The Caliphate and the Turks, 232-256 / 847-870 : a political study

[摘要] Under the Umayyads, Muslims came into direct contact with Turksin their homeland which lay east of Khurasän and Transoxania. However,after the Turks had submitted to the Islamic state, the Caliphs, inparticular the Abbasid Caliphs, began to employ them in various rolessuch as guards and soldiers. They served alongside the veteran Arabsand Iranians, because the Turks, unlike these others, did not so pridethemselves on their nationality that they behaved exclusively. TheTurks were valued for their bravery and fidelity. The Caliph Mu'tasim,in fact, increased their number, and his reliance on them was a resultof his needs and of certain other circumstances.After the death of Mu'tasim, the Turks rose to positions ofconsiderable importance in all the affairs of state. They had aneven greater influence on the running of the Caliphate when they beganto interfere in the appointing of the Caliph, which they did for thefirst time in the case of Mutawakkil. Nevertheless, none of theAbbasid Caliphs from Mutawakkil onwards seemed to acquiesce readilyin Turkish control, and indeed they resisted the Turks vigorously.They tried to eliminate them and their power entirely, and to restorethe dignity of the Abbasid Caliphate.As the first step in escaping the interference of the Turks,the Caliphs decided to move the state capital. But when the Turksrealized the Caliphs' intentions, they began to plot against them andto assassinate them. In the course of this struggle between the Turksand the Caliphate the civil war of 251 H occurred. As a result,government authority weakened, particularly in those outlying regionsfurthest from its power and influence. Therefore, popular movementsand attempts to gain independence emerged in many provinces, suchas Hijaz, Armenia, Syria and Iran. In fact, most of these movementswere not aimed against the Caliphate itself, but against theTurks who dominated affairs of state. At the same time the powerof the (Wazir) minister of state began to diminish, and his remainingin office was closely linked with the desires of the Turks. Inaddition, the Turks attempted to take over the Vizirate itself.Therefore, some of them, such as Waif and Autamish, occupied thisoffice although they were quite unqualified for it.In consequence, the Vizirate deteriorated and became powerless,just as the Caliphate had done.

[发布机构] University:University of St Andrews;Department:History (School of)

[效力级别] Islamic countries--History

[关键词] Abbasids;Islamic countries--History;Iraq--Civilization--634-1921