have taken liberties with truth in the past, but you have proven your loyalty many times. You executed those rebels, recently. That was a task more cold-blooded than his ordering of it. Perhaps he should fear you."
- —Jasoor and Nadir discussing Wasif, 860s.[src]-[m]
By the 860s, Jasoor had joined the Order of the Ancients, serving under Wasif al-Turki, the Order leader in the Sharqiyah sub-district of Baghdad, alongside a fellow military commander, Nadir ibn Havid. The two were tasked to bring an end to the brewing Zanj Rebellion and worked alongside an Abbasid captain, Dogan bin Arslan, to draw out the rebel leader Ali ibn Muhammad.[2]
Jasoor later wrote to Dogan, inviting him to attend a meeting at the Officers' Club to discuss his progress hunting rebels in Jarjaraya, as well as a stranger asking questions around the town.[3] While awaiting Dogan's arrival alongside Nadir, Jasoor brought up the widowed wife of an executed rebel, to which his fellow Ancient suggested that he could take her as a slave. However, Jasoor was opposed to the idea, as he feared facing Wasif's wrath if he stepped out of line. He then revealed that he had been facing constant questions of his integrity, but Nadir assured that his loyalty and deeds of killing rebels should quell any rumors.[2]
After Jasoor remarked that Dogan was late to the meeting, Nadir told him that he worried too much and the captain would arrive shortly. However, moments later, several soldiers walked into the room and informed Jasoor and Nadir that Dogan had been found dead. As they suspected an intruder had infiltrated the Officers' Club, the two Ancients immediately left for their own safety. Unbeknownst to them, the intruder was Basim Ibn Ishaq, the same Hidden One who had killed Dogan and who had eavesdropped on their meeting.[2]
Death[edit | edit source]
Fearing for his life, Jasoor retreated to his villa at the Qasr Salih,[1] where he increased the guard presence in anticipation of Dogan's assassin coming after him next. However, it was all for naught, as Basim infiltrated the complex and confronted Jasoor and his guards in the general's personal quarters. After the Hidden One killed his men, a desperate Jasoor tried to call out to more guards to come to his aid, but was ultimately left to face Basim alone.[4]
In the end, the Hidden One prevailed and killed Jasoor. Among the general's personal effects, he found a letter from Wasif, signed under the alias "Al-Mardikhwar", in which he confronted Jasoor about his fabricated military career and told him to meet him at the Great Garrison to discuss the matter.[4]
Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]
Jasoor's Order cryptonym, Al-Rukh (الرخ), is a reference to the Roc, a giant bird of prey from Middle Eastern mythology which features in several tales from One Thousand and One Nights.[5]
Gallery[edit | edit source]
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Close-up of Jasoor -
Jasoor and Nadir being informed about Dogan's murder -
Basim finding Jasoor surrounded by his guards
Appearances[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
