Al-Mu'tadid's campaign against Mosul and the castle of Mardin

In 281 AH al-Mu'tadid bi-Llah set out for Mosul intending to confront Hamdan ibn Hamdun, when news reached him that Hamdan had inclined toward Harun al-Shari. Hamdan took refuge in his fortresses. Al-Mu'tadid then turned to the fortress of Mardin, which was in Hamdan's hands; Hamdan fled from it and left his son behind. Al-Mu'tadid camped before the fortress and fought those inside all day. On the next day he shouted "Allahu akbar!" and climbed toward the fortress until he came close to the gate, then called out "O Hamdan!" and someone answered him. He said, "Open the gate," and it was opened. Al-Mu'tadid sat in the gateway, the contents of the fortress were removed, and he ordered it demolished, and it was demolished. ¹

In this campaign al-Mu'tadid led in person right up to the fortress gate. His calling out the name of Hamdan shows that the fight was with the man, not with the stones. Mardin later became one of the seats of the Hamdanids, who trace their line to this fugitive from the gate of his fortress. ¹