Babak Khorramdin Revolt
| Babak Khorramdin Revolt | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Persian Rebellions against the Caliphate | |||||||||
 Babak Khorramdin in negotiations with Al-Afshin | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Abbasid Caliphate |
 Khurramite Movement | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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Before Babak: Harun al-Rashid Abdallah ibn Malik Al-Ma'mun Al-Mu'tasim Al-Afshin Ishaq ibn Ibrahim Bugha al-Kabir Muhammad bin Humayd al-Tusi † |
Babak Khorramdin  Ishmah al-Kurdi Mu'awiya Ali ibn Mazdak | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| High casualties (Exaggeration)[a][8] |
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Babak Khorramdin Revolt (Persian: شورش بابک خرمدين; 816–837;Arabic: ثَوْرَةُ بَابَكْ الخُرَّمِيِّ) was a series of uprisings by Babak Khorramdin, who led the Khurramite movement between the years of 816CE–837CE after Javidhan. It was one of the largest Persian uprisings against the Abbasid Caliphate. It occurred during the reigns of Al-Ma'mun and Al-Mu'tasim, lasting for 20 years. The uprising was suppressed and the Abbasids captured and executed Babak.
The Khurramites seized control of Azerbaijan and other regions, seeking to restore the faith to Mazdakism.
Background
[edit]The term "Bābakīya" (Persian: بابکیا; Khorramdinism) refers to the followers of Babak Khorramdin, who was considered a Batinist. He was allegedly born as the result of an illicit affair in the mountainous regions of Azerbaijan in 202 AH (818 CE). His teachings gained many followers.[citation needed] Babak emerged during the reign of Al-Ma'mun. He spread chaos and corruption across the land, seizing control of many regions. Khorramdin sought to revive the religion of the "Magi" (Zoroastrianism).[citation needed] His mother, who was described as a "blind woman " (known as "Rumīya the Blind Woman"), became pregnant after an affair. One source recounts a story from Ali ibn Marr about a beggar, who claimed that he had once had relations with Khorramdin's mother, only for her to spread the word that the child was his. When confronted, the beggar threatened to kill her if she spoke of it further.[citation needed] The Khurramites evolved in the 9th century, as a result of long standing conflict between the caliphate and native Persians, following the conquest of Azerbaijan. Al-Tabari records that Babak claimed he possessed Javadan's spirit and that he became active in 816–817. Babak took refuge during his revolt against the Abbasid Caliphate in a mountainous region between Azerbaijan and Aran[disambiguation needed], also known as Badhan between the years 201 AH (816 CE) and 223 AH (838 CE).[citation needed]
Abbasid campaigns against the Khurramite movement
[edit]Harun Al-Rashid's campaigns (before Babak)
[edit]In (807CE) The Caliph Harun al-Rashid Dispatched Abdallah ibn Malik al-Khuza'i to fight against the Khurramites in Azerbaijan, He captured and enslaved many of them, Harun ordered the execution of the prisoners and the sale of the captives.[12] In the same year, 807, Harun al-Rashid died while traveling to Khorasan. During this time, the Khurramites rebelled in many villages around Isfahan and mountainous regions including Rayy, Hamadan, Karaj, and Dastaba. A major uprising occurred in Azerbaijan, where many women and children were enslaved and reportedly 30,000 men were killed. It was said that they took advantage of Harun's death as an opportunity to cause these rebellions.[11] The Abbasids successfully Suppressed the rebellions.
