Episode 47: The city of peace

Perhaps most significant among al Mansur’s many triumphs was his founding of a new capital for his administration, a glorious new city which would come to be known as Baghdad. It was a decision that had a tremendous impact on Arab and world history, bringing the umma another step closer to the imperial models surrounding it.

Glossary

• Al Mansur: the second Abbasid caliph, about whom we’ve said more than any other.
• Mohammad al Mahdi: the caliph’s son and heir apparent. He was sent to the East at a young age to establish strong ties with its leadership so that he could count on their support when he became leader of the umma one day.
• Isa ibn Musa: the caliph’s nephew and designated heir. He had been governor of Kufa since the dawn of the Abbasid age, and the defender of al Mansur’s claim to leadership against their clan’s rebellion under the banner of Mohammad the pure soul. He was replaced as governor by another Abbasid shortly after their victory against the other Hashemites, then by al Mahdi as next in line in a disputed affair.
• Abu Ayub al Moriani: al Mansur’s first hajib served him for most of his reign before incurring the caliph’s wrath and being put to death with his entire family. We’re told that when al Mansur was a minor official in Khuzestan back during Umayyad times the Arab in charge of the area wanted him punished for some subversive actions, probably related to the Abbasid da’wa. Abu Ayub was a somewhat influential freedman in that leader’s administration (al Moriani derives from Morian, a town in Khuzestan, or southwestern Iran), and is said to have saved al Mansur from that punishment, leading the two to form a strong relationship.
• Rabi’ ibn Yunis: al Mansur’s second hajib was an educated freedman whom we are told had a mild demeanor and offered sage counsel. He only served the caliph in this capacity for a few years, but went on to become hajib for his successor al Mahdi.