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Babak Khorramdin
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Early life Babak was born into a Persian family in Azerbaijan (northwestern Iran) close to the city of Artavilla (modern Ardabil). According to Waqed, the oldest biographer on Babak, Babak's father was a Persian from Mada'in (formerly known as Ctesiphon, former capital of Sassanian Persian Empire, 35 km south of modern Bagdad in Iraq) who left for the Azarbaijan frontier zone and settled in the village of Balalabad in the Maymad district. According to Fasih, his mother - a native of Azarbaijan - was known as Mahru (meaning Moon-Face/Belle in Persian).
After his father’s death in his early teens, he was given the responsibility of his 2 brothers and mother during a traditional Zoroastrian ceremony in a fire-temple. By the age of 18, Babak had established himself in the city of Tabrez and was engaged in the arms trade and industry.
Later on, this engagement gave him the opportunity to travel to some regions and become familiar with regions like the Caucasia, the Middle East, and the Byzantine Empire.
Movement In 755, Abu Muslim of Khorassan, a famous and popular Persian nationalist, was murdered. Although he had helped the Abbasids to defeat the former Caliphs, the Umayyad dynasty, the ruling Caliph had given the order to kill him, probably because of his increasing popularity among Iranians and Non-Muslims. Many Iranians, who had expected more freedom and more rights from the new rulers, could not believe that their hero was killed by the ruling Caliph whom they had considered a friend of Iran and Iranians.
This incident lead to many revolts, mostly by angry Zoroastrians. This, in turn, forced the Caliphs to use more violence against the Iranian population in order to keep the eastern provinces under control. The constant revolts did not come to an end in the following decades, and the Iranian population of the Caliphate was constantly being oppressed.
Babak joined the "Khurramiyyah (Khorram-Dinan)" movement in what later became known as Qale-ye Babak, meaning "Babak Castle", located in the mountains of Qaradag in Arasbaran jungles. The story of joing the Khorrami movement is being told in Waqed's account, in summary, as follows:
Under the direction of his Mentor Javidan b. Shahrak, a leader of one of the sects of the Khorramdin, his knowledge of history, geography, and the latest battle tactics strengthened his position as a favorite candidate for commander during the early wars against the Arab occupiers.
Babak was a highly spiritual person who respected his Zoroastrian heritage. He made every possible effort to bring Iranians together and also with leaders such as Maziar to form a united front against the Arab Caliph. According to the medieval historian, Ibn Esfandyar, who composed the book "Tarikh-e-Tabaristan", Maziar said:
However, one of the most dramatic periods in the history of Iran was set under Babak’s leadership between 816-837. During these most crucial years, they not only fought against the Caliphate, but also for the preservation of Persian language and culture.
After the death of Javidan, he married Javadan's wife, and became the Khorramis' leader, sometime in the year 816-17 in al-Ma'mun's reign. Babak incited his followers to rise in rebellion against the caliphal regime. The reports state that Babak called Persians to arms, seized castles and strong points, thereby barring roads to his enemies. Gradually a large multitude joined him..
According to Vladimir Minorsky, around the 9th-10th century
There had long been groups of Khorramis scattered in Isfahan, Azarbaijan, Ray, Hamadan, Armenia, Gorgan, and elsewhere of Iran. At that time of Babak, there were Khorramis scattered in many regions of Iran, besides Azerbaijan, reportedly in Tabarestan, Khorasan, Balkh, Isfahan, Kashan, Qom, Ray, Karaj, Hamadan, Lorestan, Khuzestan as well as in Basra, and Armenia.
Tabari records that Babak claimed he possessed Javadan's spirit and that Babak became active in 816-817. In 819-820 Yahya ibn Mu'adh fought against Babak, but could not defeat him. Two years later Babak vanquished the forces of Isa ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Khalid. In 824-825 the caliphal general Ahmad ibn al Junayd was sent against Babak. Babak defeated and captured him.
In 827-828 Muhammad ibn Humayd Tusi was dispatched to fight Babak. He won a victory and sent some captured enemy, but not Babak, to al-Ma'mun. However, about two years later, on June 9, 829, Babak won a decisive victory over this general at Hashtadsar. Muhammad ibn Humayd lost his life. Many of his soldiers were killed. The survivors fled in disarray.
In 835-836 the caliph al-Mu'tasim sent his outstanding general Afshin against Babak. Afshin rebuilt fortresses. He employed a relay system to protect supply caravans. Babak tried to capture the money being sent to pay Afshin's army, but was himself surprised, lost many men and barely escaped. He did succeed in capturing some supplies and inflicting some hardship on his enemies. Amongst Babak's commander were Azin, Rostam, Tarkhan, Mua’wiyah and Abdullah..
The next year Babak routed the forces of Afshin's subordinate, Bugha al-Kabir. In 837-838 al-Mu'tasim reinforced Afshin and provided him clear military instructions. Patiently following these enabled Afshin to capture Babak's stronghold of Badhdh. Babak escaped. Al-Mu'tasim sent a safety guarantee for Babak to Afshin. This was taken to Babak who was very displeased. He said:
"Better to live for just a single day as a ruler than to live for forty years as an abject slave."
He made his way to the Armenian leader Sahl Smbatian (Armenian: ???? ????????; Sahl ibn Sunbat in Arab sources), Prince of Khachen. Sahl Smbatian, however, handed Babak over to Afshin, punishing Babak for devastations that his troops inflicted upon Armenian lands of Syunik and Artsakh. Al-Mu'tasim commanded his general to bring Babak to him. Afshin informed Babak of this and told him since Babak might never return, this was the time to take a last look around. At Babak's request, Afshin allowed his prisoner to go to Badhdh. There Babak walked through his ruined stronghold one night until dawn.
Eventually, Babak, his wife, and his warriors were forced to leave Ghaleye Babak after 23 years of constant campaigns. He was eventually betrayed by Afshin and was handed over to the Abbasid Caliph. During Babak’s execution, the Caliph's henchmen first cut off his legs and hands in order to convey the most devastating message to his followers. The legend says that Babak bravely rinsed his face with the drained blood pouring out of his cuts, thus depriving the Caliph and the rest of the Abbasid army from seeing his pale face, a result of the heavy loss of blood.
Bibliography Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari History v. 32 "The Reunification of the Abbasid Caliphate," transl. C.E. Bosworth, SUNY, Albany, 1987; v. 33 "Storm and Stress along the Northern Frontiers of the Abbasid Caliphate," transl. C.E. Bosworth, SUNY, Albany, 1991
See also
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