Al-Ma'mun's campaigns
[edit]The khurramites Rebelled against the Caliphate for the third time in (212AH/827CE) at Isfahan,[11] In response, Al-Ma'mun dispatched several commanders to defeat Babak. He sent Khorasani Iranian commanders such as Yahya ibn Mu'adh al-Razi, who fought against Babak unsuccessfully. Al-Ma'mun then sent another commander, Mohammed bin Abi Khalid, a Khorasani Iranian who was also defeated by Babak. In 827, Al-Ma'mun dispatched a Khorasani Arab commander called Muhammad bin Humayd al-Tusi to Azerbaijan. He fought against Babak in 829 in a narrow pass, where he and many of his men were killed.[13]
Al-Mu'tasim’s first campaign and The Great Revolt
[edit]Babak's influence was expanding until the reign of al-Mu'tasim, during which the Khurramites gained strength and reached the al-Jibal region. it was marked as the fourth rebellion of the Khurramites in (833CE/218AH), and is considered one of the major uprisings known as "The Great Revolt ". Many people from Isfahan, Hamadan, Masabadhan, Mihrajanqadhaq, including the two Māhs (Nihawand, Dinawar) and some people of Fars among other regions joined the movement, they adopted the Khurramite beliefs and were operating under Babak's direction. They caused various actions including killing Tax collectors, Robbing Travellers, and slaughtering Muslims. The Khurramite rebels in Fars were defeated by the Caliphal forces. Later the Khurramites launched a campaign in the lead of "Ali ibn Mazdak" capturing Karaj, the centre of the local ruler of Abu Dulaf al-Ijli in Isfahan, It was said that Abu dulaf was away with his troops during the Engagement and it's likely that he didn't know or notice the Khurramite attack. According to Tarikhnama babak sent supplies to al-Jibal, And according to al-Ya'qubi The Khurramites managed to defeat the first army in the lead of Hashim bin Batijur, that was the first army sent by Al-Mu'tasim. Then later Al-Mu'tasim dispatched the Governor of baghdad Ishaq ibn Ibrahim al-Mus'abi, Ishaq lead a ruthless campaign and dealt a decisive blow to the Khurramites, resulting in a brutal suppression of the Khurramite Rebellion, Killing 60,000 to 100,000 Khurramites, The remaining of the Rebels that survived the ruthless campaign escaped to the Byzantine territories,[14][15][9] The survivors converted to Christianity, later they joined the imperial army. it was said that the person who lead those survivors to the byzantine lands was named "Nusayr" which is later known as Theophobos.[9] It was said that the engagement between Ishaq and the Khurramites took place near the district of Hamadan. After sending a victory dispatch in December 833, he returned to Iraq in May 834, bringing with him a large number of captives and individuals who had received guarantees of safe conduct.[16]
Al-Mu'tasim’s second campaign and downfall of Babak
[edit]During this period, al-Mu'tasim appointed the Persian general Afshin to lead the campaign against Babak and oversee the region of al-Jibal. Before Afshin's departure, the caliph had sent a group under "Abu Sa'id Muhammad ibn yusuf" to rebuild the forts demolished by Babak between Zanjan and Ardabil. The Khurramites, led by Mu'awiya, made a failed attack on the Arabs that was recorded by al-Tabari as Babak's first defeat.[17] Meanwhile, Muhammad ibn al-Ba'ith, the ruler of Shahi fortress and the citadel of Tabriz in Azerbaijan, was initially allied with Babak Khorramdin, providing a full support and supplies for Babak's troops. However, when an Abbasid army approached in 220 AH / 835 CE, he changed and pledged allegiance to Caliph Al-Mu'tasim, using the opportunity to consolidate his control over Marand. As part of this, he trapped the Khurramite leader, Isma al-Kurdi , he got all his men and companions drunk, Killed them, and captured isma. He transferred Isma to a fortress near Lake Urmia, later sending him to the caliph, who questioned him to learn about the pathways and military positions in Azerbaijan. After Babak's defeat, Ibn al-Ba'ith was later imprisoned in Samarra.[18]
