Episode 9: Othman bin Affan

With the confusion of Omar’s assassination and succession behind them, the Arabs were now prepared to welcome the reign of yet another of their prophet’s closest companions. In this episode we’ll talk more about the new caliph, then tour his many and growing domains.

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Images

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Glossary

• Othman bin Affan: we say a bit about the third caliph in this episode, though it was quickly dominated by discussions of his influential governors. Up until this point in the history, narrations about Othman tend to center on his generosity and gentleness. These two traits may have been the basis of his popularity with the other elders, but it’s difficult to tell as Othman will prove to be a controversial figure, leading to lots of divergence in the oral histories. The fact that the prophet liked him enough to marry him to a daughter of his, and then another when the first one passed away, is a fact about Othman which is often offered as proof of his good character. 
• Amr ibn il ‘As: the conqueror and first governor of Egypt was one of Quraysh’s most esteemed men, though more for his craftiness than his skills at war. The sources have many stories about him being clever, like tricking others and making them looks stupid. In his time as governor of Egypt he had doubled the taxes from a single dinar per man per year to two, and he used the wealth to engender strong local ties. He resented being removed from his post by Othman, and made sure to voice his discontent loudly and often when he was back in the capital.
• Abdallah bin abi Sarh: Amr’s replacement was Othman’s kin Abdallah. So Abdallah wasn’t an Umayyad per se, but was one of the closest mawlas or loyalists to that clan, and so the choice was still a shocking one. Unsaid in this episode is that he doubled Amr’s taxes from 2 to 4 dinars a man annually, and kept the wealth for his own loyalists. His building of a sumptuous palace also irritated those who were being kept out of the loop, but I suppose at this point in Othman’s reign all the rich Arabs had palaces so it might be unfair to single this one out.
• Mu’awiya bin abi Sufian: the governor of Syria could seemingly do no wrong, at least from the point of view of the state. His provinces were strong, his armies disciplined, and his enemies kept at bay through relentless seasonal attacks. Not only does Mu’awiya get stronger as his cousin Othman hands him more lands and armies, but he ensures the loyalty of all the pre-existing Arabs in the region – a huge power-base – by marrying Maysoon, the daughter of the chief of the Kalb tribe. It’s a little early to get into the tribal politics of Syria, but be warned, they will be all-important. Stories about Mu’awiya at this point stress his forbearance in managing the various tribal interests that constituted Arab power in the province.
• Abdallah bin Amer: this much younger Abdallah was an actual Umayyad, and despite his youth ruffling some feathers, his leadership of the armies was a huge success. While I’m sure he was good at war, most of his victories happened simply by showing up. The Sassanids were too disunited to fight as an empire, and the provincial armies were weak, under-equipped, and often led by local nobles who were anxious about losing their own privileges. The ruling class in the East facilitated the Arab advance, and they would go on to become active accomplices in its administration. Still though, Abdallah played a part in that. 

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