In the previous article we followed talking about the affairs of the Abbasid state during the rule of each of Al-Muti Li-Allah Ibn Al-Muqtadir (334-363 AH – 946-974 AD) and his son Al-Taeeh Li-Allah after him (363-381 AH – 974-991 AD). However, the actual rule was to the Bueh in Iraq.
At that time the rule of Egypt was to Al-Aziz Billah, the 2nd Fatimid Caliph, who took over after his father Al-Muizz Li-Din Allah who handed the rule of the country over to him before his death.
Al-Aziz Billah (365-386 AH – 976-969 AD)
He was Nizar Abu Mansur Al-Aziz Billah the son of Al-Muizz Li-Din Allah the Caliph. It was mentioned that he was born in Morocco and came to Egypt with his father and he stayed until his father handed over the rule to him while he was twenty two years old.
Ibn Taghribirdi mentioned: “Jawhar who was a supporter to Al-Muizz Li- Din Allah handled the affairs of his kingdom. Al-Aziz was a generous, courageous, and diplomatic man (he was an experienced diplomat and could manage the affairs of his people perfectly). Moreover he was a very compassionate man towards his people.”
Also it was mentioned: “He was an intelligent and an insightful man of literature in addition to his proficiency in many languages, he was also very generous and amnesty loving…”, besides to his ability in leading armies as well as wars.
During his reign, the Western palace, El-Bahr palace, and Al-Hakim mosque were established. It was mentioned that he was the one who turned Al-Azhar to a university, in addition his reign was a peace covenant to both Christians and Jews.
Al-Aziz Billah and Jawhar Al-Saqli
After Al-Muizz came to Egypt he handed its affairs and made Jawhar Al-Saqli a leader to his armies. Until the relations between them disturbed as it was mentioned that the reason behind that was calumnies to the Caliph about the position of Jawhar and his authorities, which will affect his popularity. Thus Al-Muizz stripped Jawhar of his positions and all his duties. Later, he brought him again to fight Qarmatians, but their relation was not as before.
Regarding that the historian Ali Ibrahim Hassan mentioned: “All what history kept for us was that although all compassion, trust and appreciation Al-Muizz gave to Jawhar but he excluded him from high governmental positions as taxes (collecting taxes)… and handed it to Yacoub Ibn Killis and Aslaug Ibn Al-Hassan. Thus Jawhar kept fading away from the Egyptian political stage bit by bit, he did not show up till the end of 364 AH when the danger of Aftekin aggravated…”
When Al-Aziz Billah held the rule of Egypt, he brought Jawhar Al-Saqli back to his former position and sought his help to handle matters of the country especially those concerned the stability of Al-Sham due to the battle of Aftekin and Qarmatians. Jawhar returned back to Cairo after many attempts and quirks with them. He asked Al-Aziz Billah the Caliph to lead the armies and fight them.
The war was fierce between the two parties which left twenty thousand killed. The war ended by the victory of Al-Aziz Billah, and it was mentioned that Al-Aziz Billah changed towards his leader. But in (381 AH- 992 AD) Jawhar became very sick, Al-Aziz went to him and sent him money until he died on the same year. Al-Aziz honored Jawhar’s son El-Hussein.
Al-Aziz Billah ruled over Egypt for approximately twenty one years and few months. He died in (386 AH- 969 AD). Opinions conflicted around his death; some people said he died with Hemiplegia during his war in Al-Sham. Others mentioned that he died in Belbes city in the suburbs of Cairo, while others mentioned that he died in El-Hamam city in Cairo.
His son Al-Hakim Bi-Amr Allah ruled the countries after his father. During the reign of Al-Aziz Billah many countries were conquered just as: Homs, Hama and Aleppo as well as those countries that witnessed the struggles between each of Izz Al-Dawla and Adud Al-Dawla in Iraq. After that hostility happened between the three brothers: Adud Al-Dawla, Fakhar Al-Dawla, and Muayyad al-Dawla. Then Adud Al-Dawla died and his sons were his successors. Also the Abbasid Caliph deposed Al-Taeeh and handed the Caliphate over to his cousin Al-Qadir after him … Stories about Beautiful Egypt never end!
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
