The Breaking of a Thousand Swords: A History of the Turkish Military of Samarra (A.H. 200-275/815-889 C.E.)The Breaking of a Thousand Swords provides a portrait of the Samarran Turks as members of a community with a specific and complex history in the early medieval Islamic world. It considers: the encounter of the Turks as rough, non-Muslim outsiders, with the sedentary, urbane world of Baghdad; the closely related encounter of the Turks with the Islamic tradition in its urban, scholarly guise; the settlement of the Turks, in Baghdad then in Samarra, through the use of land grants and appointments to office; the impact upon the affairs of the Turkish community of not only a military ranking but of a socio-political hierarchy as well; the construction by the Turkish elite of an elaborate network of patronage and support, both within urban Iraq and throughout the provinces (Egypt in particular); and the emergence, and impact, of factionalism within the community. |
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Common terms and phrases
Abna Abu Ishaq Ahmad ibn Tulun al-Afshln al-Balawl al-cAbbas al-Fadl al-Fath al-Karkh Al-Kindl al-Ma'mun al-Mascudl al-Muctasim al-Muctazz al-Muhtadl al-Mustacln al-Mutawakkil al-Muwaffaq al-Sull Al-Tabari al-Wathiq al-Yacqubl Ta'rikh Allah ibn appears appointed Arab army Ashinas assigned Ayalon Baghdad Baghir Bayakbak Bosworth Storm Bugha the Elder Bugha the Younger Bulddn cAbbasid caliph campaign cAnbasa cited concerns Crisis Crone death Decline Egypt elite evidence example forces governor Ibn Abl ibn Khaqan Ibn Taghrlbirdl imperial indicates Iraq Islamic Itakh Jacfar Kennedy Prophet Khazar Khurasan Kitdb Kraemer later Maghariba Mamluk Mihna military Muhammad ibn Muruj Musa ibn Bugha Musa's Northedge palace passage political provides rank and file reference regiments reign reports Reunification Revolt Saliba Samanids Samarra Samarra period Samarran Turks Shdkiriya Slave Soldiers sources Sourdel suggests Tahirid Tollner Transoxania troops Turkish Turkish commanders Turkish guard Turkish leaders Turkish leadership Turkish officers Turkish soldiers Umayyad Ushrusana Vizirat Waines Waslf Yaqut
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Breaking of a Thousand Swords: A History of the Turkish Military of Samarra (A.H. 200-275/815-889 C.E.) SUNY series in Medieval Middle East History Suny Series, Medieval Middle E |
| Author | Matthew Gordon |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | SUNY Press, 2001 |
| ISBN | 0791447960, 9780791447963 |
| Length | 303 pages |
| Subjects | › › History / Europe / Medieval History / Middle East / General History / Military / General History / Military / Wars & Conflicts (Other) Technology & Engineering / Military Science |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |