Koranlore

   Chapter 11         History of the Caliphs from 632 to 2006

The terrorist Islamist groups like Hamas and Al Qaeda are bent on perpetuating 1) the original document of Muhammad (identified by Muhammad as one between the believers and Muslims of Quraysh and Yathrib, and those who followed, joined and labored with them; cf. Chapter 6, Koranlore), and 2) the Covenant of Omar, and gaining Muslim supremacy and domination over non-Muslims worldwide under one leader they call caliph (Arabic, khalifah, “successor”).

Following is a working list of caliphs who ruled Muslims from the first caliph Abu Bakr (632) to the last, Abdul Mejid (1922), with other leaders such as emirs, sultans, wazirs completing the long history of Muslim rulers. The list is a compilation from several sources; it is assumed to be incomplete and will be added to as more information becomes available through more research.

The history of the caliphate shows that the men who accessed the role of caliph and those who sought the power of caliph were for the most part as violent as the Prophet himself; twelve (12) caliphs were known to have been murdered, and other caliphs assassinated their opponents to maintain power.  Any attempt to establish a future caliphate will present a similar pattern of violent struggle for power, as evidenced by the behavior of today’s terrorist Islamist groups, Hamas and al-Qaeda.

Caliphate - List of caliphs (including the sultans) 632-2006 A.D.

632           Abu Bakr

634 -644   Umar (Omar) I (Umar ibn ‘Abd al-Khattab, murdered 644.

644-656    Uthman ibn Affan appointed 3rd caliph, carried on Umar’s policy of territorial expansion.

656-661    ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, claimant to the succession as the fourth caliph by the Medinians.

Umayyad Caliphs Dynasty (661-750)

661-680    Mu’awiya (Muwaiyah?), son of Abu Sufyan, was governor of Syria, refused to recognize Ali as caliph and became the first caliph of the Umayyad dynasty of caliphs 661-750.

(Followers of Ali, angered by the indignity of Ali being considered only as a candidate on equal grounds with Mu’awiya and by Ali’s submitting to it, vowed to kill both Ali and Mu’awiya. They succeeded in killing only Ali.  Ali’s son Hasan, then claimed (661) the still disputed caliphate but abdicated within months under pressure from Mu’awiya’s supporters, who greatly outnumbered Ali’s followers, the Shias. [Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2000])

680-683    Yezid (Yazid) I, son of Mu’awiya 680-683               

                Husayn, Ali's second son (Prophet's grandson), rival claimant, was recognized  by the Kufan  Shias as caliph, and was later intercepted by Yezid’s troops in Iraq and slaughtered.

686           Merwan in Syria, was murdered in 686.

685-705    Abu Al-Malik, Yezid's 3rd successor, son of Merwan, murdered in 686.

691           Abdallah Ibn Zobeir maintained himself at Mecca till 691, slain in 692. 

705           Abdallah (another one) died in 705

705-715    Walid, caliph (705-715) died in 715

 715-717   Suleiman, Walid's son, (715-717), accession to caliphate

                Omar  II (717-719)

                Yezid II (720-724)

                Hisham (724-743)

 743?       Walid II, son of Hisham, was deposed by Yezid ibn Mohallab

 744?       Yezid III (ibn Mohallab) removed by Merwan II in name of Walid's young son

                Abd er-Rahman faced Charles Martel of the Franks, was kept in Spanish peninsula

744-750   Merwan II (last Ommiad caliph), pursued to Egypt, killed.

747          Abu Muslim. governor of Khorassan, revolted in name of Abbasids and drove out the Ommiad governor

Abbasid Caliphate Dynasty (750 – 909)

750          Abdallah Abul-Abbas (Al-Saffah = “the butcher”), first Abbassid caliph  (750-754)

754          Abd er-Rahman, who established as independent emir at Cordova (756-787) 

754          Brother of Al-Saffah, Mansur, became second caliph. Abu Muslim assassinated.

756          Abd er-Rahman arrived, got most of the leaders to pledge allegiance, and he became Emir of all Spain.   

775-785   Mansur’s brother tried unsuccessfully to contest the succession with his son Mahdi.

785-786   Hadi, elder son of Mansur, became caliph but was assassinated a year later; was succeeded by his younger brother, Haroun.

786-809    Haroun al-Rashid (the “Just”, the “Orthodox”) became caliph.

807-821    Hakim became emir at Cordova.

809-813    Emin, eldest son of Haroun al-Rashid, proclaimed caliph when his father died. His army was defeated. He was killed in 813.

813           Mamun became caliph (813-833).

821           Abd er-Rahman II succeeded Hakim.

833           Al-Mutasim succeeded Mamun at Baghdad.

836           Al-Mutasim moved his capital from Baghdad to new city, Samarra; died in 841(842?)

841           Wathek (824-847) became caliph.

847           Al-Mutawakkil  (847-861) succeeded Wathek as caliph.

852           Mahommed succeeded Abd er-Rahman II.

861           Al-Mutawakkil murdered by the Turkish guardsmen, who, irked by some grievance, replaced him with his son. (See Gonick, p.45)

861-871    The Turkish guards put up and took down five caliphs this way in ten years. (Gonick, p.45)       

869-883    Ali Ibn Muhammad offered to lead runaway Zanj slaves, claimed to be rightful caliph.

