Muhammad ibn Ra'iq facts for kids

Muhammad ibn Ra'iq was an important official in the Abbasid Caliphate. This was a large Islamic empire that existed many centuries ago. He became the first amir al-umara (meaning "commander of commanders") in 936. This title made him like a powerful general and a ruler in all but name.

He used the Caliphate's weaknesses to gain this power. He lost his position in 938 but got it back in 941. Sadly, he was killed in February 942.

Who Was Ibn Ra'iq?

Early Life and Career

Muhammad ibn Ra'iq's father was from a group called the Khazars. His father was also a military officer. Muhammad and his brother, Ibrahim, were helped by a powerful commander named Mu'nis al-Muzaffar.

Thanks to Mu'nis, the brothers became police chiefs in 929. This happened after a failed attempt to overthrow the Caliph al-Muqtadir. They were replaced a year later.

Shifting Loyalties

In 931, Mu'nis took full control of the government. He made Muhammad and Ibrahim the Caliph's chamberlains. This job gave them a lot of influence over Caliph al-Muqtadir.

They started to become less loyal to Mu'nis. When a new vizier (a top advisor) was appointed, the brothers quickly switched sides. They heard a rumor that Mu'nis might fire them.

The Caliph's Death

Mu'nis left Baghdad, the capital city. The Ibn Ra'iq brothers joined a group that didn't want Mu'nis to return. They told Caliph al-Muqtadir to fight Mu'nis.

The Caliph couldn't decide what to do. He went out to fight Mu'nis when Mu'nis marched on Baghdad. The Caliph was killed in the battle. Mu'nis then became the most powerful person in the Caliphate.

Rise to Power

Returning to Government

After Mu'nis won and al-Qahir became the new Caliph, Muhammad and his brother left Baghdad. But they were soon asked to come back. Muhammad was given the job of governor of Basra.

When al-Radi became Caliph, Muhammad became governor of Wasit. The government was becoming very weak at this time. Many parts of the empire were breaking away.

• Egypt and Syria were ruled by the Ikhshidids.
• The Hamdanids controlled an area called Jazira.
• Most of Iran was controlled by different warlords. The Buyids became very strong.

Even in Iraq, the Caliph's power was challenged. A family called the Baridis, led by Abu Abdallah al-Baridi, created their own area. They often refused to send tax money to Baghdad.

Becoming Amir al-Umara

Map of Iraq in the 9th–10th centuries

In this time of trouble, Ibn Ra'iq also stopped sending money from his province to Baghdad. The Caliph's vizier, Ibn Muqla, tried to get control back. But his efforts failed.

So, Caliph al-Radi had to ask Ibn Ra'iq for help. In 936, Ibn Ra'iq came to Baghdad. He took control of the government. He was given the special title of amir al-umara.

This new job meant he commanded the entire army. He also oversaw the government's daily work, which used to be the vizier's job. The Caliph was left with almost no real power. He became a symbolic leader.

Losing Power

Ibn Ra'iq's power came from Turkish soldiers led by Bajkam and Tuzun. To keep his position safe, Ibn Ra'iq even got rid of the Caliph's own loyal guards.

But Ibn Ra'iq soon had problems. He argued with the Baridi family, who had helped him rise to power. He tried to take their province from them. They then started working with the Buyids.

Finally, the Turkish soldiers became unhappy. Bajkam led them in a revolt against Ibn Ra'iq. After a short fight, Bajkam became the new amir al-umara in 938. Ibn Ra'iq was sent to govern another area.

The fight between Bajkam and Ibn Ra'iq had a bad long-term effect. Ibn Ra'iq ordered a canal to be blocked to stop Bajkam's army. This flooded the countryside. It didn't help Ibn Ra'iq, but it damaged farming in the area for many years.

Final Years

Regaining Power

Bajkam remained amir al-umara until he died in 941. His death created a power vacuum in Baghdad. This means there was no clear leader, and different groups fought for control.

Some soldiers joined the Baridis, while others went north to join Ibn Ra'iq in Damascus. The Baridis briefly took Baghdad. But their own soldiers revolted, and they were driven out. A new leader named Kurankij became amir al-umara.

Caliph al-Muttaqi asked Ibn Ra'iq for help against Kurankij. Ibn Ra'iq marched to Baghdad. He managed to capture and imprison Kurankij. The soldiers who supported Kurankij were killed. Ibn Ra'iq was made amir al-umara again on September 23, 941.

His Death

Ibn Ra'iq did not enjoy his power for long this time. In early 942, he was killed. This was ordered by a prince named Nasir al-Dawla. Nasir al-Dawla soon took over as amir al-umara.

Family Life

Ibn Ra'iq was married to the sister of Ja'far ibn al-Furat. Ja'far was a very important vizier in Egypt. Their son, Muzahim, was held as a hostage in the Egyptian court for a while. Later, he became a high-ranking commander in the Egyptian army. He even married an Egyptian princess.

Sources

• Bowen, Harold (1928). The Life and Times of ʿAlí Ibn ʿÍsà, ‘The Good Vizier’. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. OCLC 386849. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.76926.
• Donohue, John J. (2003). [Muhammad ibn Ra'iq at Google Books The Buwayhid Dynasty in Iraq 334 H./945 to 403 H./1012: Shaping Institutions for the Future]. Leiden and Boston: Brill. ISBN 90-04-12860-3. Muhammad ibn Ra'iq at Google Books.
• Kennedy, Hugh (2004). [Muhammad ibn Ra'iq at Google Books The Prophet and the Age of the Caliphates: The Islamic Near East from the 6th to the 11th Century] (Second ed.). Harlow: Longman. ISBN 978-0-582-40525-7. Muhammad ibn Ra'iq at Google Books.
• Sourdel, Dominique (1971). "Ibn Rāʾiḳ". The Encyclopaedia of Islam, New Edition, Volume III: H–Iram. Leiden: E. J. Brill.