Al-Mustarshid facts for kids

Al-Mustarshid Billah (born Abu Mansur al-Fadl ibn Ahmad al-Mustazhir) was an important leader known as the Caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad. He ruled from 1118 to 1135. He was the son of the previous Caliph, al-Mustazhir. Al-Mustarshid became the Caliph after his father passed away in 1118.

His Life and Rule

Al-Mustarshid was born in 1092. His father was Caliph Al-Mustazhir. His mother was a woman named Lubanah from Baghdad. His full name was Al-Fadl ibn Ahmad al-Mustazhir. When his father died in 1118, he became the new Caliph. He gained more power as a ruler because the Seljuk sultan, Mahmud II, was busy fighting wars in the East.

In 1122, Al-Mustarshid removed his chief advisor, Amid al-dawla Jalal al-Din Hasan ibn Ali, from his position. Sultan Mahmud II then made Ahmad ibn Nizam al-Mulk Al-Mustarshid's new advisor. Ahmad helped strengthen the walls around Baghdad.

A year later, Sultan Mahmud II removed his own advisor and had him executed. Al-Mustarshid used this chance to replace Ahmad as his advisor. Ahmad then retired to a school in Baghdad.

In 1123, a local leader named Dubays ibn Sadaqah tried to attack Baghdad. He was stopped by an army led by Zengi and Ahmad ibn Nizam al-Mulk. Later that year, Al-Mustarshid again removed Ahmad ibn Nizam al-Mulk as his advisor. In 1125, Al-Mustarshid tried to gain more control. He sent an army to take the city of Wasit. However, his army was defeated near Baghdad, and he was held in his palace the next year.

After Sultan Mahmud II died, a civil war started among the Seljuk rulers. Zengi was called back to the East by some rebel groups, who were encouraged by the Caliph and Dubays. Zengi was defeated and ran away. The Caliph chased him to Mosul and tried to capture him for three months, but he was not successful. Still, this showed that the Caliphate's military power was growing stronger.

Zengi then went back to Syria and tried to take Damascus in 1134. He stopped his attack partly because the people of Damascus fought bravely. He also listened to the Caliph, who had made some agreements with Zengi. Zengi was called back to the East again due to more problems there. He couldn't do much against the Crusaders until after Al-Mustarshid's death.

Death of the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mustarshid bi-llah, Assassinated in the year 1135

Not long after the attack on Damascus, Al-Mustarshid started a military campaign against the Seljuk sultan Mas'ud. The two armies met near Hamadan. The Caliph's soldiers left him, and he was captured. He was pardoned after promising not to leave his palace. However, while he was in the sultan's tent, he was found murdered. It is thought that someone from the Order of Assassins killed him. Some historians believe Sultan Mas'ud might have been involved.

Al-Mustarshid had red hair, blue eyes, and freckles. His son, al-Rashid, became the next Caliph.

Family Life

Al-Mustarshid had one wife, Amira Khatun. She was the daughter of the Seljuk sultan Ahmad Sanjar. They got married in 1124. He also had a concubine named Khushf, who was from Iraq. She was the mother of his son, Al-Rashid Billah, who would later become Caliph. Al-Mustarshid had another son who died when he was twenty-one years old.

Who Came Next

His son, al-Rashid Billah, became the next Caliph in 1135. However, al-Rashid ruled for only one year. The people of Baghdad rebelled against him, and he was removed from power in 1136. His half-brother, al-Muqtafi, then became the Caliph in 1136. Al-Muqtafi was also a son of Al-Mustazhir, and his mother was named Ashin from Syria.

See also

In Spanish: Al-Mustárshid para niños

• Al-Hakim I, an alleged great-great-great grandson of al-Mustarshid, descendant of his son Ali ibn al-Mustarshid.
• Anushirvan ibn Khalid, a vizier of al-Mustarshid served from 1132 to 1134.