883           The caliph (Al-Mu’tadid?) killed Ali Ibn Muhammad.

892           Al-Mu’tadid, caliph, returned to Baghdad.

 ?-903       Abu Abdullah, a Shiite preacher, claimed his leader Mahdi would appear soon.

The Fatimid Dynasty (909 – 1171)

909          Fatimid caliphate was proclaimed at Kairwan.

               The Mahdi finally arrived to take over reins of government.  Within months, he ordered Abu Abdullah executed.

912-961   Abd er-Rahman III became emir at Cordova. Became caliph (Umayyid) in 929.

917          Al-Muqtadir, caliph in Baghdad (according to historian of Baghdad, al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, who lived 1002-71) 

The Umayyads of Spain (929-1931)

928 (929?)   Abd er-Rahman assumed officially the title of caliph.

929          Mahdi still ruled.  After he died, his son took over.  Their Shiite dynasty is known as the Fatimids.

945          Buyids, family of military leaders from Caspian Sea, took power in Baghdad. A Persian prince finally chased the Turkish guard out of Baghdad, but only after the guard had blinded three caliphs, leaving them to beg in the streets. But the Persian blinded a fourth caliph, tossed him out with the rest and set up a new caliph more to his liking.( p.134, Gonick)

950          Seljuk, of tribe of Ghuzz or Oghuz, and a chieftain among Turks passing Bukhara after 950, had sons David, Israel and Moses. By year 1000 these sons were fervent Muslims in service of Mahmoud of Ghazni.

959          The Caliph of Baghdad was now a puppet of Persian  Buyid(Bouid?)family (Shias)

969          Fatimid caliphate was established in Egypt.

978          A Fatimid caliph ordered a new capital city, Cairo.

992          Iranian (Persian) dynasty fell.

996-1021 Al Hakim, a Fatimid, the “blue-eyed lunatic.” He died, perhaps murdered by his sister.

998          Mahmud of Ghazni succeeded Sabuktagin. In 1001 Mahmud made first invasion of Punjab. He died in 1030.

999          Turk general Alptigin (formerly of Bukhara)’s most aggressive and zealously Muslim heir Mahmoud of Ghazni set himself up in 999.

1000        By year 1000 Seljuk’s sons David, Israel and Moses were fervent Muslims in service of Mahmoud of Ghazni.

1024        The Caliphate of Cordova became the Emirate of Cordova after 1024.

1033        After Mahmoud’s death, the Seljuk were attacking neighbors.

1037        Flag of Seljuks seen at the head of large army.

1047        The Fatimid caliph Al Mustansir effected a clever strategy to fight the rebellious Maghreb governor (re sheep grazing in the west to destroy Maghreb landscape).

1055       Seljuk’s grandson Tughril Bey bore down on Baghdad. The Persian overlords fled. Once in the capital, the Seljuk arranged with the caliph through interpreters to order two high platforms to be erected, atop one, the caliph, wearing the Prophet’s own robe, blessed Tughril, on the other, with a brand new title: Sultan.  The Seljuk sultan showed the caliph some respect.  But the Seljuks had to leave briefly to suppress a revolt.  The Shiites returned, forced the caliph to abdicate, sent his hat and caliphal gear to Egypt, thrilling the other caliph, also a Shiite, in Cairo.  But Tughril and forces returned to Baghdad, killed the Shiite general and restored the official caliph. The Turkish (Seljuk) sultan Tughril now controlled the heart of the Muslim world. Tughril soon died.

1058        The Abbasid caliph (official caliph) signed away his rights, sent the emblems of office, including the Prophet’s own sacred cloak, to Al-Mustansir in Cairo.  So the Fatimid and his Shiites thought he was THE ruling caliph.

1058-1111 Al-Ghazali, Abu Hamid Muhammad, caliph, held that power should be in the caliph (not the sultan or the ‘ulama).

1064         Alp Arslan invaded Christian Armenia where his troops massacred entire cities.

1067         The emperor died. His widow decided to marry a general and make him the new emperor.  She chose Romanos Diogenes.

1071         The new emperor led out his forces.   Alp Arslan engaged them in Armenia at Manzikert. After an extended bloody battle the Turks routed the Byzantine force and took the emperor prisoner. In a deal the emperor ceded several eastern cities, and promised a lot of money to the Turks who swore to leave the Byzantines in peace.              

Before Romanos Diogenes could return, his enemies had seized the throne; they attacked his army with their own, captured him and blinded him. He died of infection within days.

1072         Sultan Alp Arslan was soon after assassinated by one of his own men.

                 New Seljuk sultan Malik Shah left Asia Minor to the general Sulayman.

