al-Ta'i' facts for kids

al-Ṭāʾiʿ liʾllāh الطائع لله
Caliph Commander of the Faithful
Gold dinar (an old coin) of the Buyid ruler Adud al-Dawla, with al-Ta'i's name as caliph
24th Caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate
Reign	5 August 974 – 22 November 991
Predecessor	al-Muti'
Successor	al-Qadir
Born	c. 929 Baghdad
Died	3 August 1003 (aged 73–74) Baghdad, Iraq
Burial	Baghdad
Spouse	Shah Zanan bint Izz al-Dawla (m. 977) Bint 'Adud al-Dawla
Dynasty	Abbasid
Father	al-Muti'
Mother	Utb
Religion	Sunni Islam

Abu Bakr Abd al-Karim ibn al-Fadl (born 932, died 3 August 1003) was an Abbasid caliph in Baghdad. He was known by his special name, al-Ta'i' li'llah (meaning "He Who Obeys God's Command"). He ruled from 974 until he was removed from power in 991.

During his time, the Shi'a Buyid dynasty controlled Iraq. This meant al-Ta'i' was mostly a figurehead, a leader with a title but little real power. He was often controlled by the Buyid rulers, called emirs. His rule also saw many fights between different Buyid leaders. Baghdad itself changed hands many times. Al-Ta'i' was put on the throne by a rebel Turkic general named Sabuktakin. This general had removed al-Ta'i's father, al-Muti', from power. When the Buyids were fighting among themselves, al-Ta'i' sometimes had a bit more freedom. But under stronger rulers, he was pushed aside. He even had to marry the daughters of the emirs Izz al-Dawla and Adud al-Dawla. His position became even weaker under Adud al-Dawla. This ruler looked back to old Persian ways for his power. He made Iraq just a normal province, ruled from another area called Fars. Al-Ta'i' was removed from power on 22 November 991 by Baha al-Dawla. His cousin, al-Qadir, took his place. Al-Ta'i' spent the rest of his life, until 1003, living in the caliph's palace.

Early Life and Family

Abd al-Karim, who would become al-Ta'i', was born in Baghdad around 929. His father was Prince al-Fadl, who was the son of Caliph al-Muqtadir. His mother was a woman of Greek origin named Utb. When al-Ta'i' grew up, his face had marks from smallpox. He also had a noticeable nose, which people sometimes made fun of.

His father became Caliph al-Muti' in 946. This happened after the Buyid dynasty took control of Baghdad. The Buyids were Shi'a Muslims, but they decided to keep the Abbasid caliphs. This was useful for them because it made their rule seem more official to other Muslim leaders. However, al-Muti' was really just a puppet ruler, controlled by the Buyid emir of Iraq. One good thing about this was that it brought stability to the caliph's position. Al-Muti' ruled for 29 years, which was a very long time compared to earlier caliphs. He also faced very few people trying to take his place.

Becoming Caliph

How He Rose to Power

On 1 August 974, a Turkic general named Sabuktakin took control of Baghdad. He took it from the Buyid ruler Izz al-Dawla. When this happened, al-Muti' left Baghdad with the Buyid family members who were forced out. But Sabuktakin made him come back and kept him in his palace. Al-Muti' was then made to give up his role as caliph. His poor health was given as the reason. His oldest son, Abu Bakr Abd al-Karim, became Caliph al-Ta'i' li'llah on 5 August 974. This was the first time a caliph's son had directly taken over from his father since al-Muktafi in 902.

Like his father, al-Ta'i' was seen by historians as a caliph with little power. He could only add his name to official papers. Other people held the real power. He didn't even play a part in the religious debates of his time. We don't know much about what he did, except that he often led the Friday prayer at the Kadhimayn mosque. He also rebuilt a main gate to the caliph's palace. However, some historians point out that al-Ta'i' managed to stay in power for sixteen years. This was a very difficult time with many changes in leadership in Baghdad. They believe he was smart and flexible in politics.

The new caliph quickly named Sabuktakin as the chief emir. He gave him the special title Nasir al-Dawla. Soon after, Sabuktakin, along with al-Ta'i' and al-Muti', marched towards Wasit. This is where the Buyid armies of Izz al-Dawla and his cousin, Adud al-Dawla, were gathered. Sabuktakin died on the way. Another Turkic leader, Alptakin, took his place. The Turks were defeated in January 975 and fled to Syria. The Buyids then entered Baghdad. Al-Ta'i's exact position under the Turks is not clear. He sent letters to Izz al-Dawla, criticizing him. But in later public letters, he spoke against the Turks. He claimed he had only pretended to side with them. So, some historians say the caliph had a brief time of independence under the Turks. Others say he was practically their prisoner.

