Anarchy at Samarra
The Anarchy at Samarra was a period of instability for the Abbasid Caliphate that lasted from 861 to 870, when different factions of the military vied for power and control while the caliphs were overpowered by these factions.[1][2]
The Anarchy[edit | edit source]
The troubles for Baghdad began as a result of the murder of the caliph al-Mutawakkil in 861 by a young thief, Basim Ibn Ishaq.[3] This action was later twisted into rumors, which relayed that the Turkic soldiers were behind the attack.[1][2] Meanwhile, the Turkic Army later fell under the control of the Order of the Ancients and the soldiers were led by their general and Order member Wasif al-Turki.[4] During this turmoil, the Order, led by Qabiha in the position of Ra's Al-Af'a, reset their plans to control Baghdad,[5] despite her own personal and political fall.[6] However, the Order's plans were thwarted by the interference of the Alamut Hidden Ones and its new member Basim, who assassinated the four Order leaders corrupting Baghdad.[5][4][7][8]
After al-Mutawakkil's death, a series of caliphs reigned, though each rarely lasted more than a few years.[2] As the first caliph, al-Musta'in took reign in 862 after the death of al-Mutawakkil's successor al-Muntasir.[9] To secure his rule, he placed his cousin and al-Mutawakkil's other son Abu 'Abdallah under house arrest due to his opposition of al-Musta'in's rule. Consequently, this initiated another civil war within the empire.[10] By early 866, al-Mustain was deposed and exiled as caliph. He was later executed on the orders of his successor Abu 'Abdallah near the end of the year. By 870, after caliph al-Muhtadi's death, the anarchy ceased.[2]
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Assassin's Creed: Mirage (first appearance)
- Echoes of History (indirect mention only)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Database: Abbasid Army
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3
Anarchy at Samarra on Wikipedia
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – The Master Thief of Anbar
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Den of the Beast
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Assassin's Creed: Mirage – The Great Symposium
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – The Servant and the Impostor
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Gilded Butterflies
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – First Order
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Notes from Basim's travels: "Trouble at the Court"
- ↑ Echoes of History: Figures of Baghdad – Episode 6: Who was al-Mu'tazz?