Battle of Rayy
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The Battle of Rayy was fought on May 1, 811 AD as part of an Abbasid civil war between the two brothers, Al-Amin and Al-Ma'mun
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[edit] Causes
Caliph Harun Al-Rashid (the father of the two brothers) had foreseen that upon his death there would be a struggle between the two for succession to the Caliphate. (The first born succession concept used in Christian monarchies was not prevalent in Islam.) Thus he decreed that Al-Amin would rule the Abbasid Caliphate until his death. Al-Ma'mun had his own autonomous province in Eastern Iran which Al-Ma'mun and his sons would continue to rule.
Naturally such a scheme, well intentioned as it was, was doomed to fail. Both brothers were influenced by their viziers, Fadl ibn Rabi and Fadl ibn Sahl respectively, into attempting to claim power. Ultimately Al-Amin declared that his sons would reign as Caliphs after he had died, even going as far as to seize the documents binding the brothers to the agreement from the sacred city of Mecca. Al-Ma'mun was much angered by this and prepared for war. Al-Amin at once sent an army out to destroy his brother.
[edit] Leaders
Al-Amin's army (divided by the numerous tribes within it) was led by Ali. Al-Ma'mun's army was led by Tahir, a Persian noble with some claim to one of the many mountain kingdoms which were nominally vassals to the caliphate.
[edit] Size of Forces
Al-Amin's army was considerably larger, numbering perhaps several thousand. Al-Ma'num's contained about one thousand at best, and most likely the number was less.
[edit] Battle
Tahir marched out from the town in which his army was camping and after fierce negotiations the battle began. Ali's forces charged into the forces of Tahir. How Ali died is uncertain; some sources say he was killed by arrows fired by men of Bukhara, while others suggest he was killed in a duel by another Tahir (not connected in any way to the commander). In either case, he was killed and his army scattered in all directions.
[edit] Aftermath
Tahir prepared his forces and began his advance on Baghdad. After a lengthy siege Baghdad would fall and Al-Amin would be killed.
[edit] Sources
The Court of the Caliphs- Hugh Kennedy