Al-Ta'i' was soon able to get some of his position back. This was because the Buyids often argued among themselves. They also needed the caliph to make their rule seem right. In Baghdad, Adud al-Dawla removed his cousin and took control of the city. Al-Ta'i' returned to Baghdad, and Adud al-Dawla treated him with respect. He gave back al-Ta'i's lands, which had been taken away. Adud al-Dawla even asked al-Ta'i' for official approval to be emir. His name was also mentioned in the Friday prayer before Izz al-Dawla's. However, Adud al-Dawla later gave in to pressure from his father. He left Iraq to remain a separate emirate under Izz al-Dawla.

Under Izz al-Dawla

The lands of the Buyid dynasty and other states in the Middle East around 970

After Adud al-Dawla left, Izz al-Dawla tried to make his rule stronger. He also tried to find allies against his cousin's plans to take over. This helped al-Ta'i' too. The caliph gave special titles to powerful regional leaders. He also gave one to Izz al-Dawla's chief minister, Ibn Baqiyya.

When Rukn al-Dawla died in September 976, Adud al-Dawla took control of the eastern part of the Buyid empire. Izz al-Dawla in Iraq became truly independent. Al-Ta'i' used this chance to make the split between the two cousins wider. He gave Izz al-Dawla high honors, making him equal to Adud al-Dawla. Ibn Baqiyya was named chief minister for both Izz al-Dawla and the caliph. Izz al-Dawla's titles were made grander. Finally, the caliph himself married one of the Buyid emir's daughters. Adud al-Dawla felt insulted and challenged. He then moved against his cousin. After a short delay, al-Ta'i' joined Izz al-Dawla's camp. He sent a letter to Adud al-Dawla suggesting peace. When this was refused, and Adud al-Dawla marched on his cousin, the caliph left the camp. He returned to Baghdad, showing his independence. Adud al-Dawla defeated Izz al-Dawla in July 977. He entered Baghdad on 23 December.

Under Adud al-Dawla

In a special ceremony, Adud al-Dawla was officially given the title of chief emir by al-Ta'i'. He received many new honors. He was given a crown and a jeweled necklace. He also got the title Taj al-Milla ('Crown of the Muslim Community'). He was given a special flag for himself and his heir. This was something usually only given to the caliph's chosen heirs. Adud al-Dawla also asked for two special things. He wanted to be allowed to enter the caliph's meeting room on horseback. He also wanted a curtain so that when he bowed to the caliph, his companions wouldn't see it. The caliph clearly said no to these demands. He even had a barrier built in front of the meeting room. This meant the Buyid ruler had to get off his horse and walk in. However, al-Ta'i' did agree to add some details to the ceremony. These details were like old Persian traditions. They made it look to Adud al-Dawla's companions as if the caliph had crowned him king. It's not clear if al-Ta'i' knew how important these changes were. Al-Ta'i' also agreed to go with Adud al-Dawla in his fight. This fight defeated the rest of Izz al-Dawla's forces in May 978. After that, he returned to Baghdad.

As the crowning event shows, Adud al-Dawla and the Buyids often used old Persian traditions and titles. They did this to make their power stronger and claim their own right to rule. One historian, C. E. Bosworth, said that the Buyid ruler wanted to divide power. He wanted the caliph to be like the church and the king to be like the state in medieval Europe. This idea was very different from al-Ta'i's beliefs. Adud al-Dawla first treated al-Ta'i' with respect. He gave him back all his special rights and paid to fix the caliph's palace. He did this to get his rule over Iraq recognized.

But as soon as Izz al-Dawla and his allies were defeated, Adud al-Dawla started to remove people close to the caliph. He put the chief minister Ibrahim al-Sabi in prison. He also imprisoned the chief judge Ibn Ma'ruf, and other important people at the Baghdad court. Removing Ibn Ma'ruf was a big deal. It went against the caliph's main remaining right, which was to appoint the chief judge of Baghdad and Iraq. The positions of both the chief minister and the chief judge of Iraq were left empty. They were replaced by people from the Buyid capital province of Fars. Iraq was now just a normal province of the Buyid empire. It was ruled from a new main city. Adud al-Dawla even took over the last symbolic parts of the caliph's job. This included naming officials and governors in his own name.

When Adud al-Dawla returned to Baghdad in 980, al-Ta'i' himself led the Buyid emir into the city. This had never happened before. But, as Bosworth said, "once again the caliph seems to have failed to appreciate the significance of the ceremony in which he was taking part." To tie the caliph even closer to himself, Adud al-Dawla arranged for one of his daughters to marry al-Ta'i' in late 980. Adud al-Dawla might have hoped that any children from this marriage would one day unite the Abbasid caliphate with the Buyid kingship. But this did not happen. Al-Ta'i' saw this marriage as forced upon him. He refused to complete the marriage. This led to a final break between al-Ta'i' and Adud al-Dawla. Adud al-Dawla then started using the Persian title shahanshah ('King of Kings') on his coins, even in Iraq. This was a very bold and non-Islamic title.

