The Fragmentation of the Caliphate, the Steppe Turks, and the Seljuqs

HIST 100710/23/13

How Do We Get from Here…

To Here?

The Fragmentation of the Caliphate

The Caliphal Fiction

• Independent provincial dynasties– Aghlabids – North Africa (800-909)– Tahirids – Khurasan (821-873)

• Military dynasties– 861 – al-Mutawakkil and the Turks– Iqta`– Tulunids – Egypt and Syria (868-905)– Saffarids – Iran (861-1003)

Ibn Tulun Mosque, Fustat, Egypt

The Iranian Intermezzo

• Tahirids (821-873)– “Rogue” `Abbasid governors

• Saffarids (861-1003)– `Ayyar and Mutattawwi`a

• Samanids (819-999)– Central Asian Persian nobility

• Buwayhids (Buyids) (934-1055)– Generals in charge

• Ghaznavids (962-1186)– Slave soldiers in charge

Minaret at the Ghaznavid capital of Ghazni, Afghanistan

Shi’ism Resurgent• Hamdanids – Northern Iraq and Syria (890-1004)

– Shi’ite Arabs appointed by the `Abbasids

• Fatimids – North Africa, Egypt, and Syria (909-1171)

– Ismaili Shi’ite Counter Caliphate

• Buwayhids – Iraq and Iran (934-1055)

– Zaydi turned Imami Shi’ites from Daylam

al-Azhar Mosque, CairoCairo was founded by the Fatimidsin 969

The Buwayhids

• Daylam – southwestern shore of the Caspian Sea• Never conquered by the caliphate• Refuge for Zaydi Shi’ites• Late 9th century – Daylamite mercenaries enter `Abbasid service• `Ali, al-Hasan, and Ahmad ibn Buya are mercenaries hired by Iranian warlords

Forested mountains of Daylam

The Buwayhids• 933 – Local land owners ask `Ali b. Buya to remove abusive military governor in Fars (southwest Iran)• 934 - `Ali take control of Fars and begins building his own army• 935 – al-Hasan b. Buya begins conquest of Rayy and Central Iran• 944 – Ahmad b. Buya marches on Baghdad Buwayhid bazaar in Shiraz,

capital of Fars

Buwayhids

• Amir al-umara’ – commander of the commanders or general of the generals

• 936 – amir al-umara’ also gains control over administration

• 946 – Ahmad b. Buya named amir al-umara’ by the caliph al-Mustakfi (r. 944-946)

• In a decade, Buwayhid brothers conquer Iraq and Western Iran and take control of `Abbasid government

Buwayhid Commonwealth

• Tripartite commonwealth– Shiraz, Rayy, and Baghdad

• Eldest of three rulers declared shahanshah• Buwayhid in Baghdad is always amir al-umara’• Conquerors of Baghdad, but…– Careful about relationship with `Abbasids– Receive titles and offices from caliph– Tribute paid to caliph

Buwayhid Honorary Titles

• Received from `Abbasid Caliph• In recognition of dedication to `Abbasid family• `Ali b. Buya = `Imad al-Dawla (Support of the State)• al-Hasan b. Buya = Rukn al-Dawla (Pillar of the

State)• Ahmad b. Buya = Mu`izz al-Dawla (Glorifier of the State)

Buwayhid coin with titles alongside name ofcaliph and heir apparent

Buwayhids and Shi’ism

• Zaydi Shi’ite refugees spread Shi’ism in Daylam

• Why don’t Buwayhids replace `Abbasid Caliphs with Shi’ite Imam?

• Why would they switch from Zaydi to Imami Shi’ism?

The Steppe Turks and the Seljuqs

Turks and Islam• Paganism – living spirits inhabit all objects animate and inanimate• Shamanism – shamans can interact with spirits and travel in spiritual realms• Nestorian Christianity, Buddhism, and Manichaeism spread along Silk Road• Mid-10th century – Islam expands onto steppes• Lowers opposition to Turks

Turkic Shaman, Russian Empire, 1908

Turks in Islamic World

• Turkish ghulams• Ghaznavids (962-1186)– Ghulams of the Samanids– Form independent dynasty in Afghanistan

• Qarakhanids (992-1212)– Muslim Qarluq Turks– Conquer Samanid lands– Welcomed as good Muslim rulers

Qarakhanid mausoleum in Uzgen, Kyrgyzstan

Ghaznavids, Qarakhanids, and the Steppe

The Seljuqs• Oghuz Turks• Tughril Beg (r. 1016-1063) – First Great Seljuq• 1025 – cross Oxus River into Khurasan• Was there a little Ice Age?• 1040 – Battle of Dandanaqan– Seljuqs defeat Ghaznavids for control of Khurasan

• Begin war against BuywahidsBurj Tughril, tomb of Tughril Beg,near Rayy, Iran

The Sunni Revival

• Seljuqs become defenders of Sunni Islam• Byproduct of war with Buwayhids?• Employment of `ulama’ and sufis to justify

rule• 1055 – Invited into Baghdad to rescue

`Abbasids from Buwayhids• Does not mean revival of `Abbasid power

Seljuq Empire in 1092