Abbasid Caliphate and Caliphal Religious Institutions (750–1258 CE)

1. Abu al-‘Abbas al-Saffah becomes Abbasid caliph

   Jan 1, 749Labels: Abu al-, Abbasid caliphate

   • Britannica
   • Britannica

2. Battle of the Zab helps end Umayyad rule

   Jan 25, 750Labels: Battle of, Umayyad dynasty

   • Battle Zab
   • Abbasid Rev

3. Baghdad founded as Abbasid imperial capital

   Jul 30, 762Labels: Baghdad, Al-Man r

   • History Baghdad
   • Round City

4. Fall of the Barmakids reshapes court patronage

   Jan 1, 803Labels: Barmakids, H r

   • Harun

5. Siege of Baghdad ends al-Amin’s reign

   Sep 28, 813Labels: Siege of, Al-Ma m

   • Siege 812 813
   • Fourth Fitna

6. Bayt al-Hikma formalized under al-Ma’mun

   Jan 1, 830Labels: Bayt al-, Al-Ma m

   • Britannica
   • K RE

7. Mihna (inquisition) launched to enforce doctrine

   Jan 1, 833Labels: Mihna, Al-Ma m

   • Cambridge
   • Mihna

8. Court relocates to Samarra as new capital

   Jan 1, 836Labels: Samarra, Al-Mu ta

   • UNESCO
   • Abbasid Samarra

9. Great Mosque of Samarra completed under al-Mutawakkil

   Jan 1, 847Labels: Great Mosque, Al-Mutawakkil

   • France Culture
   • Samarra

10. Mihna abolished, limiting caliphal doctrinal control

    Jan 1, 851Labels: Al-Mutawakkil, Mihna abolition

    • Mihna
    • Mutawakkil

11. Zanj Rebellion begins near Basra

    Sep 1, 869Labels: Zanj Rebellion, Basra

    • Britannica
    • Zanj

12. Abbasid forces crush the Zanj Rebellion

    Aug 1, 883Labels: Abbasid military, Zanj Rebellion

    • Britannica
    • Zanj

13. Caliphs return from Samarra to Baghdad

    Jan 1, 892Labels: Baghdad, Caliphal return

    • Abbasid Samarra
    • UNESCO

14. Buyids seize Baghdad, reducing caliphs to figureheads

    Jan 1, 945Labels: Buyids, Baghdad

    • Buyids
    • Britannica

15. Baghdad Manifesto challenges Fatimid caliphal claims

    Jan 1, 1011Labels: Baghdad Manifesto, Al-Q dir

    • Manifesto

16. Seljuq Tughril enters Baghdad as protector

    Jan 1, 1055Labels: Tughril Beg, Seljuqs

    • Britannica
    • Britannica

17. Nizamiyya Madrasa founded in Baghdad

    Jan 1, 1065Labels: Nizamiyya Madrasa, Nizam al-Mulk

    • Nizamiyya

18. Mustansiriyya Madrasa established by al-Mustansir

    Jan 1, 1227Labels: Mustansiriyya Madrasa, Al-Mustan ir

    • Mustansiriyya
    • Mustansiriya U

19. Mongols begin siege of Baghdad

    Jan 29, 1258Labels: Mongol siege, H leg

    • Musta sim

20. Baghdad surrenders, ending Abbasid rule in Iraq

    Feb 10, 1258Labels: Sack of, Abbasid fall

    • Musta sim
    • Britannica