Al-Mustakfi
Encyclopedia
Al-Mustakfi was the Abbasid
Caliph
in Baghdad
from 944 to 946. He was installed by Tuzun, a Turkish general who disposed and blinded the previous Caliph al-Muttaqi
.
Buwayhid
dynasty began threatening the Capital. Tuzun, with the Caliph, marched to Wasit and defeated them. The tribute due from Mosul being withheld, Tuzun also marched against the Hamdanids; but, after friendly relations were reestablished, he returned.
Soon after, Tuzun died, and was succeeded by Abu Ja'far, one of his generals. Baghdad now fell into a fearful state of distress. Supplies, stayed by the enemies all round, no longer reached the markets, and people were reduced to eat dogs, cats and garbage. The mob were driven by starvation to plunder the shops of their remaining stores. Multitudes fled the city for Basra
or elsewhere, dying in great numbers from weakness. Abu Ja'far at last, finding himself unable to control affairs, requested the aid of Hamdanid commander Nasir ud-Daula, from Mosul; even offering, if he would come, to vacate in his favor the supreme command. But the Hamdanids were at the moment engaged on one hand with the Russians in Azerbaijan
, and on the other with the Ikhshids in Syria.
Just then the governor of Wasit surrendered to the chief of the Buwayhids, and joining him marched on Baghdad. Abu Ja'far and the Caliph fled into hiding. The Caliph then received the secretary of Buwayhid chief to make terms of peace, which the Caliph accepted. Invited thus, Buwayhid Sultan Muiz ud-Daula
entered Baghdad, and under the title of Amir al-Umara (Amir of Amirs) assumed the supreme command. The Caliph, being an abject submission to the Amir, whose name, in addition to al-Mustakfi's, was now by his command stamped upon the coinage, and recited in the public prayers; but it was all in vain. Muiz ud-Daula feared the Caliph as a creature of the Turks. Eventually al-Mustakfi was deprived of sight and deposed. He had been Caliph for little over a year. The city rose in chaos, and the Caliph's palace was looted.
Abbasid
The Abbasid Caliphate or, more simply, the Abbasids , was the third of the Islamic caliphates. It was ruled by the Abbasid dynasty of caliphs, who built their capital in Baghdad after overthrowing the Umayyad caliphate from all but the al-Andalus region....
Caliph
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
from 944 to 946. He was installed by Tuzun, a Turkish general who disposed and blinded the previous Caliph al-Muttaqi
Al-Muttaqi
Al-Muttaqi was the Abbasid caliph in Baghdad from 940 to 944.Of such little importance the Caliphate had become by now that when the previous Caliph al-Radi died, Bajkam, Amir al-Umara , contented himself with despatching to Baghdad his secretary, who assembled the chief men to elect a successor...
.
Buwayhid
Buwayhid
The Buyid dynasty, also known as the Buyid Empire or the Buyids , also known as Buwaihids, Buyahids, or Buyyids, were a Shī‘ah Persian dynasty that originated from Daylaman in Gilan...
dynasty began threatening the Capital. Tuzun, with the Caliph, marched to Wasit and defeated them. The tribute due from Mosul being withheld, Tuzun also marched against the Hamdanids; but, after friendly relations were reestablished, he returned.
Soon after, Tuzun died, and was succeeded by Abu Ja'far, one of his generals. Baghdad now fell into a fearful state of distress. Supplies, stayed by the enemies all round, no longer reached the markets, and people were reduced to eat dogs, cats and garbage. The mob were driven by starvation to plunder the shops of their remaining stores. Multitudes fled the city for Basra
Basra
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
or elsewhere, dying in great numbers from weakness. Abu Ja'far at last, finding himself unable to control affairs, requested the aid of Hamdanid commander Nasir ud-Daula, from Mosul; even offering, if he would come, to vacate in his favor the supreme command. But the Hamdanids were at the moment engaged on one hand with the Russians in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
, and on the other with the Ikhshids in Syria.
Just then the governor of Wasit surrendered to the chief of the Buwayhids, and joining him marched on Baghdad. Abu Ja'far and the Caliph fled into hiding. The Caliph then received the secretary of Buwayhid chief to make terms of peace, which the Caliph accepted. Invited thus, Buwayhid Sultan Muiz ud-Daula
Mu'izz al-Daula
Ahmad was the first of the Buwayhid emirs of Iraq, ruling from 945 until his death. He was the son of Buya.During the Buwayhid conquest of Fars, Ahmad distinguished himself in battle. In 935 or 936, Ahmad's oldest brother 'Ali sent Ahmad to Kerman with the task of conquering that province from the...
entered Baghdad, and under the title of Amir al-Umara (Amir of Amirs) assumed the supreme command. The Caliph, being an abject submission to the Amir, whose name, in addition to al-Mustakfi's, was now by his command stamped upon the coinage, and recited in the public prayers; but it was all in vain. Muiz ud-Daula feared the Caliph as a creature of the Turks. Eventually al-Mustakfi was deprived of sight and deposed. He had been Caliph for little over a year. The city rose in chaos, and the Caliph's palace was looted.