At a glance
- Era
- The Early Abbasid Caliphate
- Region
- Levant & Iraq
- Review
- Draft Completeness 2/5 · Help complete it
In time
In space
Map: Natural Earth, public domain · places and route from the graph
Sides
Overview
The author of "Tarikh al-Khulafa" relates that the power of Arslan al-Turki al-Basasiri grew, and prayers were said for him from the pulpits. Then news reached the caliph al-Qa'im of what he took to be the man's corrupt belief and his resolve to plunder the caliphal palace, so he called on Tughril Beg for help. 2
Entry into Baghdad
al-Basasiri came to Baghdad in 450 AH with the Egyptian banners. Prayers were said there for the ruler of Egypt, al-Mustansir, in the mosque of al-Mansur, and "come to the best of works" was added to the call to prayer. The fighting lasted a month, then the caliph was seized and imprisoned at Anah. 2
The return
Tughril Beg defeated al-Basasiri's brother, and in Dhu al-Qa'da 451 AH ordered the caliph returned with honour to his house. He then equipped an army that defeated al-Basasiri. The data also names among the participants Quraysh ibn Badran, Ibn al-Muslima and Miharish ibn al-Majli, according to "al-Muntazam". 3
Connections
People and things also explored
The return of al-Qa'im from Haditha to Baghdad· Investiture of Tughril as King of the East and West by Caliph al-Qa'im· The marriage of al-Qa'im bi-Amr Allah to Tughril Beg's sister· Tughril Beg's Entry into Baghdad· The death of al-Qadir and the accession of al-Qa'im bi-amr Allah, 422· The diwan manifesto impugning the Ubaydid genealogy· Marriage of the caliph's daughter to Tughrul Beg· Death of Abu Kalijar and investiture of al-Malik al-Rahim
Sources
- Tarikh al-Khulafa — al-Suyuti (Dar al-Minhaj edition) , p. 642-643
- Tarikh al-Khulafa — al-Suyuti (Dar al-Minhaj edition) , p. 642
- al-Muntazam fi Tarikh al-Muluk wa'l-Umam — Ibn al-Jawzi
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “The battle of al-Basasiri and the sermon for the Ubaydi al-Mustansir in Baghdad”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/event/basasiri-coup-450/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-25.