The Abbasid caliphs were the holders of the Islamic title of caliph who were members of the Abbasid dynasty, a branch of the Quraysh tribe descended from the uncle of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, Al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib. Abbasid Caliphs (750–1258)
The Abbasids came to power overthrowing Umayyad dynasty in the Abbasid Revolution. As caliphs, they held both temporal and religious suzerainty over Muslim lands. After a golden age and a temporary revival, their decline accelerated the fragmentation of the Muslim world into autonomous states. Their religious authority was also challenged by the Shi'a Fatimid Caliphate (909-1171) and the Caliphate of Córdoba (929-1031). The caliphs lost their temporal power completely in mid-tenth century; first to a series of military strongmen, then to the Shi'a Buyid Emirs, which were in turn replaced by the Sunni Seljuk Turks. Their independence from the Seljuks was short-lived, as the dynasty ended with the Mongol Sack of Baghdad in 1258.
No. Coin Name Reign Parents Life details Abbasid Consolidation1 al-Saffah 750 – 8 June 754 Muhammad ibn Ali Rayta bint Ubaydallah721 – 8 June 754 Great-great-grandson of Muhammad's uncle, al-Abbas. Proclaimed caliph after Abbasid victory over Umayyad caliph Marwan II.The Oxford History of Islam, p. 25. Ed. John Esposito. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999. Battle of Talas (751).2 al-Mansur 10 June 754 – October 775 Muhammad ibn Ali Sallamah, Berber concubine 714 – October 775 Heir apparent of his brother al-Saffah. Execution of general Abu Muslim (755). Conquest of Tabaristan (761). Founded Baghdad as new capital (762). Emirate of Córdoba founded by Umayyad prince Abd al-Rahman I (756). Abbasid Golden Age3 al-Mahdi October 775 – August 785 al-Mansur Arwa bint Mansur al-Himyari744/745 – August 785 Heir apparent of his father al-Mansur. War resumed against Byzantines (779).4 al-Hadi August 785 – 14 September 786 al-Mahdi al-Khayzuran bint Atta759 / 762 – 14 September 786 Heir apparent of his father al-Mahdi.Khiḍrī, Tārīkh-i khalāfat-i ʿabbāsīyān, p. 51 Failed Alid revolt (786) due to resumed persecution.Ṭaqūsh, Dawlat-i ʿabbāsīyān, p. 92. Tried to replace his brother al-Rashid with his own son as heir.Ṭaqūsh, Dawlat-i ʿAbbāsīyān, p. 94. Possibly poisoned by his mother, who favored al-Rashid. 5 al-Rashid 14 September 786 – 24 March 809 March 763 / February 766 – 24 March 809 Named heir of his brother, al-Hadi. Established Baghdad's House of Wisdom.Audun Holme, Geometry: Our Cultural Heritage p. 150. Invasion of Anatolia; sack of Herakleia (806).6 al-Amin 24 March 809 – 25 September 813 al-Rashid Zubaidah bint Ja'far ibn al-MansurApril 787 – 25 September 813 Named first heir by his father al-Rashid. Removed his half-brother al-Ma'mun as heir apparent after he removed al-Amin's name from coins, starting Fourth Fitna. Executed after al-Ma'mun's capture of Baghdad.7 al-Ma'mun 25 September 813 – 9 August 833 al-Rashid Marajil, Persian concubine14 September 786 – 9 August 833 Named second heir and ruler of Khorasan by his father. Defeated and killed al-Amin. Height of the translation movement. Crete conquered by exiled Andalusian pirates (824/827). Aghlabids begin the conquest of Sicily (827). Mihna launched (833); official support for Mu'tazilism begins.8 al-Mu'tasim 9 August 833 – 5 January 842 al-Rashid Maridah, Turkic concubineOctober 796 – 5 January 842 Allegedly named heir by his brother al-Ma'mun on his deathbed. Establishment and rise of Turkic ghilman as a powerful military and political force. Samarra founded as new capital (836). Invasion of Anatolia; sack of Amorium (838)..9 al-Wathiq 5 January 842 – 10 August 847 al-Mu'tasim Qaratis, Greek concubine18 April 812 – 10 August 847 Heir apparent of his father, al-Musta'sim. Died from dropsy while in an oven in an attempt to cure it.10 al-Mutawakkil 10 August 847 – 11 