Al-Rashid Billah
Al-Rashid bi'llah الراشد بالله | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Khalīfah Amir al-Mu'minin | |||||||||
![]() | |||||||||
30thCaliphof theAbbasid Caliphate Abbasid CaliphinBaghdad | |||||||||
Reign | 29 August 1135 – 17 August 1136 | ||||||||
Predecessor | Al-Mustarshid | ||||||||
Successor | Al-Muqtafi | ||||||||
Born | 1109 Baghdad,Iraq | ||||||||
Died | 6 June 1138 (aged 29) Isfahan,Iran | ||||||||
Burial | |||||||||
Issue | Ja'far | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Dynasty | Abbasid | ||||||||
Father | Al-Mustarshid | ||||||||
Mother | Khushf | ||||||||
Religion | Sunni Islam |
Abu Ja'far al-Mansur ibn al-Faḍl al-Mustarshid bi'llah(Arabic:أبو جعفر المنصور بن الفضل المسترشد بالله;1109 – 6 June 1138) usually known by hisregnal nameAl-Rashid bi'llah(Arabic:الراشد بالله) was theAbbasid caliphin Baghdad from 1135 to 1136. He succeeded his fatheral-Mustarshidin the year 1135. He ruled for just one year from 1135 up to his deposition on 17 August 1136 when the populace of Baghdad rose in revolt against him.
Biography
[edit]Al-Rashid bi'llah was the son of caliphAl-Mustarshidand his mother was one of Al-Mustarshid's concubines was called Khushf. She was from Iraq, and was the mother of his son Mansur, the future Caliph Al-Rashid Billah.[1]His full name was Mansur ibn al-Faḍl al-Mustarshid and hisKunyawasAbu Jaʿfar.He wasnominated as heirby his father al-Mustarshid. As a prince, he spend his life in magnificent city of Baghdad. His name was minted on coins of Baghdad also on Seljuq coins along with the Caliph. When his father was mysterious killed in 1135, he smoothly ascended to the throne.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Anonymous_-_Death_of_the_Abbasid_Caliph%2C_Al-Mustarshid_bi-llah%2C_Assassinated_During_the_Reign_of_Sultan_Mas%E2%80%99ud%2C_-_1965.51.6_-_Yale_University_Art_Gallery.jpg/220px-Anonymous_-_Death_of_the_Abbasid_Caliph%2C_Al-Mustarshid_bi-llah%2C_Assassinated_During_the_Reign_of_Sultan_Mas%E2%80%99ud%2C_-_1965.51.6_-_Yale_University_Art_Gallery.jpg)
Like his father,al-Mustarshid,al-Rashid made another failed attempt at independence (militarily) fromSeljuk Turks.To avenge his father's death, he insulted the envoy of sultanGhiyath ad-Din Mas'udwho came to demand a heavy largess, incited the mob to plunder his palace, and then, supported byZengi,who was equally hostile to the sultan because of the murder of Dubais ibn Sadaqah, set up a rival sultan. Mas'ud hastened to the rebellious capital andlaid siege to it.Baghdad, well defended by the river and its canals, resisted the attack; but in the end the caliph and Zengi, hopeless of success, escaped to Mosul. The sultan's power restored, a council was held, the caliph deposed, and his uncleal-Muqtafiwas appointed as the new caliph.
Al-Rashid fled toIsfahanwhere he was assassinated by a team of fourNizari Ismailis (Assassins)in June 1138. This was celebrated inAlamutfor a week.[2]
Death
[edit]Ar-Rashid was assassinated by a team of four Nizari Shia Ismailis (Assassins) in June 1138.
AMausoleumwas built on his last resting place known asAl-Rashid Mausoleumis a historical mausoleum inIsfahan city.It dates back to theLater Abbasid era of Seljuqsand is located on the northern bank ofZayanderudbeside the Shahrestan bridge. This structure is the burial place ofAl-Rashidthe 30th Abbasid Caliph, who left his palace and fled from Baghdad toIsfahan,when Mahmud captured Baghdad. Two years later, Al-Rashid was stabbed and killed byHashshashinsin 1138. The only decorative element of the mausoleum is astuccoKuficinscription.[3]
See also
[edit]- Ahmad ibn Nizam al-Mulka vizier of his father al-Mustarshid
- Khatun,wife of al-Mustarshid
References
[edit]- ^الدكتور, عبد القادر بوباية ،الأستاذ (2009).الاكتفاء في اخبار الخلفاء 1-2 ج2.Dar Al Kotob Al Ilmiyah دار الكتب العلمية. p. 489.
- ^Daftary, Farhad (1992).The Isma'ilis: Their History and Doctrines.Cambridge University Press. p. 384.ISBN978-0-521-42974-0.
- ^Hosseyn Yaghoubi (2004). Arash Beheshti (ed.).Rāhnamā ye Safar be Ostān e Esfāhān(Travel Guide for the Province Isfahan)(in Persian). Rouzane. p. 118.ISBN964-334-218-2.
- This text is adapted fromWilliam Muir's 1924 bookThe Caliphate: Its Rise, Decline, and Fall,which is in the public domain.