1073          Sulayman captured Nicea.

1077          Sultanate of Roum established at Nicea by Sulayman.

1081          The able general Alexius Comnenus removed usurper Nicephorus III, more incompetent than Michael Ducas

1085          Alfonso of Castile established himself at Madrid, captured Toledo.

                  The Almoravids, a sect of Berber desert tribesmen mainly, were establishing their supremacy among the African Moors. To their chief, Yussuf, the alarmed emirs in Spain appealed for aid.  Yussuf came, defeated Alfonso of Castile at Zallaca and stayed;

1086          Yussuf established himself as emir of Andalusia.

1092          Sultan Malik Shah died.  Seljuk power disintegrated.

1096          Moors fell to fighting among themselves; Yussuf was mastering the other emirs, the Cid captured Valencia, Alfonso renewed his advance.

1098          The Fatimids recaptured Jerusalem from Seljuks.

1099          The Cid died; Valencia was recaptured (by ?). Saragossa had not yet been taken.

                  Crusaders capture Jerusalem.

1106          Almoravids were supreme in the south and threatening to overwhelm Alfonso when Yussuf died. 

1108          Alfonso died.

1127          The Turk Zangi became lord or ataberg of Mosul. In next few years Zangi’s sway was extended over Mahomedan Syria and Mesopotamia.

1142          Zangi turned his arms against Edessa.

1144          Zangi captured Jerusalem. 2 years later he died, succeeded by Nour ed-Din.  Edessa fell.

1145          In Morocco a new, still more fanatical Berber sect invaded Spain.

1145-49     Struggle in Spain between Almoravids and Amohades who won the supremacy.

1164-9       Struggle for domination in Egypt between Nour ed-Din’s general Shirkuh and Almeric; Shirkuh's nephew Sala ed-Din (al-Din?)Yusuf Ibn Eyub won distinction.

1169          Almeric left Egypt.  Shirkuh secured wazirate in which Sala ed-Din succeeded him.

1170         Yusuf ibn Ayyub (Eyub), trusted lieutenant of the ataberg, Nour ed-Din, led an army to Egypt, controlled the country. He gave himself a new name: Saladin, defender of the faith. Like all Turks, Saladin was a Sunni.

1171          Saladin ended Fatima caliphate in Egypt, ruling as Nour ed-Din’s lieutenant.

1176          Saladin assumed title of sultan.

1180-1225 Al-Nasir caliph

1183          Saladin completed his mastery of Syria.

1187          Saladin defeated Guy at Hattin or Tiberias (June); captured Jerusalem (Oct.) and other fortresses.

1192          Treaty of Richard and Saladin ended Crusade.

1193          Saladin died.     

1202          Aladil, brother of Saladin, sultan (Eyubid dynasty)

1258          Last caliph of Baghdad killed by Mongols, ending Muslim rule.

1296         Ala ud-Din Khilji seized Delhi sultanate.

1307         Breakup of Seljuk dominion in Asia Minor on death of Ala ud-Din III.

1312         Othman sultan in Asia Minor.

1412         Mohammed I restored Ottoman power in Asia Minor.

1421         Mohammed I died; Murad II accession.

1451         Murad II died; Mohammed II the Conqueror.

1454         Mohammed granted terms to Venice.

1481         Mohammed II died; Bajazet II accession

1512         Ottomans: Selim I deposed his father Bajazet II and massacred his kinsmen.

1516         Selim I overthrew the Mamelukes in Syria.

1517         Selim conquered Egypt, deported the caliph to Constantinople, and assumed the Caliphate, retained by the Ottoman sultans for four centuries.

1520         Selim I died while besieging Rhodes.accession by Suleiman the Magnificent.

1521         Suleiman captured Belgrade.

1522         Suleiman took Rhodes.

1566         Suleiman the Magnificent died; accession by Selim II.

1574         Selim II died; Murad III accession.

1661         Ahmed Kiuprili grand wazir.

1676         Kara Mustafa succeeded Ahmed Kiuprili as grand wazir

1683         Kara Mustafa laid siege to Vienna.

1694         Turks recaptured Belgrade.

1825         Ibrahim, some of Mehemet Ali Pasha of Egypt, in southern Greece.

1826         Ibrahim took Missolonghi; Sultan Mahmud II suppressed and massacred Janissaries.

1832         Mehemet Ali conquered Syria.

1839         Mehemet Ali again attacked sultan. Mahmud died; accession Abdul Mejid.

1840         Mehemet Ali checkmated by action of Palmerston; surrendered Syria, retaining Egypt as hereditary pashalik.

1861         Abdul Mejid died; accession Abdul Aziz.

1882         Mahdi in Sudan.

1908         Abdul Hamid compelled by the “Young Turks” to concede a constitution.

1916        Sherif of Hejaz declared Arabian independence after Arab revolt.

1922        Flight of Sultan in November; Abdul Mejid made caliph.

1925*      Deposition of shah of Persia; Rhiza Kahn elected shah.

*End of entries from Illustrated World History (ed. by Sir John Hammerton, 1937, Wm. H. Wise & Co.) Note: Spelling of some names vary between sources.

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1925        King Husein ibn Ali of Al Hijaz (the Hejaz, now part of Saudi Arabia), laid claim to the title of caliph by virtue of his direct descent from the Prophet, and his control of the two holy cities, Mecca and Medina.  The conquest ( 1925) of Al Hijaz by Abdul Aziz ibn Saud, ruler of Najd, Arabia, made Husein’s claim even less significant.  (Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2006)

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