Harun al-Rashid (1135)

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Caliph Harun al-Rashid (Arabic: الرشيد ) was the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad from 1135 to 1136. He is not to be confused with Harun al-Rashid, the fifth and most famous caliph of Baghdad.

Like his father, al-Mustarshid, ar-Rashid made another failed attempt at independence from Seljuk Turks. To avenge his father's death, he insulted the Sultan's envoy who came to demand a heavy largess, incited the mob to plunder his palace, and then, supported by Zengi, who was equally hostile to Sultan because of the murder of Dubeis, set up a rival Sultan. The Sultan Mas'ud hastened to the rebellious capital and laid siege to it. Baghdad, well defended by the river and its canals, resisted the attack; but in the end the Caliph and Zengi, hopeless of success, escaped to Mosul. The Sultan's power restored, a council was held, the Caliph deposed, and his uncle, son of al-Mustazhir, appointed as the new Caliph. Ar-Rashid fled to Ispahan, where he fell another victim to the Assassin's (Hashshashin) dagger.

[edit] References

• This text is adapted from William Muir's public domain, The Caliphate: Its Rise, Decline, and Fall.

Preceded by: al-Mustarshid

Caliph 1135–1136

Succeeded by: al-Muqtafi