In the previous article, we tackled the conditions turmoil in Egypt, appointing Caliph Muhammad ibn Tughj as its ruler, then ousting him by Ahmed Ibn Kayghalagh, whose days were full of strife, wars, conflicts, and earthquakes. Upon the assumption of Caliph Al Radi, Muhammad ibn Tughj was appointed as Egypt’s ruler again.
Muhammad ibn Tughj al-Ikhshid’s Second Term (323 – 334 AH) (926 – 946AD)
He is the founder of the Ikhshidid state in Egypt. Ikhshid is an old Persian title which was given to the kings of the Farghanians. Ibn Taghri stated that Ikhshid, as per the Farghanians’ language, means the king of kings. Caliph Al Radi granted Muhammad Ibn Tughj Ibn Juff this title in 327 AH (939 AD) upon his second term of ruling Egypt.
During the rule of Muhammad ibn Tughj, the supporters of Ahmed Ibn Kayghalagh instigated a strife resulting in wars which broke out between the two sides, ending with the defeat of the supporters of Ibn Kayghalagh. They left Egypt, heading to Cyrenaica then to Morocco where they stirred Al Qa’im bi-Amr Allah Ibn al Mahdi up to seize Egypt, so he prepared his armies for fighting, when Al-Ikhshid heard the news, he set his armies ready too.
In the meantime, Al-Ikhshid received a letter from the Abbasid caliph informing him about the departure of Muhammad Ibn Ra’ik to the Levant, he was appointed to rule Aleppo, yet he wanted to rule the entire Levant countries. He asked Al-Ikhshid to pay a Jizya (tax) on the Ikhshidid properties in the Levant. Al-Ikhshid tried to appease him yet he failed to reduce his ambitions. Ibn Ra’ik took over Homs, Damascus and Ramla, then headed to El Arish to seize Egypt.
Al-Ikhshid contacted the Abbasid caliph, telling him about Ibn Al Ra’ik’s ambitions, in order to know whether it was the caliph who appointed Ibn Al Ra’ik over these countries’ rule or not, as he would fight him whenever he would be asked to. Receiving Al-Ikhshid’s letter, the caliph left the decision to the prince of princes, who then declared that he who would win the fight will have the privilege of taking the decision. Al-Ikhshid gor angry of the caliph’s stance , and desired to separate from the Ababsid Caliphate, resorting to the Fatimids, yet he retreated from this desire and began to prepare for fighting Ibn Ra’ik by land and water in 328 AH (939 AD). He stayed in Alfarma while Ibn Ra’ik resided in Ramla. After several maneuvers, some sought reconciliation, so they agreed to keep Ramla under Al-Ikhshid’s rule, while Tiberias and the neighboring countries towards the north would be kept under Ibn Ra’ik’s rule. Al-Ikhshid returned to Egypt.
However, Ibn Ra’ik’ did not abide by the treaty and submitted his troops to Egypt; once Al-Ikhsid knew about it, he engaged promptly in a battle against Ibn Ra’ik in Al Arish where the former was defeated, yet he managed to re organize his forces, while Ibn Ra’ik’s soldiers were busy looting the booty; thus, their victory changed into defeat after a large number of them was killed and arrested. Ibn Ra’ik fled with a number of his companions; they were followed by the brother of Al-Ikhshid, who was called Abu Nasr al-Hussein, but he was killed, some of his men were captured by the forces of Ibn Ra’ik. Later on, reconciliation was renewed between the two sides! Ibn Taghri said: “When Al Hussein Ibn Tughj; Al-Ikhsid’s brother, was killed in the battle, Muhammad ibn Ra’ik was sorry for his murder, so he enshrouded him and sent his own son, Mozahem to Al-Ikhshid, together with a letter in which he consoled Al-Ikhshid, apologized to him and swore that he had not intended to kill his brother, noting that sending his own son Mozahem is a type of ransom of Al Hussein Ibn Tughj in case Al-Ikhshid desired.”
Al-Ikhsid was touched by this, so he welcomed Mozahem warmly and sent him back to his father. The two adversaries then were reconciled, on condition that Ramla was to be governed by Al-Ikhshid in exchange for one hundred and forty thousand dinars yearly, while Ibn Ra’ik would rule the rest of the Levant, in addition to releasing the captures of both sides. And … Stories about beautiful Egypt never end!
The General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
