The History of al-Ṭabarī Vol. 33

Storm and Stress along the Northern Frontiers of the ʿAbbasid Caliphate: The Caliphate of al-Muʿtaṣim A.D. 833-842/A.H. 218-227

C. E. Bosworth

• Publisher: SUNY Press
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN: 9780791404942, 9780791404935
• eBook ISBN: 9780791497210
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Religion

This section of al-?abar?'s History covers the eight-year reign of al-Mu?ta?im (833-42), immediately following the reign of his elder brother al-Ma'mun, when the Islamic caliphate was once more united after the civil strife and violence of the second decade of the ninth century A.D. Al-Mu'tasim's reign is notable for the transfer of the administrative capital of the caliphate from Baghdad north to the military settlement of Samarra on the Tigris, where it was to remain for some 60 years. This move meant a significant increase in the caliphs' dependence on their Turkish slave guards. Al-Mu?ta?im's reign was also marked by periods of intense military activity along the northern fringes of the Islamic lands: against the Byzantines in Anatolia; against the sectarian Babak and his followers—the "wearers of red, " the Khurramiyyah—in northwestern Persia; and against the politically ambitious local prince Mazyar in the Caspian provinces of Persia. These episodes take up the greater part of al-Tabari's account of al-Mu?ta?im's reign, and he has provided graphic and detailed narratives of the respective campaigns, including valuable details on military organization and tactics during this period.

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• The History of al-Tabari: Editorial Board
• The History of al-Tabari: Vol. XXXIII
• Copyright
• Preface
• Table of Contents
• Abbreviations
• Translator's Foreword
• Table I. Genealogy of the 'Abbasids
• Map 1. The Central Lands of the Caliphate during the Reign of al-Mu'tasim
• The Events of the Year 218 (cont'd) (January 27, 833 - January 15, 834)
• The Events of the Year 219 (January 16, 834 - January 4, 835)
• The Events of the Year 220 (January 5 - December 25, 835)
• The Events of the Year 221 (December 26, 835 - December 13, 836)
• The Events of the Year 222 (December 14, 836 - December 2, 837)
• The Events of the Year 223 (December 3, 837 - November 22, 838)
• The Events of the Year 224 (November 23, 838 - November 11, 839)
• The Events of the Year 225 (November 12, 839 - October 30, 840)
• The Events of the Year 226 (October 31, 840 - October 20, 841)
• The Events of the Year 227 (October 21, 841 - October 9, 842)
• Bibliography of Cited Works
• Index
• Back Cover