The life and times of ʻAlī ibn ʻĪsá, 'the Good vizier' 8k71nh17v

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THE LIFE AND TIMES OF

‘ALI IBN ‘ISA

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4 NU j ONE egey THE VICES OF AL-MUQTADIR

Drink Music The unique portrait-dindr of the Kaiser-Friedrich Museum, Berlin Legend on obverse—al-Mugtadir bi? lah Photographed from a cast

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF

‘ALI IBN ‘ISA “The Good Vizier’ BY

HAROLD BOWEN

LIP

Panik

CAMBRIDGE AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS MCMXXVIII

PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN

Testimonials, ancient and modern, to the good character

of “Alt ibn ‘Isa AS-SULI (a poet and historian of the fourth/tenth century): I do not know that there has served the Banw’l-‘Abbas a Vizier like him for honesty, asceticism, memorisation of the gur’du and knowledge of its significations, clerkship, a capacity for calcula-

tion, alms-giving and good works; nor do I know that I ever spoke with anyone more deeply versed in poetry. They have seen no one more abstemious, or gentle-spoken, or chaste. He would fast by day, and stay up at night.... From the Avrabic—quoted in the Irshdd of Yaqut,

, the History of adb-Dhahabi, the Kitab al-Fakhri, ete. AL-KHATIB (a historian of the fifth/eleventh century): He was learned and virtuous and wise, and devout and just and righteous, honest in office, of a good repute in the Vizierate, and well conducted in his life. He was much given to good works

and charity, to reading the gur’dz, and to prayer and fasting; admired and was generous to the learned; and was well known for his discretion and probity and goodness and piety.... From the Arabic—quoted in the Mir’dt ax-Lamdn of Sibt Ibn al-Jawz7.

A. VON KREMER (nineteenth century): Er ist der letzte und glinzendste Vertreter der so wenig bekannten und beachteten staatsmannischen Schule von tiichtigen,

kenntnissreichen Verwaltungsbeamten der besten Zeit der Abbasiden, ohne deren Dienste das damalige arabische Weltreich schon viel frither in Sticke gegangen wirte.... Ueber das Einnahmebudget des Abbasidenretchs.

A. MULLER (nineteenth century): Ali ibn Isa wat ein ehrlicher Mann, ein tiichtiger und humaner Beamter, die Steuerkraft der Unterthanen zu schonen und ihre Leiden zu mildern beflissen; nicht eben von heldenhaftem Muthe,

vi TESTIMONIALS fir welchen in den Kreisen der damaligen Verwaltung sich wenig Platz fand, daher drohenden Gewittern, so gut er irgend konnte, ausweichend, aber stets bereit, dem Staate seine Arbeits-

kraft zur Verfiigung zu stellen, wenn er es ohne Gefahr fiir sich thun zu kénnen meinte. Der Islam im Morgen- und Abendland.

L. MASSIGNON (twentieth century): Kath, il est visiblement Pidéal des divers Aotidb qui nous ont laissé Vhistoire de son temps: c’est un secrétaire d’Etat modeéle, homme de bon conseil.... Al-Hallaj.

PREFACE Ts this material of the “hero” book, for ‘Alithe ibnbiography ‘Isa, is exceptionally ample.of I doubt whether mote is to be discovered about any other minister of the Caliphs. For though numerous works on the lives of the Viziers were composed in eatly ‘Abbasid times, little of them remains; and of one of the most detailed, Hilal as-Sabi’s Aztdéb alwuxard’, only that part sutvives that is concerned with

the doings of ‘Ali ibn ‘Isa and of his chief rival in office. No period of the Caliphate, moreover, is more abundantly chronicled than that in which he lived. Nevertheless ‘Alf ibn ‘Isa has not received much attention from European writers. Von Kremer used the Aitdb al-wuzard in his Ueber das Finnahmebudget des Abbasidenreichs, but was concerned in that monostaph chiefly with ‘Alf ibn ‘Isa’s statesmanship, only secondarily with him himself. Weil in his Geschichte der Califen, Miller in his Is/am, and De Goeje in his Carmathes, have all given space to him, as have also

