Episodes
The Zanj Revolt: Baghdad's Slave War and the Battle for Basra
Between 869 and 883, the Abbasid Caliphate faced its most dangerous internal threat: a massive slave uprising in the marshlands of southern Iraq. Led by a charismatic figure named Ali ibn Muhammad, the Zanj rebels—East African slaves and their allies—fought a brutal guerrilla war, captured Basra, and built their own capital. The rebellion exposed the fractures in Abbasid society, from ethnic tensions to economic exploitation, and forced the caliphate to make a desperate alliance with a ruthless…
The Great Abbasid Siege of Constantinople: 717-718
In 717, the Abbasid Caliphate—still finding its feet after the overthrow of the Umayyads—launched an audacious assault on the Byzantine capital, Constantinople. This episode unpacks that two-year campaign, from the vast army and fleet assembled by Caliph Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik to the desperate defense led by Emperor Leo III. We dig into the role of the Theodosian walls, the devastating impact of Greek fire, the harsh winter that froze the besiegers' tents, and the crucial Bulgarian attacks…
Hunayn ibn Ishaq: The Translator Who Saved Greek Medicine
Before the Renaissance, before the Enlightenment, there was Hunayn ibn Ishaq. A Nestorian Christian from Hira, he became the most celebrated translator of the Abbasid Golden Age, turning Greek medical and philosophical texts into Arabic for the caliphs of Baghdad. This episode follows his remarkable career under al-Mansur, Harun al-Rashid, and al-Ma'mun, his patronage at the Bayt al-Hikma, and his method for producing accurate translations—often by oral dictation rather than literal…
The Great Abbasid Fire of 938: Tragedy and Recovery
In 938, Baghdad—the glittering capital of the Abbasid Caliphate—was struck by a catastrophic fire that consumed vast swaths of the city, including the iconic Round City's markets and the famed libraries. This episode explores the fire's causes, its devastating impact on daily life and scholarship, and the remarkable resilience of Baghdad's citizens as they rebuilt. We follow the accounts of chroniclers like Miskawayh and Ibn al-Jawzi, who preserved the memory of that harrowing day, and consider…
The Great Abbasid Siege: How Constantinople Held
In 717, the Umayyad caliph Sulayman launched the most ambitious siege of Constantinople ever attempted. His brother Maslama led a vast army across Anatolia while a fleet of nearly two thousand ships sailed through the Aegean. The Byzantine capital, battered by years of civil war and plague, seemed doomed. But Leo the Isaurian, a general from the frontier, seized the throne and organized a desperate defense. Greek fire and a Bulgarian alliance broke the siege, and the Umayyad fleet was…
The Barmakids: Fall of a Persian Dynasty
In the annals of the Abbasid Caliphate, few families loomed larger than the Barmakids, the Persian viziers who effectively ran the empire for half a century. Their rise from Buddhist priests in Balkh to the most powerful men in Baghdad is a story of brilliance, ambition, and ultimately, betrayal. This episode explores how Yahya ibn Khalid and his son Ja'far shaped the golden age of Harun al-Rashid, patronizing scholars and poets, building canals, and minting coinage. But their very success made…
Baghdad's Water: Canals, Trade, and the Pulse of Empire
Before skyscrapers and satellites, Baghdad's fate was written in water. This episode of Fexingo History follows the canals that made the Abbasid capital a living organism — from the great Sarat Canal and the Tigris waterways that brought Persian Gulf trade to the city's very doorstep, to the intricate network that irrigated the surrounding countryside. We look at how al-Mansur's founding engineers shaped the urban landscape around water, how the caliphs maintained and policed the waterways…
The Great Abbasid Mint: Money, Power, and the Dinar
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the Abbasid Caliphate's monetary system, focusing on the golden age of the dinar and dirham. From the establishment of the mint in Baghdad under al-Mansur to the standardization of coinage by Harun al-Rashid, they trace how currency underpinned the empire's economy, trade, and political authority. The conversation highlights key figures like the caliph al-Ma'mun, who introduced the 'al-Ma'muniyya' coins, and examines the role of the…
The Qarmatians: The Sect That Stole the Black Stone
