HARUN AL-RASHID (ha-roon' ar rah' shed) (763-809), fifth of the `Abbasids of Baghdad, and second son of the third caliph Mandi, was born at Rai (Rhagae), and at the age of 22 ascended the throne. For the campaigns in which he took part prior to his accession see CALIPHATE : The Abbasids. He owed his succession to the prudence of Yahya b. Khalid the Barmecide, his secretary, whom on his accession he appointed his lieutenant and grand vizier (see BARMECIDES). Under his guidance the em pire flourished in spite of revolts in the provinces by the old Alid family. Successful wars were waged with the rulers of Byzantium and the Khazars. In 803, however, Harun became suspicious of the Barmecides, whom with a single exception he caused to be executed. Henceforward the chief power was exercised by Fadl b. Rabi`, who had been chamberlain under Harlan himself and under his predecessors, Mansur, Madhi and Hadi. Later troubles in the eastern parts of the empire, led Harlan to go to Khorasan, but he died at Tus in March 809.
The reign of Harun (see CALIPHATE) was one of the most brilliant in the annals of the caliphate, in spite of losses in north west Africa and Transoxiana. His fame spread to the West, and Charlemagne and he exchanged gifts and compliments as masters respectively of the West and the East. Himself a scholar and poet, Harun patronized poets, jurists, grammarians, cadis, scribes and musicians. The excellent administration of the empire dur ing his life was in reality due to his viziers Yahya and Fadl. Harun is known to Western readers as the hero of stories in the Arabian Nights; and in Arabic literature he is the figure of numberless anecdotes.