mote recently Amedroz in his edition of Hilal, M. Massignon in A/+Hala/, and Professor Margoliouth in the introduction to his Eclipse of the Abbasid Caliphate;

but he has generally been undervalued, I think, by being contrasted with his rival Ibn al-Furat. Certainly Ibn al-Furdt had more vigour than ‘Ali ibn ‘Isa, and

owned the effrontery he lacked; but he cannot, it seems to me, be justly extolled as a statesman, since his ruthless opportunism was tesponsible as much as anything for the ruin of the Caliphate. Besides, with

his dishonesty and self-seeking, Ibn al-Furat was typical of his class; whereas ‘Ali ibn ‘Isa, with his integrity and foresight, stands out from the prevailing villainy of the age as par excellence ““the good Vizier.”

Vill PREFACE It will be seen from the “Key to References” and from various foot-notes to the text what works I have used as authorities, also which of them have been published and which remain in manuscript. I must note that there are two pertinent histories that I have been unable to consult, the awrdg of as-Suli and the Ritdb al—“uyén, of which the MSS. are preserved in Cairo and Berlin respectively. However, De Goeje in his edition of ‘Arib gives extracts from the latter, and Professor Margoliouth in his edition of Miskawayh numerous extracts from both. So I hope that I may not have missed any very important points.

As tegards spelling, except where they possess established English forms, all names are transliterated systematically from the Arabic, as are also such Arabic

words as, since they have no exact equivalents in English, it has been necessary to use. Examples of English forms ate Mecca for Makkah, Edessa for Ruha, the Yemen for al-Yaman, Caliph for &halifah, Petsian names ate given their Persian, as opposed to their Arabic, forms, e.g. Nishapur and not an-Naysabtr, Ray and not ar-Rayy, Dinavar and not ad-Dinawar. In the case of Arabic names prefixed by the article a/-, when they ate used in such constructions as require an

antecedent “‘the,” I have usually dropped the a/: e.g. the Basrah toad, for the road to al-Basrah; the Mukharrim quarter, for the quarter of al-Mukharrim;

the Madhara’is (meaning the persons called each al-Madhara’).

As regatds names, the term for a name prefixed either by the word Abt, Father (of), or by the word Umm, Mother (of), is kunyah. The kunyah is used in the Arabic-speaking world instead of the name proper for politeness. In the histories some people appear as a tule under their Runyahs, some under their names proper, probably because, in the scarcity of surnames, the need was felt for some means of distinguishing

PREFACE ix between the many people that shared one name and patronymic. I have followed this precedent in, for example, the cases of the adventurer Abti ‘Abd Allah (al-Baridi) and the judge Abt ‘Umar, on the one hand, and of “Ali ibn ‘Isa himself and his uncle Muhammad ibn Da’td, on the other. Family names, or surnames, of a kind existed at the period of this history, but wete

far from general. They were formed either from patronymics, e.g. Ibn al-Jarrah, al-Khaqani (from Ibn Khaqan); from place-names, e.g. at-Tabari (man of Tabaristan); from occupation-names, e.g. al-Baridi (postmaster), a/-khaxzdz (taw-silk merchant); from a combination of two of these types, e.g. Ibn al-‘Allaf (son of the fodder-man); or, in the case of a freedman, from his master’s “surname” or title, e.g. al-Jarrahi (from Ibn al-Jarrah), al-Muqtadiri (from al-Muqtadir). In the hope of making the details of dating easier to follow, I append a list of the Muhammadan months in order, showing the number of days in each. I have to thank Mr J. Allan of the British Museum

fot his kindness in having casts made of the coins chosen for illustration, and for obtaining a cast of the portrait-dindr of al-Muqtadir from Berlin. I have also to thank Professor R. A. Nicholson for his help in the interpretation of some verses. H. B. COLWORTH

