HARUN AL-RASHID
Born: c. 766 Reyy, Persia Died: c. 809 Tus, Persia Persian caliph
Harun al-Rashid became the fifth caliph (religious and political leader of an
Islamic state) of the Abbasid dynasty (ruling family) in September 786 at the
age of twenty. During his reign the power and prosperity of the dynasty was at
its height, though it has also been argued that its decline began at that time.
Harun al-Rashid was born at Reyy near Tehran, Iran, in 766. He was the third son
of the third Abbasid caliph, Mohammed al-Mahdi and his wife Khayzuran, a former
slave from Yemen. Harun was raised as a prince in the court at Baghdad, Iran. At
the age of sixteen he was named second heir after his older brother, Musa al-Hadi.
Rashid's instructor and aide during his early youth was Yahya ibn Khalid the
Barmakid (a powerful Persian family). Yahya continued to advise Rashid when he
was named the leader of military expeditions against the Byzantines at age
fourteen. The Byzantines were inhabitants of Byzantium, the seat of the
Christian Empire. Rashid was rewarded for the success of these campaigns by
being named governor of Ifriqiyah (Tunisia), Egypt, Syria, Armenia, and
Azerbaijan Province in Iran. The honorific, or title, of al-Rashid (the Upright)
was added to his name.
Rashid's father died in 785 and his brother al-Hadi assumed the throne. Al-Hadi,
however, died mysteriously in September 786. His death was said to have been the
result of a court conspiracy or plot. Rashid was proclaimed caliph. He at once
appointed Yahya as his vizier, or primary minister.
Rashid, for the first seventeen years of his reign, relied to a great extent on
his vizier and two of the vizier's sons, al-Fadl and Jafar. Yahya appears to
have been an exceptionally good administrator. He is known for showing great
wisdom in selecting and training his staff. His two sons had similar qualities.
However, they fell from favor suddenly on the night of January 28, 803, when
they were imprisoned and had their lands taken from them. The basic reason for
this action was that the Barmakid family had become too powerful.
By this time Rashid was finding it difficult to hold his vast empire together.
There was an almost constant series of local uprisings. An independent territory
was established in Morocco by the Idrisid dynasty in 789. The following year, a
semi-independent territory was established in Tunisia by the Aghlabid dynasty.
These events marked a significant loss of power by Rashid's central government.
The danger of breaking up the government was further increased by Rashid's
unwise arrangement for succession. One son, al-Amin, was to become caliph and
another son, al-Mamun, was to have control of certain provinces and of a section
of the army.
The seat of the Christian Empire was Byzantium (Constantinople). Rashid took a
personal interest in the campaigns against the Byzantines. He led expeditions
against them in 797, 803, and 806. In 797 the Byzantine empress Irene made peace
and agreed to pay a large sum of money. Her successor, the emperor Nicephorus,
later denounced this treaty. In 806 he was forced to make an even more
humiliating treaty, which required paying annual tribute to Baghdad.
Though it is not mentioned in Arabic sources, there seem to have been diplomatic
contacts between Rashid and Charlemagne (c. 742–814), the most famous European
ruler of the Middle Ages. Rashid recognized Charlemagne as protector of
Christian pilgrims to Jerusalem.
Rashid died at Tus in eastern Persia in 809, during an expedition to restore
order there.
Born: c. 766 Reyy, Persia Died: c. 809 Tus, Persia Persian caliph
Harun al-Rashid became the fifth caliph (religious and political leader of an
Islamic state) of the Abbasid dynasty (ruling family) in September 786 at the
age of twenty. During his reign the power and prosperity of the dynasty was at
its height, though it has also been argued that its decline began at that time.
Harun al-Rashid was born at Reyy near Tehran, Iran, in 766. He was the third son
of the third Abbasid caliph, Mohammed al-Mahdi and his wife Khayzuran, a former
slave from Yemen. Harun was raised as a prince in the court at Baghdad, Iran. At
the age of sixteen he was named second heir after his older brother, Musa al-Hadi.
Rashid's instructor and aide during his early youth was Yahya ibn Khalid the
Barmakid (a powerful Persian family). Yahya continued to advise Rashid when he
was named the leader of military expeditions against the Byzantines at age
fourteen. The Byzantines were inhabitants of Byzantium, the seat of the
Christian Empire. Rashid was rewarded for the success of these campaigns by
being named governor of Ifriqiyah (Tunisia), Egypt, Syria, Armenia, and
Azerbaijan Province in Iran. The honorific, or title, of al-Rashid (the Upright)
was added to his name.
Rashid's father died in 785 and his brother al-Hadi assumed the throne. Al-Hadi,
however, died mysteriously in September 786. His death was said to have been the
result of a court conspiracy or plot. Rashid was proclaimed caliph. He at once
appointed Yahya as his vizier, or primary minister.
Rashid, for the first seventeen years of his reign, relied to a great extent on
his vizier and two of the vizier's sons, al-Fadl and Jafar. Yahya appears to
have been an exceptionally good administrator. He is known for showing great
wisdom in selecting and training his staff. His two sons had similar qualities.
However, they fell from favor suddenly on the night of January 28, 803, when
they were imprisoned and had their lands taken from them. The basic reason for
this action was that the Barmakid family had become too powerful.
By this time Rashid was finding it difficult to hold his vast empire together.
There was an almost constant series of local uprisings. An independent territory
was established in Morocco by the Idrisid dynasty in 789. The following year, a
semi-independent territory was established in Tunisia by the Aghlabid dynasty.
These events marked a significant loss of power by Rashid's central government.
The danger of breaking up the government was further increased by Rashid's
unwise arrangement for succession. One son, al-Amin, was to become caliph and
another son, al-Mamun, was to have control of certain provinces and of a section
of the army.
The seat of the Christian Empire was Byzantium (Constantinople). Rashid took a
personal interest in the campaigns against the Byzantines. He led expeditions
against them in 797, 803, and 806. In 797 the Byzantine empress Irene made peace
and agreed to pay a large sum of money. Her successor, the emperor Nicephorus,
later denounced this treaty. In 806 he was forced to make an even more
humiliating treaty, which required paying annual tribute to Baghdad.
Though it is not mentioned in Arabic sources, there seem to have been diplomatic
contacts between Rashid and Charlemagne (c. 742–814), the most famous European
ruler of the Middle Ages. Rashid recognized Charlemagne as protector of
Christian pilgrims to Jerusalem.
Rashid died at Tus in eastern Persia in 809, during an expedition to restore
order there.