Harun al-Rashid: objectives, accomplishments, and opponents. The reign of Harun al-Rashid

The Second half of the 8th century ad, was marked by the weakening of the Central government, and remote areas of the Caliphate received a new impetus to development. On the background of General changes in particular stand out Baghdad. Pretty quickly it turned into a cultural and political capital of the expansive Muslim Empire. In the rapidly developing city merchant, architect, soldier – everyone could find a job. And the lucky ones could make a successful career and become courtiers of the Caliph, whose name was – Harun al-Rashid.

Fantasy and reality

Arabian tales give to us the Governor of Baghdad as a fair and wise patron of architects and scholars, philanthropist and Creator. The image of Harun-ar-Rashid was so impressive that subsequently his name became a household word, denoting a generous person, endowed with power, good and fair. But the reality is, as always, was much more prosaic magic of the legend.

Childhood Khalifa

In the ancient city of Rey, near Tehran, in the year 766 was born the great grandson of al-Mansur – the founder of the Abbasid dynasty, which has long been ruled a huge Empire. Their lands stretched from the borders of China and India to the shores of the Atlantic ocean. The grandfather of Harun al-Rashid founded and Baghdad. Last to the moment of birth the future of the Caliph was rich and flourishing city, the main decoration of which was the Palace of the Caliph. The mother of the future Khan was a Yemeni slave girl by the name of al-Khayzuran that the Caliph made his concubine, and after married her.

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Harun-ar-Rashid spent his childhood in luxury and luxury, surrounded by friends, family, and wise mentors. Despite the surrounding wealth, he grew up strong and hardy – a good shot from a bow, wield a sword, was a fine horseman. From early childhood, his mentors were representatives of a noble family of Barmakids, a young Jafar ar Barmaid for many years was his best friend.

The First military campaigns

At the request of the mother of Haroun, at a young the age of sixteen, the son of the Caliph took part in a military campaign against the Byzantine Empire. It is clear that he commanded the troops of purely nominal, all the hostilities led by more experienced commanders. Despite the numerous libels which have nacatamales in the ear of his father, the enemies of Harun ar-Rashid, was put to shame. The young heir showed in the battles of bravery and ingenuity, and be entrusted with more complex cases.

After returning from the Crusades, Harun al-Rashid entrusted to rule Ifrikya (now this land is located on the territory of modern Tunisia), Armenia, Azerbaijan and Syria. In the list of candidates for the Caliph's throne, he was second after his half-brother Musa.

Short reign of al-Hadi

After the death of Caliph Musa took the throne under the name of al-Hadi. His brother he was thrown into prison and forced to swear never Harun ar-Rashid will not qualify for the throne and the right will serve his brother-king.

But the mother of Haroon and his friend Jafar this oath is not given, brief rules of al-Hadi in his Caliphate. In 786, the year he died suddenly, and his place was taken by Harun.

Goals of Harun al-Rashid

The Struggle for the throne in any Empire – the long and bloody confrontation. Ascended the throne, the young people from the first continued to play a nominal role, and ruled the country with his teachers and the mighty Barmecide. In their judgment, the young Caliph was guided by the instructions of his teacher, Yahya Ibn Khalid, a lot of time he devoted and his mother, who raised him to the throne.

After the death of the mother of Harun ar-Rashid is gradually emerging from the influence of a powerful clan of Barmecidal and takes the reins into their own hands. The main opponents of Harun al-Rashid now – his former friends and mentors. On 29 January 803 year at the hands of his vizier Jafar dies – a long-standing and most devoted friend of the Caliph. Whether it was the fault of the anonymous denunciation of enemies, or blame suspicion Khalifa – the truth we will never know. From the management were also suspended teacher of the Caliph, and his teacher Yahya Ibn Khalifa was long imprisoned in a dungeon.

Politics Caliph

The Reign of Harun al-Rashid can be called the Golden age of the Caliphate. Unconditional military superiority fought off hunting affluent neighbors to profit raids on the outskirts of the Empire. All attempts to ignite the flames of war ruthlessly suppressed. In this relatively peaceful time of booming trade. Perhaps it is the Arab merchants traded with the whole ecumene, spread the news about the new Caliph as a generous and wise ruler.

Despite his fame terrible ruler and a brutal warlord, Harun al-Rashid was sensitive to the voice of scientists and merciful to the poor. For all time of his reign, he daily prays. For theologians and poets have always been open doors, Harun often listened to them, allowed them to interpret the Koran, singing songs of praise.

Advances in science and construction

Despite the General rule, in Abassids Caliphatethe city had a relative independence. The Caliph followed the progress of scholars from various lands of their Caliphate, and invited the most talented researchers and architects. Through this approach on how the achievements of famous Harun-ar-Rashid, soon learned the entire Arab world. In the Caliphate were built bridges and mosques, were built dams and dikes, dry Rosalie the vast lands of the Caliphate.There was the Central post office, which in Europe in those days did not even hear. The caravan route on the territory of the Caliphate were protected from thieves, travellers stayed at Inns, not fearing for their lives and savings.

Great project

It is Interesting that, according to one historian, Harun ar-Rashid was seriously considering a project to connect the red sea with the waters of Romeyskoy (Mediterranean). To implement this initiative of the Caliph had the means and opportunity. This project was rejected for reasons of security of the state-generals of the Caliph seriously feared invasion of Byzantine ships and their breakthrough to the shores of the Hijaz. Again this idea came back after more than a thousand years, built on the site of the ancient project of the Suez canal.

The Wife of Caliph

Soon the young Caliph married. His choice was Zubeida Ibn Jafar, granddaughter of Caliph al Mansur. Many of the achievements of Harun al-Rashid and of right ought to be assigned just to this woman. He made an enormous contribution to the improvement of cities, with its filing to the streets of Baghdad in the dark shone the lights, she was one of the first wives do charity. She gave her husband and Lord of the son of Abu Abdallah al-Allah, who in his time became heir of the Empire his father.

The Caliph and religion

The Kindness and piety of the ruler was strangely combined with his intolerance of other faiths. At the dawn of his reign, he declared an Amnesty, pardoning hundreds of robbers and thieves, but left in the dungeons of people, the interpretation of the Quran which differed from the usual. In the Christian world these people would be called heretics. The so-called sindici had to publicly repudiate incorrect teachings and to pay a bribe for his release. The Gentiles were exposed during the Caliphate of humiliation and had to obey the rules. For example, they were forbidden to wear the same shoes, which were worn by Muslims. They were not allowed to ride horses – the main means of transportation for Christians and other Gentiles were the donkeys. Did not enjoy the support of the Caliphate and supporters of other religions. In 806 Harun al-Rashid in a pious zeal to make Islam the only religion on the earth, and commanded to destroy all Christian shrines in their lands, in fact, forbidden to practice Christianity in its Caliphate.

The Last days of Caliph

The Aggressive policy of the spaces of Islam in the end shattered the peaceful reign Albazinskogo Caliphate. The different sects of the Muslim religion found its supporters on the outskirts of a large Empire. Uprisings in Egypt, Tunisia, and Central Asia. Numerous wars emptied the Treasury and demanded the immediate attention of the ruler. The Caliph often had to single-handedly lead military campaigns. During the return of Haruna from one such campaign, in 809, he was overtaken by death. Saying the last words of the Caliph was: ‘Immortal, forgive death”.