In 930 CE, a band of Qarmatian revolutionaries sacked Mecca, killed thousands, and carried off the Black Stone itself. For two decades, the holiest relic in Islam vanished, ransomed by a breakaway sect that believed the end of the world was near. This episode follows the rise of the Qarmatians in eastern Arabia, their utopian commune at al-Ahsa, and their long war with the Abbasids. We meet Abu Tahir al-Jannabi, the warlord who led the raid, and explore what drove these Ismaili radicals to defy…
The Shadow of the Assassins: Nizari Ismailis and the Old Man of the Mountain
In this episode, Lucas and Luna step away from the Abbasid court and into the mountain fortresses of the Nizari Ismailis — the infamous Assassins. They trace the sect's origins to the split over al-Mustansir's succession in 1094, when Nizari loyalists broke from the Fatimid Caliphate and found refuge in the strongholds of Alamut and Rudbar in Persia. Lucas tells the story of Hasan-i Sabbah, the scholar-soldier who built a network of castles and trained a cadre of devoted fida'is, striking fear…
The Anarchy at Samarra: When Caliphs Became Pawns
In the decades after al-Mutawakkil's assassination, the Abbasid caliphate spiraled into a brutal power struggle known as the Anarchy at Samarra. This episode follows the rapid succession of caliphs—from al-Muntasir to al-Mu'tamid—as Turkish military commanders like Wasif al-Turki and Bugha al-Sharabi made and unmade rulers at will. Lucas and Luna explore how the brief move of the capital from Baghdad to Samarra backfired, turning the caliphate into a battleground for rival factions. They…
The House of Wisdom: Myth and Reality of Baghdad's Library
In this episode, Lucas and Luna dig into the reality behind the most famous library of the Abbasid Golden Age: the Bayt al-Hikma, or House of Wisdom. Often pictured as a grand, all-purpose academy, the House of Wisdom was actually a more modest royal library and translation bureau, founded by Harun al-Rashid and expanded by his son al-Ma'mun. They explore the great translation movement from Greek to Arabic, with figures like Hunayn ibn Ishaq, whose Galen translations set the standard for…
The Great Abbasid Patronage: al-Ma'mun and the Scientific Renaissance
In this episode of the Fexingo History podcast, Lucas and Luna explore the intellectual golden age under the Abbasid caliph al-Ma'mun (r. 813–833). Moving beyond the familiar stories of the House of Wisdom, they dive into how al-Ma'mun's patronage transformed Baghdad into a global center for science and philosophy. They discuss his sponsorship of the translation movement, the systematic acquisition of Greek manuscripts from Byzantium, the founding of the Bayt al-Hikma as a research institute…
The Birth of Baghdad: From Round City to Imperial Capital
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the origins of Baghdad, the fabled Round City built by Caliph al-Mansur in 762 CE. They discuss the city's innovative design, its symbolic and practical significance, and the challenges of construction. The conversation covers the site selection, the four gates named after distant provinces, the Green Dome palace, and the city's rapid transformation into a global center of learning and commerce. They also touch on the cultural life of…
Al-Khwarizmi and the Birth of Algebra
This episode explores the life and legacy of Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, the 9th-century Persian polymath whose work at Baghdad's House of Wisdom revolutionized mathematics. We discuss his monumental treatise 'Al-Kitab al-Mukhtasar fi Hisab al-Jabr wal-Muqabala', which introduced systematic solutions for linear and quadratic equations and gave us the word 'algebra'. We also trace his influence on the adoption of Hindu-Arabic numerals, the development of algorithms (from his Latinized name)…
Al Kindi The Philosopher of the Abbasid Court
Abu Yusuf Ya'qub ibn Ishaq al-Kindi, known as the 'Philosopher of the Arabs,' was a towering intellectual in 9th-century Baghdad. This episode explores his life and work: how he synthesized Greek philosophy with Islamic thought, his role in the House of Wisdom, his groundbreaking treatises on optics, music theory, and the intellect, and his dramatic fall from favor under Caliph al-Mutawakkil. We discuss his efforts to reconcile faith and reason, his influence on later Islamic philosophers like…
The Zanj Rebellion: The Slave Revolt That Shook the Abbasid Empire
In the late 9th century, a charismatic leader named Ali ibn Muhammad mobilized thousands of enslaved East Africans in the salt marshes of southern Iraq, sparking a brutal rebellion that nearly toppled the Abbasid Caliphate. This episode traces the Zanj Revolt from its origins in the labor camps of the Basra region, through its stunning victories — including the capture of Basra itself — to the bitter, decade-long war that ended in the destruction of the rebel capital al-Mukhtara. We explore the…
