In the previous article, we talked about Caliph Al Mu’tamid Alallah, and his brother Al Muwaffaq who was the actual ruler of the country due to Al Mu’tamid’s weakness, we also mentioned Zanj Rebellion which had lasted for about fourteen years, the rise of the Yazidi State and the Safarite State, at a time in which Egypt was under the rule of Ahmad Ibn Tulun.
While for the relation between the Abbasid State and the Byzantine State during the reign of Al Mu’tamid and Al Muwaffaq, it was featured with excessive maneuvers and wars, it was previously mentioned that Ahmad Ibn Tulun had fought with them.
In 278 AH (891 AD), Al Muwaffaq got sick while he was in the battle field, so he returned to Samarra, yet, he became severely ill that he worked on transferring his authorities down to his son Al Mo’tadid, who was popular among the People and soldiers, he achieved that successfully.
Al Mu’tamid’s rule didn’t last for long afterwards, as he died in 279 AH (892 AD), and Egypt then was ruled by Khumarawayh, Ahmad Ibn Tulun’s son.
Khumarawayh 270 AH (884 – 896 AD)
Nicknamed “Father of the Armies”, for he was said to have taken command of the armies at a young age of below twenty, he paid great attention to the army through the challenges he faced after the death of his father. After the death of Ahmad Ibn Tulun, his son Khumarawayh was assigned by the soldiers to take over Egypt and the Levant. Historians mentioned that after assuming power, he ordered his brother Al Abbas to be assassinated, who had been imprisoned after his beforehand rebelling against his father, Ahmad ibn Tulun, justifying killing him on the grounds that he didn’t pledge allegiance to his brother.
Defeats and victories
At the onset of his rule, Khumarawyh sent his armies to the Levant, led by Abu Abdullah Al-Wasiti, and other armies led by Saad Al Aysar. However, Al Wasiti feared the tyranny of Khumarawyh as he was the one who advised him to kill his brother, Al Abbas, Ibn Tajri says: “Wasti wrote to Abu Ahmad al-Muwaffaq, trying to belittle Khumarawyh, and inciting him to go out to fight him …”
Thus, war broke out between Khumarawyh and the Abbasid armies under the leadership of Ibn al-Muwaffaq, Khumarawyh’s army was defeated, yet it came out again to fight, but was defeated again and returned to Egypt. However, the armies led by Al Aysar came out from their ambush, unaware of the defeat, Al Aysar fought Ibn Al Muwaffaq, defeated him, entered Damascus accompanied by Al Wasiti and took over it for himself.
When Khumarawyh got the news of what happened, he returned to Damascus and fought Al Aysar until he defeated and killed him, restoring Damascus under his rule. The war between Khumarawyh and the Abbasids continued, having one side defeated and the other victorious until Khumarawyh defeated them and reached Samarra, which made him great.
The War Deterrs
Khumarawyh sent to Al Muwaffaq, asking for reconciliation, which was attained indeed, then Al Mu’tamid, Al Muwaffaq and his son all sent a decree to Khumarawyh indicating his rule over Egypt, the Levant and coastal cities for thirty years. Khamarawyh returned to Egypt and ordered the invocation for Al Muwaffaq to be restored and placed after that for the Caliph, and thus, rule got settled for Khumarwayh in Egypt and the calamity of wars on the country ceased. He began to pay attention to the affairs of the country until 275 AH (889 AD); the year which witnessed some unrest and wars in the Levant.
Affinity
After the death of both Al Muwaffaq then Al Mu’tamid, Al Mu’tadid, the son of Al Muwaffaq took over the Caliphate. Khumarawayh sent precious gifts to the new Caliph Al Mu’tadid, then he gave him his daughter, Qatr Al-Nada, as a wife in 281 AH (894 AD). Affairs then turned to affection and harmony. Ibn Taghri said: “When Khumarawayh and Al Mu’tadid got relatives by marriage, dreariness between them disappeared, and they kept great affection, Al Mu’tadid assigned Khumarawayh to rule from the Euphrates to Cyrenaica for thirty years … On a condition that Khumarawayh would pay 200,000 dinars in arrears, and further a tribute of 300,000 dinars annually…”!
And… Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt!
General Bishop
Head of Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
