Samarra Period: Capital Building and Military Politics (836–892)

1. Al-Mu'tasim moves court to Samarra

   Jan 1, 836Labels: Al-Mu'tasim, Samarra, Abbasid Caliphate

   • Britannica
   • Al Mu tasim

2. Jawsaq al-Khaqani (Dar al-Khilafa) built

   Jan 1, 836Labels: Jawsaq al-Khaqani, Dar al-Khilafa, Al-Mu'tasim

   • Archnet
   • Abbasid Samarra

3. Al-Wathiq succeeds al-Mu'tasim at Samarra

   Jan 1, 842Labels: Al-Wathiq, Samarra, Abbasid Caliphate

   • Abbasid Samarra

4. Al-Mutawakkil becomes caliph in Samarra

   Aug 10, 847Labels: Al-Mutawakkil, Samarra, Abbasid court

   • Al Mutawakkil
   • Britannica

5. Great Mosque of Samarra commissioned

   Jan 1, 848Labels: Great Mosque, Al-Mutawakkil, Samarra

   • Great Mosque
   • UMich Library

6. Mihna (Inquisition) ended under al-Mutawakkil

   Jan 1, 851Labels: Mihna, Al-Mutawakkil, Religious policy

   • Al Mutawakkil

7. Great Mosque of Samarra completed

   Jan 1, 851Labels: Great Mosque, Malwiya, Samarra

   • Great Mosque
   • UMich Library

8. Al-Mutawakkil assassinated by Turkic guards

   Dec 11, 861Labels: Al-Mutawakkil, Turkic guards, Samarra

   • Anarchy Samarra
   • Al Mutawakkil

9. Anarchy at Samarra: military-dominated successions

   Dec 11, 861Labels: Anarchy at, Military factions, Samarra

   • Anarchy Samarra

10. Ahmad ibn Tulun established in Egypt

    Sep 15, 868Labels: Ahmad ibn, Egypt, Tulunids

    • Britannica
    • Ahmad ibn Tulun

11. Zanj Rebellion begins near Basra

    Sep 1, 869Labels: Zanj Rebellion, Basra, Southern Iraq

    • Zanj Rebellion

12. Al-Muhtadi killed; al-Mu'tamid proclaimed caliph

    Jun 21, 870Labels: Al-Muhtadi, Al-Mu'tamid, Al-Muwaffaq

    • Anarchy Samarra
    • Al Muwaffaq

13. Abbasids defeat Saffarids at Dayr al-Aqul

    Apr 8, 876Labels: Dayr al-Aqul, Al-Muwaffaq, Saffarids

    • Dayr al Aqul
    • Al Muwaffaq

14. Major Abbasid offensive against Zanj escalates

    Jan 1, 879Labels: Al-Muwaffaq, Al-Mu'tadid, Zanj campaign

    • Iraq Theater
    • Zanj Rebellion

15. Siege of al-Mukhtarah begins

    Feb 1, 881Labels: Siege of, Zanj Rebellion, Abbasid army

    • Iraq Theater

16. Al-Mukhtarah falls; Zanj Rebellion ends

    Aug 1, 883Labels: Al-Mukhtarah, Zanj Rebellion, Rebel defeat

    • Iraq Theater
    • Zanj Rebellion

17. Death of al-Muwaffaq reshapes regency politics

    Jun 2, 891Labels: Al-Muwaffaq, Regency, Abbasid politics

    • Al Muwaffaq

18. Caliphal court returns to Baghdad; Samarra era ends

    Jan 1, 892Labels: Samarra, Baghdad, Caliphal center

    • Britannica
    • Abbasid Samarra

19. Al-Mu'tadid becomes caliph

    Jan 1, 892Labels: Al-Mu'tadid, Baghdad, Abbasid restoration

    • Britannica