Al-Saffah

Abû Al `Abbâs `Abd Allah Ben Muhammad Ben `Ali Ben Al `Abbâs (722-754) called Have-Saffâh is an Al great-grandson `Abbâs, the uncle of the prophet Mohammed (Mahomet). He was proclaimed caliph in 750 with Koufa after having reversed the last Omeyyade, Marwan II, and founded thus the dynasty of the Abbassides. He died in June 754, his younger brother Abû Ja `far succeeded to him with the Al-Mansûr nickname.

Biography

Anti-omeyyade agitation (743-750)

Abû Muslim (700 - 755) Persian resulting from a family zoroastrienne, of its true name `Abd er-Rahman Ben Muslim was a saddler following his occupation in the Khorasan. It took its nickname of Abû Muslim during the civil war opposing the Omeyyades to the supporters of the family of the prophet who they are the descendants of `Have-Saffâh or those of `Alî. Certain Shiites believed that Have-Saffâh was the awaited Mahdi.

Inversion of Omeyyades

On Friday, October 31 749, the population of Koufa was convened with the large mosque without one knowing the reason of it, Abû Salama Al-Khallâl went up in pulpit to say: “that all those which are in a position to take the weapons come here tomorrow vêtus from black. ” Then each one understood that which went would be elected to cut down the omeyyades would not be downward of `Ali. The following day Abû Salama Al-Khallâl, with the support of Abû Muslim, made elect by crowd Have-Saffâh as caliph with for mission of reversing the omeyyades. The Abbassides took the black like emblematic color of the “good” against the white, color of the omeyyades, becoming the symbol of the “evil”. This dualism was appropriate rather well for Persians the more so as the white was their color of mourning.

When the caliph omeyyade Marwân II learned that, it took its family and moved towards the West while crossing L “Euphrate. Khorasan was already in dissidence and with this oath with Koufa Iraq escaped its turn with the omeyyades, also Marwân considered it the escape towards the Anatolia and to put itself under the protection of the king of the country of Roum. He preferred to flee in Syria where he could hope to count on supports.

The Syrians to excuse itself of their attachment to the omeyyades and while lending oath to the new caliph, affirmed to have been unaware of that the prophet had another family that of the omeyyades.

The army omeyyade of Marwân met the army of the Khorasan of directed by `Abd Allah Ben “Ali an uncle of Have-Saffâh in the south of Mosul to the confluence of the river Zâb and the Tigre. The battle lasted two days, the second day it was the rout for the army of Marwân. Of return to Damas the inhabitants refuse the entry of the city to him, it moves then towards the Palestine and the Egypt.

The Abbasid army with the continuation of Marwân, invades Syria. In Damas the two Abbasid camps and omeyyades have their partisans who clash. The partisans of the Abbasids carry it and open the city with the troops of Have-Saffâh. Omeyyades in escape were joined, Marwân is decapitated, its family is made captive (June 750). Marwân

Massacre of the Omeyyade family

Have-Saffâh decided to destroy the omeyyade family completely. It started by making open the tombs of the caliphs and make burn their corpses. When all the alive members of the omeyyades family were brought together Have-Saffâh made massacre. then it made extend on the bodies a leather carpet on which one was used a meal for those which attended this scene and which ate while the victims expired.

Omeyyades with Cordoue

`rear-Rahman Abd Ben Driven `âwîya Ben Hichâm, one of the rare survivors of the massacre of the dynasty of the omeyyades. Helped by Arabic of Syria and the Berber ones (his/her mother was a Berber prisoner) it could flee and take refuge in Al-Andalus. Later it was made proclaim emir Al-Andalus in the large mosque of Cordoue.

The battle of Catholic students (751)

The Chinese armies attack with the intention to take again the Transoxiane. An army khurassanienne of Abû Muslim, with at its head the general Ziyad Ben Salih carried out the counter-attack. The two armies met on banks of the river Talas (751). The victory of Talas against the Chinese made it possible Arabic to discover certain techniques Chinese. Thus one built the first paper mills of the empire with Samarkand.

Abû Ja `far against Ibn Hubayra

Have-Saffâh sends his/her younger brother Abû Ja `far to fight Yûsuf Ben Hubayra with Wasît where it had been cut off. The seat was installed and Have-Saffâh used machines of war to bombard the city. The inhabitants seeing the number of victims increasing without perceiving of exit, incited in Ibn Hubayra to ask for peace. Abû Ja `far granted its forgiveness to all and left them in freedom on the condition of making allegiance in Have-Saffâh and for Ibn Hubayra not to leave Wasît.

Some time after, Abû Ja `far acquired the conviction that Ibn Hubayra prepared to betray. It made stop Ibn Hubayra and forty two of his companions and parents who were carried out.

Abû Ja `far against Abû Muslim

Have-Saffâh sends then Abû Ja `far in the Khorasan to meet Abû Muslim there. Although this last was at the base of the insurrection and about the seizure of power speak Abbassides, Have-Saffâh was wary of him. After being itself assured the fidelity of Abû Muslim, Abû Ja `far set out again with the meeting of the caliph to submit his report/ratio to him. He says Abû Muslim is a giant among the giants and you will not be able to enjoy the life as long as it will be alive .

In 754, Abû Muslim wanted to make the pilgrimage with Mecque. Of passage to Ray, it met Have-Saffâh and had to stop tails time there. In spite of the insinuations of Abû Ja `far presenting it like a danger to the caliphate, Have-Saffâh let Abû Muslim achieve its pilgrimage and return in Khorasan.

end of the reign

Have-Saffâh designated his/her brother Abû Ja `far like successor. It had had to be promised for that the successor of Abû Ja `far would be “Isâ wire of the older brother of Have-Saffâh and of Abû Ja `far.

The court reigns of Have-Saffâh was occupied reconstituting the Arab empire, at least in its oriental party, Ifriqiya, the Maghreb and Al-Andalus escaped control quickly from the Abbasids. It led a more tolerant policy for nonthe Moslems and more open for the nonArab Moslems. Not-Moslems and not-Arabic were enlisted in the armies. Abû Muslim remained the commander of the armies until in 755. But Have-Saffâh disappointed its supporters Shiite which hoped that their Imam becomes caliph.

Have-Saffâh died in 754, his/her brother Abû Ja `far succeeded to him with the Al-Mansûr nickname. It is a solved enemy of Abû Muslim which seized the power.

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