Al-Ta'i' Delegates Authority to Adud al-Dawla

al-Suyuti reports that in 369 AH an envoy of al-Aziz, ruler of Egypt, arrived in Baghdad. Adud al-Dawla asked the caliph al-Ta'i to add the title "Taj al-Milla" to his titles, and the caliph granted it. ¹

al-Ta'i sat on the throne with a hundred men around him, armed with swords. Before him was the Mushaf of Uthman, on his shoulder was the mantle, in his hand was the staff, and he was girded with the sword of the Messenger of God. A curtain that Adud al-Dawla had sent was hung so that no soldier could see the caliph before him. The Turks and the Daylam entered, and none of them had iron weapons with him. ¹

Adud al-Dawla was then admitted, the curtain was raised, and he kissed the ground. The commander Ziyad was alarmed and said: "What is this, O king? Is this God?" Adud al-Dawla turned to him and said: "This is the caliph of God on earth." He kissed the ground seven times. ¹

al-Ta'i drew him near; he kissed the caliph's foot, and the caliph made him sit on a chair after making him swear. The caliph told him that he had decided to delegate to him the affairs of the subjects entrusted to the caliphate in the east and west of the earth, except the caliph's own household and affairs. ¹

He had been clothed in the robes of sultanate and crowned with a jewelled crown, and two banners were tied for him: one ornamented in silver in the style of princes, and another gilded in the style of heirs apparent. No one had been given this gilded banner before him. In 368 AH the caliph ordered drums to be beaten at his gate and the sermon to be given in his name from the pulpits of the capital. al-Suyuti quotes Ibn al-Jawzi that neither of these things had been done before for anyone, nor allowed for heirs apparent. ¹

The Gregorian conversion is derived. An additional source is needed to confirm the date.