At a glance
- Era
- The Early Abbasid Caliphate
- Region
- Levant & Iraq
- Review
- Draft Completeness 2/5 · Help complete it
In time
Overview
In 269 AH the caliph al-Mu'tamid became greatly afraid of his brother al-Muwaffaq, and wrote to his deputy in Egypt, Ahmad ibn Tulun. Ibn Tulun set out and came to Damascus. 1
The interception
Al-Mu'tamid left Samarra for leisure and headed for Damascus. Al-Muwaffaq wrote to Ishaq ibn Kundaj to turn him back. Ishaq met him between Mosul and al-Hadītha and brought him back to Samarra. He was lodged in the house of Ahmad ibn al-Khasib and was barred from the palace of the caliphate, and five hundred men were assigned to guard him. 1
Afterwards
Al-Muwaffaq sent Ishaq a robe of honour and money, and gave him the title "Lord of the Two Swords", and gave Sa'id ibn Makhlad the title "Lord of the Two Vizierates". Al-Mu'tamid was left without authority to loose or bind. Al-Suyuti says that he was the first caliph to be subdued, restrained and put under guard. 1
Connections
- Had participant
- al-Mu'tamid ala Allah· Abu Ahmad al-Muwaffaq· إسحاق بن كنداج· Ahmad ibn Tulun
People and things also explored
Al-Mu'tamid's succession deed for al-Mufawwid and al-Muwaffaq· The division of the realm between al-Mufawwid and al-Muwaffaq· al-Muwaffaqiyya· Abu Ahmad Imprisons His Son Abu al-Abbas al-Mu'tadid· The killing of the Zanj leader· Yusuf ibn Tashfin's killing of al-Mutawakkil, lord of Badajoz· Al-Muwaffaq's campaign against the Zanj and rescue of captives· Siege of Baghdad in the strife of al-Musta'in and al-Mu'tazz
Sources
- Tarikh al-Khulafa — al-Suyuti (Dar al-Minhaj edition) , p. 566-567
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “Ibn Kundaj intercepts al-Mu'tamid and confines him, 269”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/event/kundaj-interception-269/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-22.