The Round City of Baghdad Al-Mansur's Perfect Capital
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the foundation of Baghdad under Caliph al-Mansur in 762 CE, focusing on the design and symbolism of the famous Round City. They discuss the choice of site, the four gates named after key provinces, the central mosque and palace with its Green Dome, and the influence of ancient Iranian circular cities like Gur. The conversation also touches on the city's rapid growth, its official name Madinat al-Salam (City of Peace), and how the round layout reflected…
Babak's Rebellion: The Khurramite War Against the Abbasids
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Khurramite Revolt led by Babak al-Khurrami, an uprising that shook the Abbasid Caliphate for two decades in the 9th century. Beginning in the mountains of Azerbaijan, Babak's movement combined Persian nationalist sentiment with Mazdakite-inspired religious egalitarianism, attracting thousands of rebels who held out against successive caliphs. The episode covers Babak's early victories, his alliance with the Byzantine emperor Theophilos, and the brutal…
The Paper Revolution How Chinese Know-How Fueled the Abbasid Golden Age
In 751 AD, on the banks of the Talas River in Central Asia, an Arab army clashed with Tang Chinese forces. The battle itself was indecisive, but its aftermath reshaped the Islamic world: among the prisoners taken were skilled Chinese papermakers. Within decades, paper mills flourished in Samarkand, Baghdad, and across the caliphate, replacing costly papyrus and scarce parchment. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how the arrival of paper—first via al-Fadl ibn Yahya al-Barmaki's sponsorship…
Al-Jahiz: The Blind Polymath of the Abbasid Golden Age
In this episode, we explore the life and work of al-Jahiz, the blind polymath from Basra who became one of the most influential writers of the Abbasid Golden Age. Born around 776, al-Jahiz wrote over 200 books on topics ranging from zoology and anthropology to satire and theology. His most famous works include the Book of Animals (Kitab al-Hayawan), a pioneering zoological encyclopedia blending science with philosophy, and the Book of Misers (Kitab al-Bukhala'), a witty critique of human greed.…
Al-Mahdi's Inquisition: The Persecution of Zindiqs
In the late 8th century, the Abbasid caliph al-Mahdi launched a systematic persecution of religious heretics known as zanādiqa, particularly Manichaeans. This episode explores the motivations behind al-Mahdi's inquisition, the methods used including the sword test, and the high-profile executions like that of the poet Bashshār ibn Burd. We examine how this crackdown on dualist beliefs shaped the caliphate's search for orthodoxy, set precedents for future inquisitions, and revealed the tensions…
When the Caliph Became a Puppet: The Buyid Conquest of Baghdad
In 945, the Abbasid capital fell not to a rival empire but to a band of Daylamite mercenaries from the Caspian coast. This episode traces the final collapse of caliphal autonomy under the Buyids — a Shi'a dynasty that kept the Sunni caliph as a figurehead while ruling from behind the throne. We follow Ahmad ibn Buya's unopposed entry into Baghdad, the establishment of the amir al-umara system, and the transformation of the caliphate into a ceremonial institution. Along the way, we explore how…
The Sack of Amorium: Al-Mu'tasim's Vengeance
In 838, the Abbasid Caliph al-Mu'tasim launched a massive campaign against the Byzantine Empire, culminating in the brutal sack of Amorium — the hometown of the reigning Byzantine emperor. The campaign was spurred by a legendary plea: a Muslim woman captured in a previous raid cried out to the caliph for help, and he responded with fire and sword. This episode dives into the military logistics, the use of Turkic slave soldiers (ghilmān), the famous ode by the poet Abu Tammam commemorating the…
When a Coppersmith Shook the Abbasid Throne: The Saffarid Threat
In the late 9th century, as the Abbasid Caliphate reeled from the Anarchy at Samarra, a new threat emerged from the east: the Saffarids. This episode tells the story of Ya'qub ibn al-Layth al-Saffar, a coppersmith from Sistan who built a conquering army, swept through Khurasan and Fars, and in 876 AD marched on Baghdad itself. Lucas and Luna explore how Ya'qub's rise challenged the fading power of the caliphs, the pivotal Battle of Dayr al-Aqul where al-Muwaffaq halted his advance, and how the…
