The Fragmentation of the Caliphate, the Steppe Turks, and the Seljuqs
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Transcript of The Fragmentation of the Caliphate, the Steppe Turks, and the Seljuqs
The Fragmentation of the Caliphate, the Steppe Turks, and the Seljuqs
HIST 100710/23/13
How Do We Get from Here…
To Here?
The Fragmentation of the Caliphate
The Caliphal Fiction
• Independent provincial dynasties– Aghlabids – North Africa (800-909)– Tahirids – Khurasan (821-873)
• Military dynasties– 861 – al-Mutawakkil and the Turks– Iqta`– Tulunids – Egypt and Syria (868-905)– Saffarids – Iran (861-1003)
Ibn Tulun Mosque, Fustat, Egypt
The Iranian Intermezzo
• Tahirids (821-873)– “Rogue” `Abbasid governors
• Saffarids (861-1003)– `Ayyar and Mutattawwi`a
• Samanids (819-999)– Central Asian Persian nobility
• Buwayhids (Buyids) (934-1055)– Generals in charge
• Ghaznavids (962-1186)– Slave soldiers in charge
Minaret at the Ghaznavid capital of Ghazni, Afghanistan
Shi’ism Resurgent• Hamdanids – Northern Iraq and Syria (890-1004)
– Shi’ite Arabs appointed by the `Abbasids
• Fatimids – North Africa, Egypt, and Syria (909-1171)
– Ismaili Shi’ite Counter Caliphate
• Buwayhids – Iraq and Iran (934-1055)
– Zaydi turned Imami Shi’ites from Daylam
al-Azhar Mosque, CairoCairo was founded by the Fatimidsin 969
The Buwayhids
• Daylam – southwestern shore of the Caspian Sea• Never conquered by the caliphate• Refuge for Zaydi Shi’ites• Late 9th century – Daylamite mercenaries enter `Abbasid service• `Ali, al-Hasan, and Ahmad ibn Buya are mercenaries hired by Iranian warlords
Forested mountains of Daylam
The Buwayhids• 933 – Local land owners ask `Ali b. Buya to remove abusive military governor in Fars (southwest Iran)• 934 - `Ali take control of Fars and begins building his own army• 935 – al-Hasan b. Buya begins conquest of Rayy and Central Iran• 944 – Ahmad b. Buya marches on Baghdad Buwayhid bazaar in Shiraz,
capital of Fars
Buwayhids
• Amir al-umara’ – commander of the commanders or general of the generals
• 936 – amir al-umara’ also gains control over administration
• 946 – Ahmad b. Buya named amir al-umara’ by the caliph al-Mustakfi (r. 944-946)
• In a decade, Buwayhid brothers conquer Iraq and Western Iran and take control of `Abbasid government
Buwayhid Commonwealth
• Tripartite commonwealth– Shiraz, Rayy, and Baghdad
• Eldest of three rulers declared shahanshah• Buwayhid in Baghdad is always amir al-umara’• Conquerors of Baghdad, but…– Careful about relationship with `Abbasids– Receive titles and offices from caliph– Tribute paid to caliph
Buwayhid Honorary Titles
• Received from `Abbasid Caliph• In recognition of dedication to `Abbasid family• `Ali b. Buya = `Imad al-Dawla (Support of the State)• al-Hasan b. Buya = Rukn al-Dawla (Pillar of the
State)• Ahmad b. Buya = Mu`izz al-Dawla (Glorifier of the State)
Buwayhid coin with titles alongside name ofcaliph and heir apparent
Buwayhids and Shi’ism
• Zaydi Shi’ite refugees spread Shi’ism in Daylam
• Why don’t Buwayhids replace `Abbasid Caliphs with Shi’ite Imam?
• Why would they switch from Zaydi to Imami Shi’ism?
The Steppe Turks and the Seljuqs
Turks and Islam• Paganism – living spirits inhabit all objects animate and inanimate• Shamanism – shamans can interact with spirits and travel in spiritual realms• Nestorian Christianity, Buddhism, and Manichaeism spread along Silk Road• Mid-10th century – Islam expands onto steppes• Lowers opposition to Turks
Turkic Shaman, Russian Empire, 1908
Turks in Islamic World
• Turkish ghulams• Ghaznavids (962-1186)– Ghulams of the Samanids– Form independent dynasty in Afghanistan
• Qarakhanids (992-1212)– Muslim Qarluq Turks– Conquer Samanid lands– Welcomed as good Muslim rulers
Qarakhanid mausoleum in Uzgen, Kyrgyzstan
Ghaznavids, Qarakhanids, and the Steppe
The Seljuqs• Oghuz Turks• Tughril Beg (r. 1016-1063) – First Great Seljuq• 1025 – cross Oxus River into Khurasan• Was there a little Ice Age?• 1040 – Battle of Dandanaqan– Seljuqs defeat Ghaznavids for control of Khurasan
• Begin war against BuywahidsBurj Tughril, tomb of Tughril Beg,near Rayy, Iran
The Sunni Revival
• Seljuqs become defenders of Sunni Islam• Byproduct of war with Buwayhids?• Employment of `ulama’ and sufis to justify
rule• 1055 – Invited into Baghdad to rescue
`Abbasids from Buwayhids• Does not mean revival of `Abbasid power
Seljuq Empire in 1092