In 220 AH (835 CE), Caliph al-Mu‘tasim assigned his top general, Al-Afshin, to lead the campaign against Babak Khorramdin. As part of a broader strategy, Muhammad b. Yusuf al-Thaghri was dispatched to Ardabil to rebuild the fortresses between Ardabil and Zanjan and to establish garrisons and secure the supply routes. Al-Afshin began his campaign by clearing the Jibal region of rebellious local lords and fortified the road from Ardabil to Barzand with garrisons and defensive trenches to protect supply caravans. Operating from his base in Barzand, he engaged in systematic intelligence gathering and advanced with extreme caution–moving his camp only four miles a day and protecting it with trenches and scattered iron spikes to avoid ambushes. By March 221 AH (836 CE), he had reached a position just six miles from "al-Badhdh", Babak's fortified base. Though he scored several victories over Babak, he also suffered several setbacks. Al-Afshin succeeded in drawing Babak into the open. In 222 AH (837 CE), after prolonged preparation and steady progress, he stormed al-Badhdh. delivering a decisive blow to the Khurramite revolt and marketing the collapse of the Khurramite Resistance.[19][20]
Capture of Babak
[edit]After the destruction of Babak's stronghold (al-Badhdh) in 837, he retreated westward with a few of his companions and looked for sanctuary with the Armenian Noble Sahl Smbatean. Babak requested that his brother be sheltered apart by another Armenian noble, trying to ensure safety. However, the plan was unsuccessful.[19] Though Babak formed a temporary alliance with Armenian nobles, these relationships were often fragile and self-interested. Eventually, Sahl handed Babak over to the Abbasids. By surrendering him to the caliphal forces, Sahl aimed to regain favour at the Abbasid leadership. This incident marked the end of Babak's resistance.[21] It is said that Sahl Smbatean had abused Babak's mother, sister, and wife in Babak's presence, that happened before turning them all over to the caliph.[22] This act was meant to symbolically and politically disgrace Babak, portraying him as morally and militarily defeated.
Babak's tragic end, involving Sahl's betrayal and his brutal execution, reflected the belief that Babak had claimed higher status than he deserved. Sahl allegedly mocked him during the betrayal, saying:
"You are just a herder of cows and sheep. What have you got to do with kingship, political decisions, or armies?"[23]
This was viewed as the ultimate humiliation: an aristocrat reasserting his authority over a false claimant. Both Babak and his brother were subsequently delivered to the Abbasid forces.[19]
Execution and Aftermath
[edit]
Babak Khorramdin was eventually seized by Al-Afshin and was handed over to the Abbasid Caliph. During Babak's execution, the Caliph's henchmen first cut off his legs and hands in order to convey the most devastating message to his followers. [24][25] He was then gibbeted alive whilst sewn into a cow's skin with the horns at ear level to gradually crush his head as it dried out. He had earlier been paraded through Baghdad on an elephant with a placard listing his crimes, before his final execution in Samarra.[3] Babak was executed in Samara in (838CE) and his brother "Abdullah" was executed in Baghdad in the same year.[19] Ishaq supervised the execution of 'Abdallah, and gibbeted his corpse in Baghdad.[26]
Later Another persian called "Mazyar" rebelled in Tabaristan against the caliphate, and one of his motives was to spread Zoroastrianism, however the Abbasids suppressed his rebellion and executed him, crucifying him next to Babak in 840CE.[21] The capture of Mazyar before of his execution was described in sources that Ishaq ibn Ibrahim Captured Mazyar. upon receiving him, Ishaq ordered him to be transported on an elephant and escorted him to the caliph in Samarra. That same year Ishaq formed part of the tribunal that prosecuted the disgraced general al-Afshin, which ended with al-Afshin being found guilty of apostasy and thrown into prison.[27]
Notes and Sources
[edit]- Yusofi, Gh. -H. (1988). "Bābak Ḵorramī". In Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.). Encyclopædia Iranica. Vol. III/3: Azerbaijan IV–Bačča(-ye) Saqqā (Online ed.). Encyclopædia Iranica Foundation. pp. 299–306.
- Crone, Patricia (2012). The Nativist Prophets of Early Islamic Iran. Cambridge, New York: Cambridge University Press.
- Crone, Patricia (1980). Slaves on Horses: The Evolution of the Islamic Polity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-52940-9.
- Lombard, Maurice (2003). The Golden Age of Islam. Markus Wiener Publishers. ISBN 1-55876-322-8.
- Yarshater, Ehsan, ed. (1985–2007). The History of al-Ṭabarī. SUNY Series in Near Eastern Studies. Vol. 1–40. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press. ISBN 978-0-7914-7249-1.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link) - Venetis, Evangelos (2005). "Ḵorramis in Byzantium". In Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.). Encyclopædia Iranica (Online ed.). Encyclopædia Iranica Foundation.
