The killing of the Zanj leader

The fighting with the Zanj continued from the accession of al-Mu'tamid in 256 AH until 270 AH, and in that year their leader, the Sahib al-Zanj, was killed. Al-Suyuti says that he claimed he had been sent to mankind and that he knew the unseen. ¹

Al-Suyuti says that his head entered Baghdad on a spear, decorative domes were made, the people cried out prayers for al-Muwaffaq, and poets praised him. The people were reassured and returned to the cities the Zanj had taken, among them Wasit and Ramhurmuz. ¹

Al-Mas'udi dates his killing to the night of Saturday, two nights into Safar 270 AH in the caliphate of al-Mu'tamid. ²

Ibn al-Jawzi says that al-Muwaffaq urged the war against him and encouraged people to jihad, and a group of volunteers joined him. The army crossed on Monday, three days before the end of Muharram, and the Zanj were routed; their city was taken and those held captive in it were freed. Then the messenger came with his head, and the people prostrated in thanks. Ibn al-Muwaffaq, Abu al-Abbas, reached Baghdad with the head on a lance, and rode with a great army to the palace of the caliphate. ³