In the previous article we talked about Al-Qiam Bi-Amr Allah the Abbasid Caliph (422-467 AH) (1031-1075 AD) and the fallen of the Buwayhid authority by the Seljuks where the Abbasid Caliphate was submissive to their authority which extended to more than one hundred and thirty years (447-575 AH- 1055-1180 AD).
During those days Baghdad was full of turbulences; Tughril Bey took the chance of that strife and instability and he imprisoned the gracious king who was the last Sultan of the Buwayhid Sultans, and all the followers and soldiers of the gracious king were scattered; a lot of them joined someone whose name was Al-Basasiri. He was one of the Mamluks of Baha Al-Dawla the Buwayhid; who tried before to grab the power from the merciful king even that he took the position of the prince of princes.
A huge dispute occurred between the Abbasid Caliph and Al-Basasiri; strife and turbulences broke out so the Abbasid Caliph called for the help of the Seljuks. Then, Tughril Bey entered Baghdad and took its authority- as we previously mentioned.
Al-Basasiri escaped to Syria where he joined the Fatimid, his powers and authority grew more until he was able to defeat the troops of the Seljuks who were sent to fight him. In (448 AH-1056 AD), Tughril Bey fought and conquered Al-Basasiri then he returned to Baghdad. Al-Qiam Bi-Amr Allah was happy with that victory and entitled him as “the king of the East and West!
In (450 AH- 1058 AD) Al-Basasiri seized the opportunity of the absence of Tughril Bey from Baghdad after he went out with an army to fight his brother Ibrahim the Seljuk who rebelled against him- he assigned him previously to rule Mosul. Al-Basasiri attacked Baghdad, took it over, and declared dethroning Al-Qiam Bi-Amr Allah the Abbasid Caliph.
Hassan Calipha mentioned about that era: “Al- Basasiri was waiting for a chance to march towards it {Baghdad}, so when the news of (Tughril Bey went out to fight the rebels) reached him; he marched to the capital of the Caliphate with a huge army of Syrians and Egyptians. At the beginning of Zulqida (450 AH-1058 AD) he took over Baghdad and declared dethroning the Caliph, he then took the pledge of allegiance from Shiah and Sunni to “Al-Mustansir” the Fatimid Caliph … Al-Basasiri then took over Wasit and Basrah…as well he sent the slogan of the Caliphate to the Fatimid Caliph, and things were stable for him in Iraq.”
In (451 AH-1059 AD); after severe fights Tughril Bey achieved victory against the rebels then he returned to Baghdad to retrieve it. He was able to restore all matters of governance to the Abbasids, he rethroned Al-Qiam Bi-Amr Allah the Caliph; and banished Al-Basasiri from Baghdad.
Ibn Al-Athir mentioned: “Al-Basasiri and his children entrance to Baghdad was on the 6 Zulqida 50 AH and they went out of it on the 6 Zulqida 51 AH.” Tughril Bey fought Al-Basasiri and he was able to conquer and killed him.
Some historians mentioned that Tughril Bey the Seljuk tried to approach Al-Qiam Bi-Amr Allah the Caliph by all means possible until he was able to make the Caliph marry from the Seljuk’s family as well; Tughril Bey also married the daughter of the Caliph in (454 AH- 1062 AD).
In (455 AH-1063 AD) Tughril Bey died and the rule passed to his nephew Alp Arslan Bin Dawud Bin Mikail as he didn’t have a son to inherit the throne.
Ibn Al-Athir mentioned about Alp Arslan: “He was generous, just, and reasonable that he never listened to calumniations. His rule was expanded and the whole world owed him gratitude and he was entitled as “Sultan of the World”; he was gentle-hearted and he was generous with the poor, thankful to God who granted him all of that… he was doing charities whenever he went…when he was famous among the kings for his good reputation and keeping his vows; they pledged their obedience and acceptance to him after refrain and they attended before him from far beyond the river to the furthest of Al-Sham…”
During his reign; severe wars broke out between him and Romans whereas he conquered, then it ended with reconciliation between the two parties. The authority of Alp Arslan was growing. The Al-Nizamiyya school of Baghdad was established in (458 AH- 1066 AD). In (465 AH- 1072 AD) Alp Arslan died and Galal Al-Dawla his son succeded him.
In (467 AH- 1074 AD) Al-Qiam Bi-Amr Allah the Caliph died and his grandson Al-Muqtadi Bi-Amr Allah was his successor; after ruling for nearly forty four years that witnessed a lot of disturbances and strife…
Stories about Beautiful Egypt never end!
General Bishop,
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
