Al-Abbas ibn al-Walid
Encyclopedia
Al-‘Abbas ibn al-Walīd was an Umayyad
Arab prince and general, the son of Caliph al-Walid I (r. 705–715). A distinguished military leader in the Byzantine–Arab Wars of the early 8th century, especially in partnership with his uncle Maslamah ibn Abd al-Malik
, he became involved in the civil wars of the mid-740s and was imprisoned. He died in prison of an epidemic in 750.
fortress of Tyana in Cappadocia
, where he led the Arab army alongside his uncle Maslamah. The town withstood a long siege
over the winter of 707–708, and surrendered only after a Byzantine relief army was defeated in spring. During the latter battle, Abbas is said by the Arab chroniclers to have distinguished himself for the crucial role he played in stopping the wavering Arabs from fleeing and driving them on to victory.
Abbas participated regularly in the almost annual expeditions launched into Byzantine Asia Minor
. His most notable campaigns were the capture of Sebaste
in Cilicia
in 712 and of Antioch in Pisidia in 713, the raid into Paphlagonia
in 721 where he is reported to have captured 20,000 prisoners, and a raid, placed in 722/723 but possibly reflecting an earlier campaign, that captured a fortress called Siza. In 720, along with his uncle Maslamah he led the suppression of the revolt of the governor of Iraq
, Yazid ibn al-Muhallab
.
During the reign of the unpopular Al-Walid II
(r. 743–744), Abbas was initially reluctant to oppose the caliph and counselled against provoking a civil war. In the end however he participated in the conspiracy and coup that deposed Walid and brought his brother Yazid III
on the throne. Neither Yazid nor his brother Ibrahim I
lasted long on the throne, which fell to the general Marwan ibn Muhammad
(r. 744–750). Marwan had Abbas thrown into prison in Harran
, where he died of a disease in 750.
Umayyad
The Umayyad Caliphate was the second of the four major Arab caliphates established after the death of Muhammad. It was ruled by the Umayyad dynasty, whose name derives from Umayya ibn Abd Shams, the great-grandfather of the first Umayyad caliph. Although the Umayyad family originally came from the...
Arab prince and general, the son of Caliph al-Walid I (r. 705–715). A distinguished military leader in the Byzantine–Arab Wars of the early 8th century, especially in partnership with his uncle Maslamah ibn Abd al-Malik
Maslamah ibn Abd al-Malik
Maslamah ibn Abd al-Malik was an Umayyad prince and one of the most prominent Arab generals of the early decades of the 8th century, leading several campaigns against the Byzantine Empire and the Khazar Khaganate...
, he became involved in the civil wars of the mid-740s and was imprisoned. He died in prison of an epidemic in 750.
Life
Little is known about Abbas' early life, and Arab and Byzantine sources are often at odds concerning details of his career. He first appears in the 707 campaign against the important ByzantineByzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
fortress of Tyana in Cappadocia
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in Nevşehir Province.In the time of Herodotus, the Cappadocians were reported as occupying the whole region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine...
, where he led the Arab army alongside his uncle Maslamah. The town withstood a long siege
Siege of Tyana (707–708)
The Siege of Tyana in 707–708 was carried out by the Umayyads in retaliation for the heavy defeat of an Umayyad army under Maimun the Mardaite shortly before by the Byzantine Empire. The Arab army invaded Byzantine territory in summer 707 and laid siege to the city...
over the winter of 707–708, and surrendered only after a Byzantine relief army was defeated in spring. During the latter battle, Abbas is said by the Arab chroniclers to have distinguished himself for the crucial role he played in stopping the wavering Arabs from fleeing and driving them on to victory.
Abbas participated regularly in the almost annual expeditions launched into Byzantine Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
. His most notable campaigns were the capture of Sebaste
Elaiussa Sebaste
Elaiussa Sebaste or Elaeousa Sebaste was an ancient Roman town located from Mersin in the direction of Silifke in Cilicia on the southern coast of Anatolia . Elaiussa, meaning olive, was founded in the 2nd century B.C...
in Cilicia
Cilicia
In antiquity, Cilicia was the south coastal region of Asia Minor, south of the central Anatolian plateau. It existed as a political entity from Hittite times into the Byzantine empire...
in 712 and of Antioch in Pisidia in 713, the raid into Paphlagonia
Paphlagonia
Paphlagonia was an ancient area on the Black Sea coast of north central Anatolia, situated between Bithynia to the west and Pontus to the east, and separated from Phrygia by a prolongation to the east of the Bithynian Olympus...
in 721 where he is reported to have captured 20,000 prisoners, and a raid, placed in 722/723 but possibly reflecting an earlier campaign, that captured a fortress called Siza. In 720, along with his uncle Maslamah he led the suppression of the revolt of the governor of Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, Yazid ibn al-Muhallab
Yazid ibn al-Muhallab
Yazid ibn al-Muhallab was a provincial governor in the time of the Umayyad dynasty.In A.H. 78 Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf appointed al-Muhallab Khurasan's governor. In A.H. 82 al-Muhallab's son Mughirah died and al-Muhallab sent Yazid to replace him. Soon afterwards al-Muhallab died and al-Hajjaj...
.
During the reign of the unpopular Al-Walid II
Al-Walid II
Walid ibn Yazid or Walid II was an Umayyad caliph who ruled from 743 until 744. He succeeded his uncle, Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik....
(r. 743–744), Abbas was initially reluctant to oppose the caliph and counselled against provoking a civil war. In the end however he participated in the conspiracy and coup that deposed Walid and brought his brother Yazid III
Yazid III
Yazid ibn al-Walid ibn 'Abd al-Malik or Yazid III was an Umayyad caliph. He reigned for six months, from April 15 to October 3 or 4, 744; and died in that office....
on the throne. Neither Yazid nor his brother Ibrahim I
Ibrahim ibn al-Walid
Ibrahim ibn Al-Walid was an Umayyad caliph. He only ruled for a short time in 744 before he abdicated, and went into hiding out of fear of his political opponents. The shortness of this time and his incomplete acceptance led Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari to state that he did not succeed in...
lasted long on the throne, which fell to the general Marwan ibn Muhammad
Marwan II
Marwan ibn Muhammad ibn Marwan or Marwan II was an Umayyad caliph who ruled from 744 until 750 when he was killed. He was the last Umayyad ruler to rule from Damascus.In A.H. 114 Caliph Hisham appointed Marwan governor of Armenia and Azerbaijan. In A.H...
(r. 744–750). Marwan had Abbas thrown into prison in Harran
Harran
Harran was a major ancient city in Upper Mesopotamia whose site is near the modern village of Altınbaşak, Turkey, 24 miles southeast of Şanlıurfa...
, where he died of a disease in 750.