- Kazhdan, Alexander, ed. (1991). The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-504652-8.
- ^ Crone writes, "As one Armenian put it, he killed 30,000, more than 100,000, or 255,000—counting Muslims only—a million, or 500,000 according to low estimates, uncountable numbers according to high ones. Clearly nobody knew. She concludes it was not the number, but Babak's readiness to kill anyone that earned him his bloodthirsty reputation.[7]
- ^ Ishaq ibn Ibrahim dealt a decisive blow to the Khurramites and ruthlessly suppressed the rebellion, killing 60,000 to 100,000 Khurramites.[9] Richard Foltz claims that after Babak's uprising was suppressed, 100,000 of his followers were killed.[10] during the Khurramite uprising of Azerbaijan, reportedly 30,000 men were killed, and so many women and children enslaved.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ One of the great achievements attributed to al-Mu'tasim Billah was his success in defeating the Babak Khorrami Revolt. When he assumed control of the country, he assembled an army led by al-Afshin,Several battles took place, ending with the capture and execution of Babak Khorrami. — Safir Encyclopedia of Islamic History, p. 48, Al-Maktabah Al-Shamilah. [1]
- ^ Al-Afshin succeeded in defeating the Khurramite movement. — Safir Encyclopedia of Islamic History - Al-Afshin, p. 479, Al-Maktabah Al-Shamilah.[2]
- ^ a b Lombard 2003, p. 152.
- ^ One of the great achievements attributed t"al-Mu'tasim Billah" was his success in defeating the Babak Khorrami Revolt. When he assumed control of the country, he assembled an army led by al-Afshin, Several battles took place, ending with the capture and execution of Babak Khorramdin. — Safir Encyclopedia of Islamic History, p. 48, Al-Maktabah Al-Shamilah. [3]
- ^ He said: Babak Khorramdin,was then captured and executed during the time of al-Mu'tasim. — Tawdhih al-Mushtabih - The Letter N, p. 8, Al-Maktabah Al-Shamilah. [4]
- ^ Al-Afshin succeeded in defeating the Khorrami movement and captured Babak Khorrami himself in Baghdad. — Safir Encyclopedia of Islamic History - Al-Afshin, p. 479, Al-Maktabah Al-Shamilah. [5]
- ^ Crone 2012, p. 68.
- ^ Yusofi, Gh.-H. "Bābak Ḵorramī". Encyclopædia Iranica Online. Vol. 3. pp. 299–306.
Various figures, said to have been obtained from an executioner or executioners whom Bābak had employed, are given for those whose death he ordered in the course of his long revolt; the figure of 255,000 or more in most of the sources. is obviously an exaggeration, no doubt intended to impute cruelty and bloodthirstiness to Bābak.
- ^ a b c Crone 2012, p. 41.
- ^ Foltz, Richard (2016). Iran: Persia in World History. Oxford University Press. p. 50. ISBN 978-0-19-933549-7.
After Babak's uprising was crushed, with more than 100,000 of his followers killed
- ^ a b c Crone 2012, p. 40.
- ^ Crone 1980, p. 182.
- ^ Crone 2012, p. 70.
- ^ Venetis 2005.
- ^ ODB, "Theophobos", pp. 2067–2068.
- ^ Yarshater 1985–2007, Vol. 33, pp. 2–3, 7.
- ^ "Korramis". Encyclopædia Iranica. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ Crone 2012, p. 57.
- ^ a b c d Crone 2012, p. 71.
- ^ "AFŠĪN – Encyclopaedia Iranica". iranicaonline.org. Retrieved 2020-09-11.
- ^ a b Crone 2012, p. 67.
- ^ Crone 2012, p. 59.
- ^ Crone 2012, p. 73.
- ^ Yusofi 1988, pp. 299–306.
- ^ CAIS News, Restoration of Fortress of Babak Khorramdin to Continue, May 16, 2004
- ^ Yarshater 1985–2007, Vol. 33, pp. 88–89.
- ^ Al-Tabari 1985–2007, vol. 33: pp. 179-80, 185-86 ff.