September 1927

THE MONTHS OF THE MUHAMMADAN YEAR al-mubarram, 30 days. safar, 29 days. rabt‘ al-awwal, 30 days. rabi' al-dkhir, 29 days. jumdda’ l-tila, 30 days. jumdda’ l-akhirah, 29 days. rajab, 30 days. Sha‘ bin, 29 days. ramadhdn (the Fast), 30 days. shawwal, 29 days. dht’l-qa'dab, 30 days. dhu’l-hijjah (the month of the Pilgrimage), 29 days.

In some years a day is intercalated at the end of dha’/-hijjab.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION. , . , ; , page I

PART ONE . . . ° . : . : 25 Chapter I. The accession of al-Mu‘tadhid. ‘Ubayd Allah ibn Sulayman. The brothers Tbn al-Furat and their employment of ‘Ali ibn ‘Isa and his uncle Muhammad.

Chapter II. ‘Alf ibn ‘Ist, and his family, the Bant’lJarrah. Chapter II. Badr. New employments, and promotion, for “Ali and his uncle.

Chapter IV. Ie Carmathians. Egypt recovered. Chapter V. The accession of al-Muktafi. The Vizierate and death of al-Qasim. The war of the Secretaries.

Chapter VI. Al-‘Abbas ibn al-Hasan as Vexser. The defeat of the Banwl-Jarrah.

Chapter VII. Te Bab al-Bustan. The learned and literary circle of ‘Ali ibn ‘Isa.

Chapter VIII. The death of al-Muktafi. The accession of al-Muqtadir. Ihe conspiracy of Ibn al-Mu‘tazz.

Chapter [X. The fate of the conspirators. ,

PART TWO . - os ; . . ; . 99 Chapter I. Al-Mugqtadir and his mother. The Vexierate of Ibn al-Purat, and his fall.

Chapter II. ‘Alf ibn ‘Isa zz Mecca. The Vizierate and fall of al-Khaqani.

Chapter III. ‘Alf ibn ‘Isa zz the Vizierate. His appointments and reforms. The gadhis Abu ‘Umar and Ibn alBuhlil.

xii CONTENTS Chapter IV. ‘Ali’s reforms (continued). His secretarial Skill, His economies and consequent unpopularity.

Chapter V. ‘Ali’s negotiations with the Carmathians. The foundation of the Fatimid Anti-Caliphate, and the attack on

Egypt. Chapter VI. Ie consequences of the Egyptian campaign— the revolt of Ibn Hamdan. ‘AIi’s growing unpopularity; bis misfortunes and fall.

Chapter VII. The second Vixierate of Ibn al-Furat, and his fall. The elevation of Hamid ibn al-‘Abbdas, and the appointment as his Assistant of ‘Ali ibn ‘Isa.

Chapter VI. The trial of Ibn al-Furat. Chapter IX. The rivalry of Hamid ibn al-“Abbas and ‘Ali ibn ‘Isa. Hamid’s contract, and its consequences.

Chapter X. Medical questions: Sinan ibn Thabit; ar-Razi. “Ali and al-Ash‘ati. At-Tabari and the Hanbalites. ‘ALi as a Séfi: ash-Shibli; al-Hallaj.

Chapter XI. The machinations of the Furat faction. The disgrace of Ummm Musa. The embarrassments and fall of ‘Ali ibn ‘Isa.

Chapter XII. ‘Ali on trial. Chapter XIII. The violence of al-Muhassin and its results.

PART THREE . ; ; ; ; ; , 223 Chapter I. The “ Year of Perdition.” Chapter II. ‘Alf ibn ‘Isa on bis travels.

Chapter III. Ihe end of Ibn al-Furat. Chapter IV. A comparison. The Vizierate ill-filled. ‘Ali given a new post, and later recalled to Baghdad.

