Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Baghdadi
Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Baghdadi (Arabic: أبو جعفر محمد بن أحمد البغدادي) was an agent and senior official of the early Fatimid Caliphate.
Life
As his nisbah indicates, Abu Ja'far Muhammad hailed from Baghdad, the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate.[1][2] For unknown reasons, likely related to his pro-Shia views, he was persecuted by the vizier Ali ibn Isa ibn al-Jarrah and had to leave Iraq, making his way west.[1][2] At Sijilmasa, where there was a sizeable Baghdadi colony, he met the Isma'ili leader and future founder of the Fatimid Caliphate, Abdallah al-Mahdi Billah.[1][2]
Al-Baghdadi quickly found favour with al-Mahdi with his knowledge and ability, who employed him as advisor and secretary.[3] He then spent some time in Cordoba, the capital of al-Andalus, where he became well known in the local literary circles; his true role, however, was as a spy, missionary and agent for al-Mahdi.[2][4]
He returned from Cordoba and rejoined his master sometime before the latter was proclaimed caliph in 909, and became his chief secretary (katib) upon the death of the first holder of the post, Abu'l-Yusr al-Riyadi in January 911.[2][3] In this capacity he headed the caliphal chancery, as well as the postal service (barid), which also served as an intelligence service.[3][5] In this capacity he was "the perfect secretary" (Dachraoui), and quickly became the most influential member of al-Mahdi's court.[6]
He continued in office after al-Mahdi's death in 934, and likely until his death, serving three Fatimid caliphs: al-Mahdi, al-Qa'im (r. 943–946), and al-Mansur (r. 946–953).[7] The date of his death is unknown.[8] His successor was the slave Jawhar al-Siqilli, who would go on to serve as a distinguished military commander and conquer Egypt for the Fatimids.[6][8]
References
- ^ a b c Halm 1991, p. 156.
- ^ a b c d e Dachraoui 1981, p. 311.
- ^ a b c Halm 1991, pp. 156–157.
- ^ Halm 1991, p. 157.
- ^ Brett 2017, p. 44.
- ^ a b Dachraoui 1981, p. 312.
- ^ Halm 1991, pp. 136, 246, 248.
- ^ a b Halm 1991, p. 302.
Sources
- Brett, Michael (2017). The Fatimid Empire. The Edinburgh History of the Islamic Empires. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 978-0-7486-4076-8.
- Dachraoui, Farhat (1981). Le Califat Fatimide au Maghreb (296-365 H. / 909-975 Jc.). Historie Politique et Institutions [The Fatimid Caliphate in the Maghreb (296-365 AH / 909-975 CE). Political History and Institutions] (PhD thesis) (in French). Tunis.
- Halm, Heinz (1991). Das Reich des Mahdi: Der Aufstieg der Fatimiden [The Empire of the Mahdi: The Rise of the Fatimids] (in German). Munich: C. H. Beck. ISBN 978-3-406-35497-7.
Preceded by Abu'l-Yusr al-Riyadi | Secretary of the Fatimid caliph 911–946/953 | Succeeded by |
- v
- t
- e
- al-Mahdi Billah
- al-Qa'im bi-Amr Allah
- al-Mansur Billah
- al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah
- al-Aziz Billah
- al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah
- al-Zahir li-i'zaz Din Allah
- al-Mustansir Billah
- al-Musta'li Billah
- al-Amir bi-Ahkam Allah
- al-Hafiz li-Din Allah
- al-Zafir bi-Amr Allah
- al-Fa'iz bi-Nasr Allah
- al-Adid li-Din Allah
- Dynasty
- Conquest of Aghlabid Ifriqiya
- Establishment
- 1st Sicilian revolt (913–917)
- 1st invasion of Egypt (914–915)
- 2nd invasion of Egypt (919–921)
- 2nd Sicilian revolt (937–941)
- Rebellion of Abu Yazid (943–947)
- Conquest of Egypt (969)
- Qarmatian invasions and struggle with Alptakin (971–978)
- Expansion into Syria
- Alexandretta
- Aleppo
- Apamea
- Uprisings of Muffarij b. Daghfal
- Bedouin alliance uprising
- Revolt of Abu Rakwa
- Hilalian invasion of Ifriqiya
- Mustansirite Hardship
- Revolt of Nizar
- First Crusade
- Siege of Ascalon
- Regime of Kutayfat and accession of al-Hafiz
- Crusader invasions of Egypt
- End of the Fatimid Caliphate
and military
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Officials, governors and generals |
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Missionaries and theologians |
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Anti-Fatimid movement |
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Literature and learning |