The Fourth Fitna: Abbasid Civil War, al-Amin vs al-Ma'mun
After Harun al-Rashid's death in 809, the Abbasid Caliphate erupted into a brutal civil war between his sons al-Amin and al-Ma'mun. This episode follows the conflict that shattered the empire: the siege of Baghdad, the decisive Battle of Rayy, and the rise of the Khurasani general Tahir ibn al-Husayn. With vivid details from al-Tabari, we explore how the Fourth Fitna set the stage for the rise of Turkic soldiers, the diminishing of caliphal authority, and the eventual fragmentation of the…
The Abbasid Postal System: Barid, Intelligence, Empire
In this episode of The Abbasid Caliphate, Lucas and Luna explore the remarkable barid — the Abbasid postal and intelligence network that held the sprawling empire together. They trace its origins back to the Assyrian and Persian royal roads, then dive into how Caliph al-Mansur systematized it in the eighth century. Lucas explains how relay stations every few miles, thousands of horses, and a corps of trained postmasters (sahib al-barid) allowed Baghdad to receive news from Khurasan in under two…
Harun al-Rashid and the Barmakids: Patrons of the Golden Age
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the remarkable relationship between Caliph Harun al-Rashid and the Barmakid family, the Persian viziers who helped shape the Abbasid Golden Age. They delve into how the Barmakids rose from Buddhist priests in Balkh to become the most powerful administrators in Baghdad, overseeing the treasury, the postal service, and even the caliph's heir. Lucas explains their role in patronizing scholars, poets, and physicians, translating Greek and Sanskrit works into…
The Jawsaq al-Khaqani: Samarra's Lost Palace of the Caliphs
In this episode of The Abbasid Caliphate: Baghdad at the Center of the World, hosts Lucas and Luna explore the Jawsaq al-Khaqani, the vast palace complex built by Caliph al-Mu'tasim in his new capital of Samarra. We walk through its sprawling gardens, its private apartments, and the infamous 'Door of the Caliph' that led to the harem. We uncover the palace's role in the Anarchy of Samarra—how its corridors witnessed the rise and fall of Turkic guards, the assassination of al-Mutawakkil, and the…
The Qarmatian Capture of the Black Stone
In 930 CE, the Qarmatian leader Abu Tahir al-Jannabi led a devastating raid on Mecca, seizing the Black Stone from the Kaaba and holding it for over two decades. This episode explores the background of the Qarmatian movement, their Ismaili Shi'a ideology, and the shocking act that shook the Islamic world. We discuss the Qarmatian state in al-Hasa, their conflict with the Abbasid Caliphate under al-Muqtadir, and the eventual return of the Black Stone. What drove Abu Tahir to commit such a brazen…
Al-Mu'tadid: The Caliph Who Rebuilt Abbasid Power
After the chaos of the Anarchy at Samarra, the Abbasid Caliphate appeared to be crumbling. But one caliph, al-Mu'tadid (r. 892–902), staged a remarkable recovery. This episode explores how this ruthless and energetic ruler restored caliphal authority, rebuilt Baghdad, and crushed rebellions. We discuss his military campaigns against the Kharijites, his suppression of the Tulunids in Egypt, his brutal justice—including the story of the 'Wagtail' execution—and his architectural legacy, such as…
The Siege of Baghdad 865: Mutazz vs Mustain
In 865, the Abbasid Caliphate tore itself apart as rival caliphs al-Mustain and al-Mutazz fought for control of Baghdad. This episode tells the story of that brutal year-long siege, which saw the Round City's suburbs burned, its canals poisoned, and its people starved. We follow the desperate last stand of al-Mustain's general Muhammad ibn Abdallah ibn Tahir, who fortified the eastern half of Baghdad against the Turkic ghilmān of Samarra. We examine the role of the Tahirid family, who had ruled…
The Anarchy of Samarra: Turkic Soldiers and the Fall of the Abbasid Caliphate
In the ninth century, the Abbasid Caliphate tore itself apart from within. This episode explores the 'Anarchy at Samarra' (860-870 CE), a decade of chaos when Turkic slave soldiers, originally brought in to guard the caliph, became kingmakers who murdered four caliphs and plunged the empire into civil war. Lucas and Luna trace the origins of this crisis to Caliph al-Mu'tasim's creation of a Turkic guard, the transfer of the capital to Samarra, and the toxic cycle of violence that followed. They…
The Qarmatian Sack of Basra 923: Abu Tahir's Reign of Terror
