al-Basasiri

Abuʾl-Ḥārith Arslān al-Muẓaffar al-Basāsīrī(died 15 January 1059) was aTurkomanslave-soldier (mamlūk) who rose to become a military commander of theBuwayhid dynastyinIraq.When the Buwayhids were ousted by theSeljuksin 1055, he transferred his allegiance to theFatimid Caliphateof Egypt, in whose name he conqueredBaghdad,which he ruled for almost a year.

Early years

The name al-Basāsīrī (or al-Fasāsīrī, al-Fasāwī) is anisbaderived from his first owner's place of origin, Basā (Fasā) in theprovince of Fars.Abuʾl-Ḥārith is akunya,while hisism(given name) was the Turkish Arslān.He became a freedman (mawlā) of the Buwayhid emirBaha al-Dawla(r. 988–1012). His military career, however, can be traced only from the reign of Baha's son,Jalal al-Dawla(r. 1025–1044).

Al-Basasiri took part in Jalal's conflicts with his nephew,Abu Kalijar,the emir of Fars, and with the rivalUqaylid dynastyofMosul.He was also a favourite of the Buwayhid emiral-Malik al-Rahim(r. 1048–1055), from whom he received the town ofAnbaras a fief. This was a period of growing unrest among the Turkish troops in Baghdad, growing strife betweenSunniandShi'a,constantKurdishraiding and the ongoing war with the Uqaylids.

Conflict with the vizier, 1054–55

In 1054, al-Basasiri was unable to prevent Turkish troops from rioting and looting in Baghdad. In the same year the Uqaylid leaderQurayshraidedBaradanand carried off al-Basasiri's camels and horses.In November, Quraysh captured Anbar and formally renounced Buwayhid lordship, ordering the Seljuk sultanTughrulto be named in the public sermon (khuṭba) duringFriday prayer.

According toIbn al-Athir'sComplete History,"the estrangement of the [Abbasid] caliph and Basasiri began this year in Ramadan", that is, between 4 December 1054 and 2 January 1055.In 1054, al-Basasiri fell out with thecaliphal vizierIbn al-Muslimaover Turkish policy. He accused the vizier of being in contact with Tughrul since 1052/3. Ibn al-Muslima in turn blocked al-Basasiri's efforts to combat Quraysh's supporters in Baghdad. In retaliation, al-Basasiri impounded the vizier's boat and cut off his monthly stipend. He also cut off the caliphal-Qa'im's monthly subsidy.

In March 1055 al-Basasiri reconquered Anbar.On his way he plundered the villages ofDimimmaandFallujah.He was joined by his brother-in-law,Dubays Iof theMazyadid dynasty.Anbar was defended by the Uqaylid client Abu'l-Ghana'im ibn al-Muhallaban. Al-Basasiri, employingtrebuchetsandGreek fire,destroyed a tower and some defensive works. The town was stormed and Abu'l-Ghana'im was captured along a hundredKhafajasoldiers.

The conflict with the vizier continued after al-Basasiri's return to Baghdad. In July 1055, during a Sunni protest, the vizier convinced some fanatics to board a ship and break some wine jars belonging to a Christian merchant and destined for al-Basasiri, then staying atWasitwith the Buwayhid sultan. Because the wine had belonged to a Christian, al-Basasiri was able to obtain aHanadilegal ruling (fatwā) declaring the vizier's actions illegal. Ibn al-Muslima then denounced him as having Shi'a sympathies and being in contact with the Abbasids' rivals, the Shi'aFatimid Caliphate.He turned the Turkish troops and the caliph against him, and had his house in Baghdad burnt down. In fact, although the Fatimid chief missionaryal-Mu'ayyad fi'l-Din al-Shiraziwrote to al-Basasiri, his letters did not reach him until after the arrival of Tughrul in Baghdad.

Ibn al-Muslima ordered the sultan al-Malik al-Rahim to send his favourite away, but the sultan refused. On 15 December 1055, the name of Tughrul, who was nominally passing through on his pilgrimage (ḥajj) toMecca,was pronounced in thekhuṭbain Baghdad. On 18 December, he solemnly entered the city. The presence of his troops sparked disorders, and he arrested the Buwayhid sultan on 23 December for failing to control the people. Although al-Malik al-Rahim returned to Baghdad from Wāsiṭ to greet Tughrul, al-Basasiri went to the court of his brother-in-law, Dubays. Tughrul ordered Dubays to disassociate with al-Basasiri, and the latter went toRahba.

In Fatimid service against the Seljuks, 1055–59

Governor of Rahba

From Rahba, al-Basasiri wrote to the Fatimid caliphal-Mustansir(r. 1036–1094) for permission to come toCairoand for assistance in defendingSyriaand Egypt from the Seljuks. The Fatimid vizieral-Yazurirefused the first request, but granted the second. Al-Basasiri was appointed governor of Rahba, and the caliph sent him500000gold dinars,clothing valued at500000dinars,10000bows,1000swords, 500 horses and a quantity of lances and arrows. Al-Mu'ayyad accompanied the supplies and brought the letter of investiture.

