Preface
Translator's Foreword
Abbreviations
Tables
1. Genealogy of 'Abbasid Caliphs (A.D. Ninth Century)
2. Genealogy of the Khaqanids
3. Genealogy of the Tahirids
Maps
1. Armenia, Adharbayjan, Arran
2. Samarra
The Caliphate of Harun al-Wathiq Abu Ja'far
The Events of the Year 227 (841/842) (cont'd)
The Events of the Year 228 (842/843)
The Events of the Year 229 (843/844)
The Reason for al-Wathiq's Action against the Secretaries This Year
The Events of the Year 230 (844/845)
An Account of the Dispatch of Bugha al-Kabir to the Tribesmen
The Events of the Year 231 (845/846)
The Reason for the Liquidation of the Banu Sulaym and Its Consequences
The Reason for the Rebellion of the Baghdad Group and the Consequence of Their Action and That of Ahmad b. Nasr
The Reason for the Prisoner Exchange and How It Took Place
The Events of the Year 232 (846/847)
The Reason for Bugha the Elder's March against the Banu Numayr and What Took Place between Them
An Account of the Illness from Which al-Wathiq Died
A Portrayal of al-Wathiq, His Years, and the Extent of His Caliphate
Some Reports about al-Wathiq
The Caliphate of Ja`far al-Mutawakkil `ala-llah
The Events of the Year 232 (846/847) (cont'd)
The Occasion of Ja'far's Becoming Caliph and the Period of His Caliphate
The Events of the Year 233 (847/848)
The Reason for al-Mutawakkil's Anger at Muhammad b.al-Zayyat and Its Consequences
The Events of the Year 234 (848/849)
The Reason for Muhammad b. al-Ba'ith's Escape and the Consequences of His Affair
The Reason for Itakh's Pilgrimage This Year
The Events of the Year 235 (849/850)
How Itakh Was Killed
The Events of the Year 236 (850/851)
The Killing of Muhammad b. Ibrahim b. Mus`ab and How It Took Place
The Events of the Year 237 (851/852)
The Cause of the Revolt by the Inhabitants of Armenia against Yusuf b. Muhammad
What Was Done with Ahmad b. Nasr and the Result of This
The Events of the Year 238 (852/853)
Bugha's Role in the Defeat of Ishaq b. Isma`il
The Events of the Year 239 (853/854)
The Events of the Year 240 (854/855)
The Cause for the Revolt of the Inhabitants of Hims. and Its Result
The Events of the Year 241 (855/856)
The Role of the Inhabitants of Hims. in the Revolt against Muhammad b. `Abdawayh and Its Consequence for Them
The Reason for Flogging `Isa b. Ja`far b. `Asim and the Caliph's Role in This
The Reason for the Prisoner Exchange
The Affair of the Bujah and Its Consequences
The Events of the Year 242 (856/857)
The Events of the Year 243 (857/858)
The Events of the Year 244 (858/859)
The Events of the Year 245 (859/860)
The Cause of Najah b. Salamah's Demise
The Events of the Year 246 (860/865)
The Events of the Year 247 (865/862)
The Reason for al-Mutawakkil's Murder and How It Took Place
Some Things about al-Mutawakkil and His Way of Life
The Caliphate of al-Muntasir Muhammad b. Ja`far
The Events of the Year 247 (865/862) (cont'd)
The Events of the Year 248 (862/863)
The Reason for Dispatching Wasif to Byzantium and His Role
The Abdication of al-Mu`tazz and al-Mu'ayyad
The Illness That Caused al-Muntasir's Death, the Time When He Died, and How Long He Lived
Something of al-Muntasir's Conduct
Bibliography of Cited Works
Index

The events described in this volume took place during al-¿abari's own time. Al-¿abari was thus writing "contemporary history," and his narrative, often based on first-hand reports, is drawn in vivid and arresting detail. The volume portrays the summit of "the Samarra period," following al-Mu'täim's transfer of the 'Abbasid capital upstream from Baghdad to Samarra.
Three caliphs are portrayed in this volume: al-Mu'tasim's son and successor, al-Wathiq; al-Wathiq's brother al-Mutawakkil; and al-Mutawakkil's son al-Muntäir. At this time the 'Abbasid caliphs came under the dominant influence of the Turkish military elite. The crowning example of Turkish power and 'Abbasid frailty was the dramatic assassination of al-Mutawakkil by Turkish officers within the precincts of his own palace. The Turks were afterward not only instrumental in raising al-Muntasir the caliphate, they also forced him to depose his two brothers as heirs apparent. Finally, they had al-Muntäir himself killed.
During the period of al-Wathiq and al-Mutawakkil, insurrections erupted in the center of the empire, and serious revolts broke out in distant provinces, including Africa and Armenia. The Byzantine raids on Damietta and Samosata were memorable events, and periodic Muslim forays were made into Byzantine territory. Prisoner exchanges between Muslims and Byzantines are reported in engaging detail on the basis of eyewitness testimony. The report of a prisoner release by a Shi'ite emissary to the Byzantine emperor contains a charming description of his visit to Constantinople and his audience with Michael III.
A discounted price is available when purchasing the entire 39-volume History of al-¿abari set. Contact SUNY Press for more information.