In 923 CE, the Qarmatian leader Abu Tahir al-Jannabi launched a devastating raid on the Abbasid city of Basra. This episode explores the Qarmatian movement—a radical Ismaili sect that rejected orthodox Islam and established a state in eastern Arabia. We delve into Abu Tahir's background, the attack on Basra, the massacre of civilians, and the Abbasid caliph al-Muqtadir's failed response. The episode also examines the Qarmatians' capture of the Black Stone from the Kaaba in 930, their utopian…
Burial and Remembrance in Abbasid Baghdad
In episode 171 of The Abbasid Caliphate: Baghdad at the Center of the World, Lucas and Luna explore a topic rarely discussed in mainstream histories: death and burial in the Round City. How did the Abbasid elite, from caliphs to courtiers, handle the end of life? Lucas walks through the construction of the Quraysh cemetery, the politics of caliphal tombs, and the daily rituals of mourning. He explains why al-Mansur chose to be buried in an unmarked grave, how the Qubbat al-Khadra's dome became…
Al-Ma'mun's House of Wisdom: Translation and Power in Baghdad
In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the founding and legacy of Bayt al-Hikma, the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, under Caliph al-Ma'mun. They explore how this institution was not just a library but a translation center, academy, and hub for scholars like Hunayn ibn Ishaq and al-Khwarizmi. The conversation covers the translation movement from Greek, Persian, and Sanskrit texts, the role of the Barmakids and Nestorian Christians, and the political motivations behind al-Ma'mun's patronage. They…
Al-Wathiq's Inquisition: The Last Mu'tazili Caliph
When Caliph al-Wathiq took the throne in 842 CE, he inherited a caliphate at a crossroads. His father al-Mu'tasim had built a new capital at Samarra and a Turkish slave army that could make or break rulers. But al-Wathiq had another obsession: enforcing the Mu'tazili doctrine of the created Qur'an, pushing the mihna inquisition further than any caliph before him. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore al-Wathiq's short but intense reign—his persecution of the Hanbali scholar Ahmad ibn Nasr…
The Zanj Rebellion: Slaves and Salt in Abbasid Iraq
In this episode of The Abbasid Caliphate: Baghdad at the Center of the World, Lucas and Luna explore the Zanj Rebellion, the massive slave uprising that convulsed Abbasid Iraq from 869 to 883. They discuss the origins of the Zanj, enslaved East Africans forced to work on salt flats in southern Iraq, and the charismatic leader Ali ibn Muhammad, who galvanized them into a formidable army. The conversation covers key battles, the rebellion's use of guerrilla tactics, the brutal siege of Basra, and…
The Qarmatian Rebellion: Abu Tahir's Raid on Basra 923
In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the Qarmatian rebellion, focusing on Abu Tahir al-Jannabi's daring 923 raid on Basra. Fresh from their earlier uprisings, the Qarmatians struck the wealthy port city, sacking it and terrorizing the Abbasid Caliphate. We explore the motivations behind the raid, the brutal tactics used, and the aftermath that left Baghdad reeling. We also touch on the broader Ismaili-Shia schism, the weakness of Caliph al-Muqtadir's court, and how this event foreshadowed…
The Qarmatian Rebellion: Abu Tahir's Raid on Basra 923
In 923 CE, the Qarmatian leader Abu Tahir al-Jannabi launched a devastating raid on Basra, slaughtering thousands and pillaging the city. This episode explores the Qarmatian movement's origins in al-Hasa, their Ismaili Shi'a ideology, and the Abbasid Caliphate's inability to respond. We discuss Abu Tahir's career, the Qarmatian state's military tactics, and the broader context of the early 10th-century crisis, including the rise of the Fatimids and the weakening of the central caliphate under…
The Qarmatian Siege of Kufa 904: Abbasid Crisis
In 904 CE, a mysterious army of Qarmatian heretics from the desert appeared at the gates of Kufa, one of the holiest cities of early Islam. This episode of Fexingo History follows the desperate ten-day siege that nearly toppled the Abbasid Caliphate, focusing on the enigmatic Qarmatian leader Abu Tahir al-Jannabi and the unprepared caliph al-Muqtadir. We explore the Qarmatians' origins in Ismaili Shia dissent, their fortress capital in al-Hasa, and their chilling battle tactics—including the…
The Qarmatian Seizure of the Black Stone: Heresy and Chaos
In 930 CE, the Qarmatians, a radical Ismaili sect, stormed Mecca and carried off the Black Stone from the Kaaba. This episode explores the origins of the Qarmatian movement under Hamdan Qarmat and Abu Tahir al-Jannabi, their establishment of a utopian republic in al-Hasa, and the shocking 930 raid that held the relic ransom for over two decades. We discuss how the Abbasid Caliphate, under al-Muqtadir, struggled to respond, the theological debates around the Qarmatians' rejection of traditional…
