Khurramites facts for kids
The Khurramites (meaning "those of the Joyful Religion") were an Iranian group with strong religious and political beliefs. Their ideas came from an older Zoroastrian movement called Mazdakism. They were also known as the Muhammira or Red-Wearing Ones because they wore red clothes as a symbol.
Later, in the 16th century, a group called the Qizilbash (meaning "Red-Heads") appeared in Iranian Azerbaijan. They were a religious and political movement that helped create the Safavid dynasty. Many people see them as having similar ideas to the Khurramites.
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A Look at Their History
This group started in the 8th century AD. A Persian religious leader named Sunpadh helped bring back an older movement. This older group had mixed ideas from Shia Islam and Zoroastrianism.
However, the Khurramites became truly famous when Babak Khorramdin used their ideas to start a big rebellion. He fought against the Abbasid Caliphate, which was a large Islamic empire at the time.
The Start of the Rebellion
The Khurramite movement grew after Abu Muslim Khorasani was executed by the Abbasids. Many believed he hadn't truly died but would return as a savior. This belief became even stronger when al-Muqanna, known as "The Veiled" prophet, appeared. He claimed that God's spirit had lived in important figures like Muhammad, Ali, and Abu Muslim.
The name "Khurramiya" first appeared around 736. After a major revolution, the Khurramites fought as rebels. They had many leaders, including Sunpadh, Muqanna, and Babak, in different cities and regions.
Babak's Leadership
In Azerbaijan, the Khurramites were connected to Javidhan, a local landlord. He led one of the two main Khurramite groups there from about 807 to 817. His main base was Babak Fort, near the Aras River. Another Khurramite leader was Abu Imran, who often fought with Javidhan.
Around 816, Abu Imran was defeated and killed in a battle. Javidhan was also wounded and died a few days later. Babak Khorramdin then took over as leader and married Javidhan's widow.
Babak's journey to becoming a leader is interesting. He was once a poor young man. One day, Javidhan, stuck in the snow, found shelter at Babak's mother's house. Babak impressed Javidhan with his cleverness. Javidhan then asked Babak's mother if he could take Babak to manage his farms. She agreed, and Babak began working for Javidhan.
Under Babak, the Khurramites called for big changes. They wanted to divide and share large land estates. They also wanted to end the harsh rule of foreign powers. In 816, they started attacking Muslim forces in Iran and Iraq. They took advantage of the chaos caused by the Abbasid Civil War.
Fighting the Caliphate
Babak's revolt officially began in 816–817. At first, the Caliph al-Ma'mun didn't pay much attention. This was because he was far away in Khorasan and busy with other matters. This gave Babak and his followers time to grow stronger.
The caliph sent General Yahya ibn Mu'adh to fight Babak in 819–820, but Babak won several times. Two years later, Babak defeated the forces of Isa ibn Muhammad.
In 824–825, two more generals, Ahmad ibn al-Junayd and Zurayq ibn Ali, were sent. But Babak defeated them too and even captured Junayd. In 827–828, Muhammad ibn Humayd had some victories against Babak. However, in their last battle in 829, Babak's troops defeated him.
When Caliph al-Ma'mun died in 833, he had not managed to defeat Babak. Arab historians said Babak's victories were due to his strong base at Badd Fort. His influence spread across what is now Azerbaijan, reaching the Caspian Sea and the Aras River.
The Final Stand
In 833, many people from areas like Jebal, Hamadan, and Isfahan joined the Khurramite movement. They settled near Hamadan. The new caliph, al-Mu'tasim, sent troops under Ishaq ibn Ibrahim. The Khurramites were defeated in a battle near Hamadan. Some reports say 60,000 Khurramites were killed.
In 835, al-Mu'tasim sent Khaydhar ibn Kawus al-Afshin, a very important general, to defeat Babak. The caliph offered Afshin a huge reward. Afshin was smart and managed to turn Babak's spies to his side by paying them more. He used this information to pressure Babak, leading to many of Babak's friends being killed. Babak had to flee to Badd Fort.
Before Afshin's main attack, the caliph had sent a group to rebuild forts that Babak had destroyed. The Khurramites, led by Mu'awiya, tried to attack them but failed. This was recorded as Babak's first defeat.
The last big battle between the Abbasid Caliphate and the Khurramites happened at Badd Fort in 837. The Khurramites were defeated, and Afshin captured the fort. After losing his stronghold, Babak went near the Araz River. He hoped to join the Byzantine emperor, gather new forces, and continue fighting.
The caliph offered a reward of two million dirhams to anyone who could capture Babak alive. Sahl ibn Sumbat, who was once Babak's ally, handed him over to the Abbasids. On March 14, 838, Babak was executed in the city of Samira.
After the rebellion was crushed, many thousands of Khurramites fled to Byzantium (the Byzantine Empire). Emperor Theophilos welcomed them, and they joined the Byzantine army under their Iranian leader, Theophobos.
What They Believed In
The Khurramites had some unique beliefs. They thought that the universe was based on "light and darkness." They believed that part of the original Light had become Darkness. They were very careful not to shed blood, except when they were rebelling. They also cared a lot about being clean and pure, and about being kind to others.
They believed that all prophets, even with different laws, shared the same spirit. They also believed in reincarnation, meaning that souls are reborn into new bodies. They thought this was the only way people would be rewarded or punished after death. They highly respected Abu Muslim and their own religious leaders. Some people saw them as followers of Mazdakism who pretended to be Muslims.
Their Lasting Impact
According to a Turkish scholar named Abdülbaki Gölpınarlı, the Qizilbash of the 16th century were "spiritual descendants of the Khurramites." The Qizilbash were a religious and political group in Azerbaijan who helped create the Safavid dynasty. This shows how the Khurramites' ideas continued to influence later movements.
See also
- Islamic conquest of Persia
- Kaysanites Shia
- Qarmatians
- List of extinct Shia sects
- Bahram Chobin