In 1056–57, al-Mu'ayyad won several Syrian and Iraqi emirs over to the Fatimid cause. Dubays, al-Basasiri's former protector, who had submitted to Tughrul, changed allegiance and had the Fatimid caliph's name pronounced in thekhuṭba.He renewed his alliance with al-Basasiri. The Baghdadi Turks, who had been a thorn in the side of al-Basasiri in previous years, found the rule of Tughrul intolerable and joined al-Basasiri in Syria. The army of al-Basasiri and Dubays, reinforced by the Turks and someBedouin,marched onSinjar,where they defeated a Seljuk force underQutalmishand Quraysh. While Qutalmish escaped capture and fled toAdharbayjan,Quraysh was injured and surrendered on 9 January 1057.

After his victory at Sinjar, al-Basasiri enteredMosuland the city declared for the Fatimid caliph. This situation only lasted a few days. Tughrul soon recaptured Mosul and set about devastating the region of Sinjar, while al-Basasiri retreated to Rahba. Dubays and Quraysh temporarily switched sides again, but theanti-Arab sentimentin the Seljuk camp repulsed them. Dubays went to Jami'an and Quraysh joined al-Basasiri at Rahba.

In early 1058, Tughrul's brotherIbrahim Inalentered into an agreement with al-Basasiri and al-Mu'ayyad, whereby the latter would support him in usurping his brother's throne and he would proclaim the name of the Fatimid caliph in thekhuṭba.He abandoned Mosul to al-Basasiri, who still had to spend four months besieging the citadel before it surrendered. After capturing the citadel, al-Basasiri retired to Rahba. Again his victory did not last. Tughrul soon retook Mosul and marched onNisibis.Al-Basasiri retreated toDamascus.

Conquest of Baghdad

During al-Basasiri's retreat, Ibrahim rose in revolt in theJibal.Tughrul's response largely denuded Iraq of Seljuk troops, allowing al-Basasiri to launch an invasion. He quickly tookHitand Anbar. On 27 December 1058, he entered Baghdad with 400mamlūkcavalry accompanied by Quraysh and his 200 cavalry. The next Friday, 1 January 1059, the Shi'a call to worship (adhān) was announced inwestern Baghdad,which was predominantly Shi'a. On 8 January, al-Basasiri crossed theTigrisand occupiedeastern Baghdad.The name of the Fatimid caliph was pronounced in theGreat Mosque.There skirmishes in the streets throughout the following week.On 19 January, theHasani Palacewas assaulted and the Abbasid caliph al-Qa'im placed himself and his household under the protection of Quraysh. On 29 January, al-Basasiri celebrated theFeast of the Sacrificein the prayer space (muṣallā) outside the Great Mosque with Fatimid banners flying.

As the new authority in Baghdad, al-Basasiri took over the Abbasid insignia, the turban (mindīl), cloak (ridāʾ) and lattice screen (shibbāk). He allowed Quraysh to retain custody of al-Qa'im, removed from the city and confined atHaditha,but he ordered him to hand over the vizier Ibn al-Muslima, whom he paraded through the streets and executed on 16 February 1059.

Al-Basasiri followed up his conquest of Baghdad by taking Wasit andBasra.His invasion ofKhuzistan,however, was repelled.The ruler of Khuzistan,Hazarasp ibn Bankir,asked Dubays to mediate with al-Basasiri. He offered to pay tribute to al-Basasiri, but the latter refused demanding that thekhuṭbaand the coinage be made in the name of the Fatimid caliph. Hazarasp refused this. When al-Basasiri realised that he was receiving troops from Tughrul, he made peace with him and retired to Wasit, which he reached on the 12 September 1059.

In July 1059, Tughrul defeated his brother. He offered to leave al-Basasiri in power in Baghdad provided thekhuṭbaand the coinage were in his name and the Abbasid caliph was restored. Al-Basasiri tried to pry al-Qa'im away from the Seljuks, but the caliph refused. Quraysh tried to convince al-Basasiri to accept Tughrul's authority, but he refused. Tughrul marched on Baghdad. Al-Basasiri abandoned the city with his family on 14 December 1059. Tughrul and the Abbasid caliph entered it on 4 January 1060. The Fatimid name was said to have been pronounced in thekhuṭbain Baghdad's mosques forty times, meaning that the rule of al-Basasiri in Baghdad lasted forty Fridays.

Al-Basasiri headed towardsKufaand joined up with Dubays. When the Seljuk cavalry overtook them, Dubays fled but al-Basasiri offered battle. On 15 January, at Saḳy al-Furat near Kufa, he was defeated and killed. His horse was first killed under him by an arrow and he was then killed by the clerk of the Seljuk vizieral-Kunduri.His head was brought to Tughrul at Baghdad.

Sources

• Canard, Marius(1960)."al-Basāsīrī".InGibb, H. A. R.;Kramers, J. H.;Lévi-Provençal, E.;Schacht, J.;Lewis, B.&Pellat, Ch.(eds.).The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition.Volume I:A–B.Leiden: E. J. Brill. pp. 1073–1075.OCLC495469456.
• Daftary, Farhad(2007).The Ismāʿı̄lı̄s: Their History and Doctrines(Second ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.ISBN978-0-521-61636-2.
• Richards, D. S., ed. (2000).The Annals of the Saljuq Turks: Selections from al-Kamil fi'l-Ta'rikh of Ibn al-Athir.Abingdon and New York: Routledge.

Further reading

• Sajjadi, Sadeq; Hirtenstein, Stephen; Umar, Suheyl (2013)."Al-Basāsīrī".InMadelung, Wilferd;Daftary, Farhad(eds.).Encyclopaedia Islamica Online.Brill Online.ISSN1875-9831.