The Rising of Musafir al-Qassab in Armenia

خروج مسافر القصّاب بأرمينية

between 744 and 754 CE · c. 126 AH

In al-Baladhuri: Thabit ibn Nu'aym al-Judhami rose against Marwan ibn Muhammad, and Musafir al-Qassab — one whom al-Dahhak al-Khariji had empowered at al-Bab — came agreeing with his view; al-Dahhak gave him Armenia and Adharbayjan, and he came to Ardabil in disguise, whence a body of Sharat (Kharijites) went out with him — among them Bajirwan — finding at ... like-minded men who joined them, then Wartan whose folk accompanied them in numbers sharing their view, crossing to al-Baylaqan where a great crowd of like view attached itself, till they camped at Yunan; Marwan ibn Muhammad gave Armenia to Ishaq ibn Muslim, who fought Musafir ceaselessly, Musafir holding the fortress of al-Kilab in Sisajan; then when the blessed Dawla came and Abu Ja'far al-Mansur governed Jazira and Armenia under al-Saffah, he sent against Musafir and his fellows a commander of Khurasan's people who fought them till he overcame them and killed Musafir — the people of al-Baylaqan had fortified themselves in Qal'at al-Kilab under their chief Wadad ibn Asfar al-Baylaqani, and were brought down under aman.

Overview

According to al-Baladhuri, Thabit ibn Nu'aym al-Judhami rebelled against Marwan ibn Muhammad, and went to Musafir al-Qassab, who appointed him over Armenia and Azerbaijan. ¹

The rising

Musafir came secretly to Ardabil, and some of the Shurat came out with him, and others who shared their view joined them in Bajarwan, Warthan and al-Baylaqan. Then they camped at Yunan. Marwan appointed Ishaq ibn Muslim over Armenia, and he fought Musafir without stop. Musafir was in the fortress of the dogs in Sisjan. ¹

The end

In the caliphate of al-Saffah, Abu Ja'far al-Mansur appointed the Jazira and Armenia and sent a commander from the people of Khurasan, who fought them until he prevailed and killed Musafir. He brought down the people of al-Baylaqan under safe conduct, and their leader was Dudd ibn Asfar. ¹

The date runs from about 126 AH to the caliphate of al-Saffah; it is a derived estimate and needs an additional source.

Maslama ibn Abd al-Malik's Khazar Campaign and the Taking of al-Bab

In al-Baladhuri: Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik gave Armenia to Maslama ibn Abd al-Malik and sent ahead as his vanguard Sa'id ibn Amr ibn Aswad al-Harashi — with him Ishaq ibn Muslim al-Uqayli and his brothers, Jamwana ibn al-Harith ibn Khalid of Banu Amir ibn Rabi'a ibn Sa'sa'a, Dhufafa and Khalid the sons of Umayr ibn al-Habab al-Sulami, al-Furat ibn Salman al-Bahili and al-Walid ibn al-Qa'qa' al-Absi — who met the Khazars besieging Wartan, drove them off and routed them, coming to Maymadh of Adharbayjan; as he readied for battle, Maslama's letter reached him blaming him for fighting before his arrival and telling him Abd al-Malik ibn Muslim al-Uqayli had been given his army's command — when he handed the army over, Maslama's messenger seized him, bound him, carried him to Bardha'a and jailed him; the Khazars withdrew, Maslama pursued, and wrote of it to Hisham, who wrote back the verse 'leave them to waste — you see them — and chase them till the dust is cut off', ordering al-Harashi released from prison; Maslama compounded with the people of Khayzan, ordered its fortress demolished and took estates there known today as Hawz Khayzan; the mountain kings made peace with him, and to him came the Shirwanshah, the Liranshah, the Tabarsaranshah, the Filanshah, the Jarshanshah and the lord of Masmumat; he advanced on Madinat al-Bab and took it — in its citadel were a thousand Khazar households whom he besieged and stoned, then had a mantlet built in stone-shape which availed nothing, whereupon he went to the spring Anushirwan had led into their cistern, slaughtered cattle and sheep and threw in the offal and dung, so that by nightfall their water wormed, stank and fouled — and when night covered them they fled, abandoning the citadel; Maslama settled in the city of Bab wa-l-Abwab twenty-four thousand Syrians on mount-allowances — whence Bab's folk today admit no governor unless he brings money to share among them — built a granary for food, one for barley and an arms-storehouse, ordered the cistern sealed, and repaired and honoured the city; Marwan ibn Muhammad was with Maslama, engaging the Khazars at his side and fighting bitterly.

The Rising of Musafir al-Qassab in Armenia

At a glance

In time

Overview

The rising

The end

Connections

People and things also explored

Sources

Time

Maslama ibn Abd al-Malik's Khazar Campaign and the Taking of al-Bab