Under Adud al-Dawla's Successors

Adud al-Dawla died on 26 March 983 at age 49. He left behind a large empire that was not well organized. There was also no clear plan for who would rule next. At first, the Buyid commanders promised loyalty to Adud al-Dawla's second son, Marzuban. He took the name Samsam al-Dawla. Al-Ta'i' recognized him as the new ruler. He gave Samsam al-Dawla the title Shams al-Milla. But Adud al-Dawla's oldest son, Shirdil, known as Sharaf al-Dawla, did not accept this. He took control of Fars. This limited Samsam al-Dawla to Iraq. But even there, he faced challenges. Upper Mesopotamia was lost to a Kurd named Badh. Two younger sons of Adud al-Dawla held other areas. In the eastern parts of the Buyid empire, their uncle Fakhr al-Dawla claimed to be Adud al-Dawla's successor. He also claimed the title of shahanshah.

The Buyid arguments gave al-Ta'i' chances to act. The officials who had been removed by Adud al-Dawla were brought back. The danger of Iraq becoming just a province ruled from somewhere else ended for a while. It became a separate political area again under one of the Buyid emirs. Samsam al-Dawla went back to making all appointments "on the command of the Commander of the Faithful" (the caliph). The Buyids' disunity allowed the caliph to play a political role. He could act as a mediator between the fighting emirs. Around 985, he gave money to the Samanids to help protect the borders of Islam. He also helped make a peace agreement between Samsam al-Dawla and Sharaf al-Dawla. This happened after Sharaf al-Dawla took control of other areas. In the agreement, made in June 986, Sharaf al-Dawla was recognized as the chief emir. His name was included in the Friday prayers in Baghdad. Both sides clearly put themselves under the caliph's official authority. However, Sharaf al-Dawla quickly broke the agreement. He used fights between different groups in Baghdad as an excuse. He marched on the city, captured and imprisoned his brother in January 987. He was then made chief emir by the caliph in May 987.

Sharaf al-Dawla's time in power was short. He died in Baghdad on 7 September 988. Since his two sons were too young, his younger brother Abu Nasr Firuz took over. He used the name Baha al-Dawla. Al-Ta'i' recognized him as the new ruler. He gave Baha al-Dawla the title Diya al-Milla. Baha al-Dawla was quickly attacked by Fakhr al-Dawla. But the two Buyid emirs quickly made a deal. Again, the caliph helped them agree. They recognized each other as rulers over their own lands.

Removal from Power and What Happened Next

The Buyid emir, Baha al-Dawla, needed money to pay his army. He followed the advice of a powerful official to remove al-Ta'i'. This way, he could take the caliph's treasury. On 22 November 991, Baha al-Dawla's men seized the caliph. They did this under the excuse of an official meeting. While the caliph's palace was robbed, the caliph was wrapped in a robe. He was taken to the emir's home and put under arrest. His cousin Abu'l-Abbas Ahmad took the throne as al-Qadir.

Al-Ta'i' had not gotten along well with his cousin before. In 988, al-Qadir's half-sister, perhaps due to a family money dispute, reported him. She said he was trying to replace al-Ta'i' as caliph. To avoid being caught, Ahmad went into hiding for a while. He then found safety with a governor near Basra for about three years. From there, Ahmad planned against al-Ta'i'. He emphasized his own loyalty to the Buyids. He also pointed out that al-Ta'i' had been put in power by a Turk.

Al-Ta'i' remained under arrest until September 992. Then, he was allowed to move to the caliph's palace. Even though they had problems before, al-Qadir treated him well. Al-Ta'i' was not blinded, which had happened to other caliphs who were removed from power. He was treated with the respect due to a ruling caliph. Al-Ta'i' died at the palace on 3 August 1003. He was buried in Rusafa, in a tomb he had built. It was across from the tombs of his father, al-Muti', and his great-grandmother.

Al-Ta'i's removal had lasting effects. The eastern dynasties, like the Samanids and Ghaznavids, did not recognize al-Qadir as caliph until 999 or 1000. They continued to use al-Ta'i's name in Friday prayers and on coins until then. Also, a relative of the removed caliph, Abdallah ibn Ja'far, escaped from Baghdad. He fled to Gilan. There, he convinced the local ruler that he was actually al-Ta'i'. Only after Baghdad found out about this fake caliph was his true identity revealed.

See also

• Timeline of 10th-century Muslim history