Chapter V. The second Vixierate.

Chapter VI. The alarum of the Catmathians. ‘Ali’s despair and his disgrace.

CONTENTS xiii Chapter VII. Further tribulations of ‘Ali ibn ‘Isa. The second deposition of al-Muqtadit.

Chapter VIII. The destruction of the Masaftis. The breach

between al-Muqtadir and Mu’nis. Al-Muqtadit’s man@uures.

Chapter IX. Ihe Vizierate of Sulayman. Al-Muatadir triumphant.

PART FOUR _. . . . . , . 305 Chapter I. Ihe conversion of Daylam and its first results. The final estrangement of Mu’nis. A new champion for ‘Ali ibn ‘Isa. Chapter If. The end of al-Mugqtadir.

Chapter II. Ihe accession of al-Qahir. The last of the Lady. The fate of Mu’nis. Chapter IV. Lhe triumph and fall of al-Qahir. The accession of at-Radhi. Employments for ‘Ali.

Chapter V. Ise Buvayhids and the Baridis.

Chapter VI. The manewres of Ibn Muglah. ‘Alf ibn ‘Isa in trouble. The administration of ‘Abd at-Rahman. The “Emir of Emirs,” and the ruin of the Vixierate.

Chapter VII. Bachkam. The fate of Ibn Muqlah. The death of at-Radhi.

Chapter VIII. The accession of al-Muttaqi. The Baridis in Baghdad. The last employment of ‘Ali ibn ‘Isa. Chapter IX. Further vicissitudes of the Emirate.

Chapter X. The Image of Edessa. Tuztin. The second fight and the fate of al-Muttagi. Al-Mustakfi.

Chapter XI. De Mu‘izz ad-Dawlah.

CONCLUSION . ; . . . , , - 396

INDEX . . . . . . . , 399

CORRIGENDA | p- vil omit reference to Margoliouth’s Eclipse of the Abbasid Caliphate xvii for At-Tannikhi read At-Tanikhi 3 for farj tead faraj (and so through-

| al-faraj

Out notes), and for a/-farj read

4, line 9 from bottom _for a third read another

12, line 5 for was read wete

26, line 3 from bottom _— for band’ read bind’

59, line 6 from bottom for ath-thurdyd tead ath-thurayyd (and so in Index)

111, line 6 for sherbert read sherbet | 5, line r2from bottom for al-Khidhr read al-Khadhir 145, line 11, and elsewhere for Farjawayh read Farajawayh 156, line 15, and elsewhere for al-Hawwiairi read al-Hawari 192, line 3 from bottom _for annihilation read absorption

251, line 15 for invited him, to read invited him to, 388, note 2 fot nazila read nazala

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ILLUSTRATIONS PLATES

I. The Vices of al-Muqtadir , ° , Frontispiece Il. Dirham and dindr of al-Muqtadir . to face page 99

I. The Triumph of al-Qéhir ; , , . » 331 IV. The Commanders of the Commander of the Faithful 392 MAPS

Sketch map of al-‘Ir4q with parts of the

Jibal and Khuzistan . . , ; . to face page xv

Sketch map of the ‘Abbasid Caliphate in the

IlIrd/IXth century . , , ; . at end

KEY TO REFERENCES

“A. ‘Arib, ed. De Goeje. An. nuz. Al-Anbati: nuzhat al-alibba’, Cairo, 1294/1877. Ath. (Bulaq) Ibn al-Athic: Hestory, Bulag, 1290/1873. Ath. (Tornberg) -— — ed. Tornberg.

Bal. Ibn al-Balkhi: fars-ndmeh, ed. Le Strange and

Nicholson. |

Dh. ¢. Adh-Dhahabi: ta’rikh al-islim, MS. B.M. Or. 48*.

Dh. fab. Adp-Dhahabi: tabagdt al-buffadh, ed. Wisteneld.