December 861 al-Mu'tasim Shuja, Khwarazmian concubine31 March 822 – 11 December 861 Chosen by officials after the unexpected death of al-Wathiq. Mihna abolished (851); official support for Mu'tazilism ends. Alienated Turkic generals by attempting to curb their influence. Assassinated by the Turkic troops. Anarchy at Samarra11 al-Muntasir 11 December 861 – 7 June 862 al-Mutawakkil Hubshiya, Greek concubineNovember 837 – 7 June 862 Heir apparent of al-Mutawakkil,Bosworth, "Mu'tazz," p. 793 whom he had assassinated.Bosworth, "al-Muntasir," p. 583 Died of unknown causes; possibly poisoned.12 al-Musta'in 8 June 862 – 24 January 866 Muhammad ibn al-Mu'tasim Makhariq, Sicilian concubine836 – 17 October 866 Cousin of al-Muntasir; installed by Turkic troops.Bosworth, "Muntasir," p. 583 Alienated Turkic soldiers, who instead proclaimed al-Mu'tazz caliph. Defeated in Fifth Fitna; forced to abdicate.Saliba (1985) pp. 106-7 Assassinated on al-Mu'tazz's orders.13 al-Mu'tazz 25 January 866 – 13 July 869 al-Mutawakkil Qabiha, Greek concubine847 – 16 July 869 Second heir of al-Mutawakkil;Bosworth, "Mu'tazz," p. 793 bypassed when Turkic military installed his cousin al-Musta'in, who then imprisoned him.Saliba (1985) pp. 6-7 Freed and made caliph by disgruntled Turkic troops; overthrew al-Musta'in. Rise of Saffarids in Sistan and Tulunids in Egypt. Deposed and imprisoned by Turkic generals; died three days later.14 al-Muhtadi 22 July 869 – 21 June 870 al-Wathiq Qurb, Greek concubine833 – 21 June 870 Cousin of al-Mu'tazz; installed by Turkic military. Sought to emulate pious caliph Umar II. Killed by Turkic general Musa ibn Bugha after refusing to abdicate. Abbasid Revival15 al-Mu'tamid 21 June 870 – 14 October 892 al-Mutawakkil Fityan, Greek concubine842 – 14 October 892 Installed by Turkic troops; de facto rule by his brother al-Muwaffaq and then his nephew al-Mu'tadid, who led the military. Failed Saffarid invasion (876); suppression of Zanj Revolt (883).. Unification of Samanid state in Transoxiana (892). Placed under house arrest after a failed escape attempt to Tulunid Egypt (882).16 al-Mu'tadid 15 October 892 – 5 April 902 al-Muwaffaq Dirar, Greek concubine864 / 861 – 5 April 902 al-Mu'tamid's nephew; removed his cousin from line of succession to become heir apparent. Recovery of Jazira from Kharijite rebels (896). Return of the capital to Baghdad (892). Qarmatian state founded in Bahrain (899).17 al-Muktafi 5 April 902 – 13 August 908 al-Mu'tadid Jijak, Turkic concubine877 / 888 – 13 August 908 Heir apparent of al-Mu'tadid. Recovery of Egypt from Tulunids (905). Political fragmentation 18 al-Muqtadir 13 August 908 – 28 February 929 al-Mu'tadid Shaghab, Greek concubine 13 November 895 – 31 October 932 Installed by viziers as a child puppet ruler. Fatimid caliphate founded in Ifriqiya (909). Caliphal title claimed by Umayyads of Córdoba (929). Deposed by general Mu'nis al-Muzaffar.19 al-Qahir 1 March 929 – 2 March 929 al-Mu'tadid Fitnah, Berber concubine899 – 950 Installed and soon removed by Mu'nis.(18) al-Muqtadir 2 March 929 – 31 October 932 al-Mu'tadid Shaghab, Greek concubine 13 November 895 – 31 October 932 Reinstalled by Mu'nis al-Muzaffar. Qarmatian sack of Mecca (930). Killed in battle against Mu'nis.(19) al-Qahir 31 October 932 – 24 April 934 al-Mu'tadid Fitnah, Berber concubine899 – 950 Installed by Mu'nis, whom he executed later (833). Deposed, blinded and imprisoned by vizier Ibn Muqla after refusing to abdicate. Freed by al-Mustakfi eleven years later. Spent rest of his life as a beggar.20 al-Radi 24 April 934 – 13 December 940 al-Muqtadir Zalum, Greek concubine20 December 909 – 13 December 940 Nephew of al-Qahir, who had him imprisoned. Made caliph after al-Qahir's deposition. Ikhshidid consolidation of Egypt (935). Office of amīr al-umarāʾ created, who became the de facto rulers.21 al-Muttaqi 15 December 940 – 26 August 944 al-Muqtadir Khalub, Greek concubine908 – July 968 Selected by amir al-umara Bajkam after his brother's death.Muir (1924), p. 572 Deposed and blinded by amir al-umara Tuzun.22 al-Mustakfi September 944 – 29 January 946 al-Muktafi Ghusn, Greek concubine11 November 908 – September 949 Uncle of al-Muttaqi; installed by Tuzun. Buyid takeover of Baghdad (945); appointment of Buyids as amir al-umaras. Deposed and blinded by Buyid emir Mu'izz al-Dawla; died under house arrest. Buyid Control23 al-Muti 29 January 946 – 5 August 974 al-Muqtadir Mash'ala, Slavic concubine913/14 – 12 October 974 Cousin of al-Mustakfi; hid upon his enthronement; installed by Mu'izz al-Dawla after his deposition. Egypt, Palestine and Hejaz lost to Fatimids (969). Byzantine reconquests under Nikephoros II; fall of Antioch (969). Forced to abdicate by Turkic general Sabuktakin; died two months later.24 al-Ta'i 5 August 974 – 22 November 991 al-Muti Utb, Greek concubine929 – 3 August 1003 Installed by Sabuktakin. Buyid civil wars; Byzantine reconquests continue under John I. Deposed by Buyid emir Baha' al-Dawla; died in captivity.25 al-Qadir 22 November 991 – 29 November 1031 Ishaq ibn al-Muqtadir Tammani/Dimna, concubine28 September 947 – 29 November 1031 Cousin of al-Ta'i; Installed by Baha' al-Dawla. Granting of the title of Sultan as deputies to caliph, notably to Mahmud of Ghazni. Baghdad Manifesto against Fatimids (1011). Seljuk Control26 al-Qa'im 29 November 1031 – 3 April 1075 al-Qadir Qatr al-Nada, Armenian concubine 8 November 1001 – 3 April 1075 Younger son and heir apparent of al-Qadir. End of the Caliphate of Córdoba (1031). Buyids ousted from Baghdad by Seljuk Sultan Tughril (1055). Recognition of Abbasid nominal authority by Almoravids (1062). End of the Qarmatian state (1067). Battle of Manzikert (1071); Turkic settlement in Anatolia begins.27 al-Muqtadi 3 April 1075 – 3 February 1094 Muhammad ibn al-Qa'imBennison, Amira K. (2009) The Great Caliphs: The Golden Age of the 'Abbasid Empire. Princeton: Yale University Press, p. 47. Urjuwuan, Armenian concubineBennison, Amira K. (2009) The Great Caliphs: The Golden Age of the 'Abbasid Empire. Princeton: Yale University Press, p. 47. 24 July 1056 – 3 February 1094 Grandson and heir apparent of al-Qa'im. Recognition of Abbasid authority in Hejaz.28 al-Mustazhir 3 February 1094 – 6 August 1118 al-Muqtadi Tayf al-Khayal, Turkic concubineApril / May 1078 – 6 August 1118 First Crusade; fall of Jerusalem (1099).29 al-Mustarshid 6 August 1118 – 29 August 1135 al-Mustazhir Lubaba, Slavic concubineApril / May 1092 – 29 August 1135 Almohad consolidation of the Maghreb (1147) and al-Andalus (1173). Failed campaign against Seljuks (1135). Murdered, possibly by the Assassins.30 al-Rashid 29 August 1135 – 17 August 1136 al-Mustarshid Khushf, Iraqi concubine1109 – 6 June 1138 Deposed by Seljuk Sultan Mas'ud. Fled to Isfahan; killed by assassins.31 al-Muqtafi 17 September 1136 – 12 March 1160 al-Mustazhir Ashin, Syrian concubine9 April 1096 – 12 March 1160 Uncle of al-Rashid; installed by Mas'ud. Failed Seljuk Siege of Baghdad (1157); Abbasid consolidation of Iraq. Final Revival32 al-Mustanjid 12 March 1160 – 18 December 1170 al-Muqtafi Thawus, Greek concubine1124 – 18 December 1170 Formal independence from Seljuks; Sultan's name removed from Abbasid coinage (1165)33 al-Mustadi 18 December 1170 – 27 March 1180 al-Mustanjid Ghadha, Armenian concubine1142 – 27 March 1180 End of the Fatimid Caliphate (1171); Abbasid nominal authority restored in Egypt under Saladin.34 al-Nasir 27 March 1180 – 5 October 1225 al-Mustadi Zumurrud, Turkic concubineʻIzz al-Dīn Ibn al-Athīr, Years 589-629/1193-1231: The Ayyūbids After Saladin and the Mongol Menace, transl. D.S. Richards, (Ashgate Publishing, 2008), 260.6 August 1158 – 5 October 1225 Recovery of Jerusalem from the Crusaders by Saladin (1187). End of Seljuk Empire; conquest by the Khwarazmians (1194). Mongol conquest of Khwarazmian Empire (1221).