Episode 43: Al Mansur

Much of what people associate with the idea of a medieval Arab caliphate is rooted in the reign of our upcoming caliph. The foundation he laid for his dynasty is so solid that it makes the Umayyad era seem like little more than a formalized extension of the early Arab raids against their neighboring empires. It will take us a while to get through his reign, and before we start with that, we’ll take this episode to better orient ourselves within the world he is about to reshape.

Glossary

• Al Saffah: the first Abbasid caliph, half-brother of our man today. His flashy regnal title sort of took over his brand, but our histories remember him as a level-headed ruler and have few complaints about him. I suppose it is notable that he was monogamous.
• Al Mansur: the second Abbasid caliph, about whom we’ll have a lot to say. A whole lot, we’ve barely scratched the surface. His long reign means he is remembered in many ways for a whole lot of things, but he was undoubtedly ranks among the most powerful caliphs of all time.
• Abdallah ibn Ali: the caliph’s uncle, an esteemed commander who tried using his considerable influence and armies to claim the throne for himself after al Saffah’s sudden and unexpected passing. He was defeated by Abu Muslim, who held the loyalty of the Khurasaniya that formed the backbone of the Abbasid armies.
• Qahtaba: the original commander of the Abbasid forces, who led them west from Khurasan into conflict against Umayyad forces. He died in battle while facing off against the governor of Iraq, leaving his son Hasan in command.
• Abdulrahman al Ouza’i: a highly respected religious authority who is mostly remembered for the moderating influence he had on Abbasid brutality in greater Syria, shielding minorities from persecution, and speaking truth to power.