Dhaf. Ibn Dhafir (Jamal ad-Din): ad-duwal alss mungqatt'ah, MS. B.M. Or. 3685.

Rut. Eutychius (Sa‘id ibn al-Batriq), ed. Pococke.

fakh. kitdb al-fakhri, ed. Ahlwardt. Faq. Ibn al-Fagih al-Hamadhani, ed. De Goeje. Fid. _ Abw’l-Fida’: History, Cairo, 1325/1907.

jib. kitdb al-fibrist, ed. Pluegel.

H. Hilal as-Sabi’: Aitdb al-wuzard’, ed. Amedroz. H. Kh. Hajji Khalifah: dashf adb-dhunin, ed. Fluegel.

Ham. Hamzah of Isfahan: Aznals, Book x, ed. and trans. (Latin) Gottwaldt.

Ham. jaz. Al-Hamadhani: jaztrat al-‘arab, ed. Miller. Ham. Zak. Al-Hamadhani: takmilah ta’rikh at-tabart, MS. Paris, Arabe, 1469.

Haw. Ibn Hawaal, ed. De Goeje. Isfan. Ibn Isfandiyar: Hzstory of Tabaristdn, trans. Browne.

Ist. Al-Istakhri, ed. De Goeje. Jaw. Ibn al-Jawzi: a/-muntadbam, MS. Patis, Arabe, 5909.

Khald. Ibn Khaldin: Hésfory, Bulag, 1284/1867. Khald. Pro. — Prolegomena, trans. (French) De Slane.

Khall. we Khallikan: wafdydt al-d‘ydn, trans. De ane.

KEY TO REFERENCES XVil Kin. Al-Kindi: Aitadb al-wulat, ed. Guest.

M. Miskawayh: kitdb tajdrib al-umam, ed. Amedroz and Margoliouth, and trans. Margo-

liouth in Eclipse of the Abbasid Caliphate.

Maa. z¢. Al-Magqftizi: itti‘ddb al-bunafa’, ed. Bunz. Mas. murij Al-Mas‘idi: murdj adb-dhahab, ed. and trans. (French) Barbier de Meynard.

Mas. Zan. Al-Mas‘idi: kitdb at-tanbth wa’l-ishraf, ed. De Goeje.

Mua. Al-Mugaddasi: ed. De Goeje. Qaz. Al-Qazwini: Cosmography, ed. Wiistenfeld. Qif. Al-Qifti: ta’rikh al-bukamd’, ed. Lippert. Qudh. Al-Qudha‘i: i‘¢4b al-kutidb, MS. B.M. Or. 6641.

Qush. Al-Qushayri: risdlah, Cairo, 1287/1870.

Rus. Ibn Rustah, ed. De Goeje.

S.J. Sibt Ibn al-Jawzi: mir’dt az-vamdn, MS. B.M. Or. 4619.

Saf. As-Safadi: al-waft bi’l-wafdydt, various MSS. Fach indicated in reference.

Sub. Zab. As-Subki: tabagdt ash-shafi‘ityyah, MS. B.M. Or. 6521.

Tab. At-Tabari: History, ed. De Goeje and others. Tagh. Ibn Taghribirdi (Abt’l-Mahasin): an-nujam ax-xabirah, ed. Juynboll.

Tan. farj At-Tannukhi: &7tdb al-farj ba‘d ash-shiddah, Cairo, 1903-4.

Tan. nish. At-Tannukhi: sxishwar al-muhddharah, ed. Margoliouth.

U. Ibn Abi Usaybi‘ah: sabaqat al-atibbd’. Yaq. mujam Yaqut: wujam al-buldin, ed. Wistenfeld.

Yaq. ud. Yaqut: irshdd al-arib (mu‘jam al-udabd’), ed.

Margoliouth. Second ed. of vols. 1 andi used.

Encyclopédie refers to the Encyclopédie de I’Islam, still incomplete,

of which the first numbers appeared in 1913, published Leyden and Paris.

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