Episode 69: Al Musta’in, puppet in chief

Al Muntasir’s sudden passing took the caliphate into uncharted political territory. It had only been six months since the plot against his father had succeeded, and he was still much too young for succession planning. The Turks tried to capitalize on this disaster: in an attempt to make the most out of the situation they installed a figurehead in command, one they could control with impunity. Little did they know that in doing so they were kicking Pandora’s box wide open.

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Glossary

• Al Musta’in: the latest Abbasid to “rule” the caliphate was the first one since al Mansur whose father didn’t used to be caliph. His relative obscurity meant he was unprepared for the task and almost totally unfamiliar with the workings of power.
• Al Mu’tazz: al Mutawakkil’s son was around 15 when his cousin’s administration placed him and his brother under house arrest. Each prince was secluded in his own room and allowed a single servant to cater to his needs. This went on for about 4 years.
• Ahmad ibn Khaseeb: easy come easy go I suppose. I was first surprised that he was ousted, then that he lived to tell the tale. He had embezzled lots of money but he didn’t get to keep any of it, and sources agree he was exiled to Crete, though al Ya’qubi adds that he moved to Aghlabid Algeria after that. Curiously, a cousin of his became treasurer for a bit during this time, but the volatile position was too dangerous for him to hold on to.
• Atameesh: another quick flash in the pan. Atameesh or Utameesh burst on the scene out of nowhere, dominated the state for a year, then was snuffed out just as fast.
• Little Bugha: al Mu’tasim’s cup bearer had come a long way, and this is perhaps the apogee of his career. Along with big Bugha and Waseef, the three turks dominated control over the military, and therefore the caliphate. But what goes up…
• Big Bugha: the only member of the old guard who did not play a part in al Mutawakkil’s death, big Bugha himself passed away early in al Musta’in’s reign. His son Musa will play a major part in the coming years.
• Waseef: by this point, Waseef and little Bugha had become the most effective wielders of official authority. The two were skilled at politics and had great connections with the rank-and-file in Samarra. But what goes up…
• Baghir: the killer of al Mutawakkil was one of many new Turkish leaders who were quickly gaining prominence among the troops. Belkajor, Baykabak, Seema al Turki, Musa ibn Bugha, it’s not exactly a short list. As these men became more popular, they vied with the old guard for the loyalty of the soldiers, leading to friction.
• Al Hasan ibn Zayd: the man who led the successful Hashemite takeover of Tabaristan. He owed his success to the unpopularity of Tahirid and Abbasid rule in the region, and to the ancestors who had spread Hashemite thought around Daylam following the failure of Mohammad the pure soul’s rebellion against al Mansur a hundred years earlier. It’s worth noting that his branch of the Hashemite family was the non-apolitical one; the imams were still restricted to Samarra by Abbasid edict. But not for long, soon the final imam would be born and their line will come to an end.