The Qarmatian Uprising: Heresy and Chaos in Abbasid Arabia
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Qarmatian uprising that shook the Abbasid Caliphate in the late 9th and early 10th centuries. The Qarmatians, an offshoot of the Ismaili Shia sect, were radical egalitarians who rejected orthodox Islam, raided caravans, sacked Basra and Kufa, and even stole the Black Stone from the Kaaba in 930 CE. We discuss their origins in the village of Qarmat near Kufa, their leader Hamdan Qarmat, the establishment of a utopian republic at al-Hasa (modern-day…
Al-Jahiz: The Blind Essayist of Abbasid Baghdad
In this episode of The Abbasid Caliphate: Baghdad at the Center of the World, Lucas and Luna explore the life and work of al-Jahiz, the brilliant but controversial 9th-century writer who became one of Islam's greatest prose stylists. Born in Basra to a poor family, al-Jahiz overcame his humble origins and his striking appearance — he was a black man with bulging eyes — to become a fixture at the caliphal court in Baghdad. We discuss his most famous work, the Book of Animals (Kitab al-Hayawan)…
The Barmakids: The Persian Viziers Who Shaped Abbasid Baghdad
This episode explores the rise and fall of the Barmakid family, the Persian viziers who served as the architects of Harun al-Rashid's Baghdad. From their origins in Balkh and ties to the Buddhist monastery of Nava Vihara, to their role in building the Round City's administration and patronizing the translation movement, the Barmakids were the true power behind the throne for decades. We discuss Yahya ibn Khalid al-Barmaki, his sons al-Fadl and Ja'far, their sponsorship of scholars like…
The Green Dome: The Lost Palace of the Round City
Episode 160 of The Abbasid Caliphate takes you to the heart of al-Mansur's Round City — not to its mosques or markets, but to its most mysterious structure: the Green Dome, or Qubbat al-Khadra. This was the caliph's personal audience palace, a towering green dome visible from miles across the Baghdad plain, designed to embody Abbasid authority. Lucas and Luna explore its architecture — the double walls, the iwan, the throne room with its famous 'throne of state' — and the ceremony that took…
The Siege of Baghdad 812-813: Al-Amin vs Al-Ma'mun
The Abbasid civil war that tore Baghdad apart. When Caliph Harun al-Rashid died, his two sons, al-Amin and al-Ma'mun, inherited a divided empire. Al-Amin, based in Baghdad, tried to disinherit his half-brother, sparking a brutal siege of the Round City. General Tahir ibn al-Husayn led al-Ma'mun's forces, cutting off supplies and bombarding the city with mangonels. The war saw the use of fire ships on the Tigris, treachery among the Baghdad elite, and the first large-scale use of paper for…
The Siege of Baghdad 812-813: Al-Amin vs Al-Ma'mun
In 809, Harun al-Rashid died and his empire split between two sons: al-Amin in Baghdad and al-Ma'mun in Merv. Within two years, civil war erupted. This episode follows the catastrophic siege of Baghdad from 812 to 813, when al-Ma'mun's general Tahir ibn al-Husayn encircled the Round City, cut off food supplies, and used siege engines against the civilian population. We trace the breakdown of the Abbasid family compact, the role of the Barmakids' fall in destabilizing the succession, the…
The Abbasid-Saffarid Clash: Ya'qub ibn al-Layth's Rebellion
This episode dives into the revolt of Ya'qub ibn al-Layth al-Saffar, a coppersmith from Sistan who built a formidable army and challenged the Abbasid Caliphate in the late 9th century. We explore his rise from outlaw to ruler, his campaign to capture Baghdad, and the climactic Battle of Dayr al-Aqul in 876 CE. Lucas and Luna discuss Ya'qub's rough tactics, his rivalry with the Tahirids and Samanids, and the lasting impact of the Saffarid dynasty on Persian identity and governance. Along the…
The Siege of Baghdad 1258: Hulagu Khan Destroys the Round City
In 1258, the Mongol army under Hulagu Khan laid siege to Baghdad, sacking the city and ending the Abbasid Caliphate after 500 years. This episode explores the political decay that preceded the attack, the Mongol strategy and siegecraft, the caliph al-Musta'sim's fatal indecision, and the destruction of the House of Wisdom. We discuss the role of the vizier Ibn al-Alqami, whose alleged betrayal has been debated for centuries, and the aftermath: the execution of the caliph, the massacre of…
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