The History of al-Tabari Vol. 33: Storm and Stress along the Northern Frontiers of the 'Abbasid Caliphate: The Caliphate of al-Mu'tasim A.D. 833-842/A.H. 218-227This section of al-Tabari's History covers the eight-year reign of al-Mu'tasim (833-42), immediately following the reign of his elder brother al-Ma'mun, when the Islamic caliphate was once more united after the civil strife and violence of the second decade of the ninth century A.D. Al-Mu'tasim's reign is notable for the transfer of the administrative capital of the caliphate from Baghdad north to the military settlement of Samarra on the Tigris, where it was to remain for some 60 years. This move meant a significant increase in the caliphs' dependence on their Turkish slave guards. Al-Mu'tasim's reign was also marked by periods of intense military activity along the northern fringes of the Islamic lands: against the Byzantines in Anatolia; against the sectarian Babak and his followers--the "wearers of red," the Khurramiyyah--in northwestern Persia; and against the politically ambitious local prince Mazyar in the Caspian provinces of Persia. These episodes take up the greater part of al-Tabari's account of al-Mu'tasim's reign, and he has provided graphic and detailed narratives of the respective campaigns, including valuable details on military organization and tactics during this period. |
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Common terms and phrases
Abbasid Abdallah Abu Sa'id according Ahmad al-Afshin al-Badhdh al-Fadl al-Hasan al-Husayn al-Mazyar al-Mu'tasim Ammuriyyah appointed Arabic army Ashnas asked attack Babak Baghdad battle became Bosworth brother brought Bugha Byzantine Caliph called camp captives Commander continued encampment entered Faithful fighting followers forces fortress forward further gave give given governor guard halted hand head hence Herzfeld History Ibn al-Athir Ibrahim Ishaq Islamic Ja'far Khurasan Khurramiyyah killed king Kitdb Lands latter literally Mas'udi Mazyar means mentioned military mountain mounts Mu'jam Muhammad Muslim night ordered originally palace passed Persian person position present prison reached regarding region remained replied returned road Samarra saying seems sent side slave soldiers sources Strange Tabari Tabaristan Tahir term told took town trans traveled trench troops Turkish Vasiliev Wajan wall wrote Ya'qubi Yaqut
Bibliographic information
| Title | The History of al-Tabari Vol. 33: Storm and Stress along the Northern Frontiers of the 'Abbasid Caliphate: The Caliphate of al-Mu'tasim A.D. 833-842/A.H. 218-227 Bibliotheca Persica SUNY series in Near Eastern studies TABARI//HISTORY OF AL-TABARI/TA'RIKH AL-RUSUL WA'L-MULUK Volume 33 of The History of Al-Ṭabarī: An Annotated Translation Volume 33 of The History of al-Tabari Volume 33 of Tārīkh al-rusul wa-al-mulūk Volume 33 of تاريخ الرسل والملوك |
| Authors | Muhammad ibn Yarir al- Tabari, ?abar?, Mu?ammad Ibn-?ar?r a?- ?abar? |
| Editors | I?s?n ?Abb?s, Clifford Edmund Bosworth |
| Translated by | Clifford Edmund Bosworth |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | SUNY Press, 1991 |
| ISBN | 0791404935, 9780791404935 |
| Length | 239 pages |
| Subjects | › › History / Middle East / General History / World Religion / General |
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