ABBAS'IDES, THE, Caliphs of Bagdad, and the most famous of all the Saracen rulers. They claim to have descended from Abbas, the uncle and adviser of the prophet (566-652 A.D.); and they succeeded the Ommiads, who were caliphs of Damascus. The family of Abbas acquired great influence because of their near relationship to the prophet, and Ibrahim, fourth in descent from Abbas, gained several successes over the Ommiad armies, but was captured and executed in 747 by caliph Merwan. Ibrahim's brother, Abul-Abbas, whom he had named as his successor, assumed the title of caliph, and by a decisive victory near the river Zab, in 750, entirely overthrew the Ommiad dynasty; :Nieman was executed, and the house of Abbas was firmly established in the govern ment, though the Spanish possessions were lost by the establishment of the independent caliphate of Cordova. Almansur succeeded Abul-Abbas, and founded Bagdad as the seat of the empire. lie fought with success against the Turks and Greeks of Asia Minor; but from this period the rule of the Abbasides was distinguished by the development of liberal arts rather than the extension of territory. The severity of Mohammed's religion was relaxed and the faithful yielded to the seductions of luxury. The caliphs Harun Al-Rashid, 786-809, and Al-Mamun, 813-833, attained world-wide celebrity for gorgeous palaces, vast treasures, and brilliant equipage, in which their splendor contrasted strik ingly with the poverty of European sovereigns. Ilarun is well known as a hero of the Arabian Nights, and Al-Mamun as a patron of literature and science. But with all their splendor the caliphs were tyrants, and their memory is stained with deeds of blood wrought through jealousy or revenge. Within less than a century the domains of the Abbasides suffered dismemberment, and their power rapidly decreased. Rival sover
eignties (the Ashlabites, Edristes, etc.) arose in Africa, and an independent government was instituted in Khorasan in 820, under the Taherites. In the west the Greeks again began to encroach; but the fatal blow came from a despised and almost savage race. The caliphs had long been waging war against the Tartars of Turkestan, and many cap tives taken in these wars were dispersedover the empire. Attracted by the bravery of these prisoners, and fearing rebellion among the subjects, Motassem (833-842), the founder of Samarah and successful opponent of the Greeks under Theophilus, formed body guards of the Turkoman prisoners, who speedily became the real rulers of the Saracen empire. Mota-Wakkel, son of Motassem, was assassinated by them in 861, and the succeeding caliphs were only puppets in their hands. The caliph Radhi, 934-941, was compelled to delegate to Mohammed ben Hayek, under the title of "commander of com manders," the government of the army and other important functions of the caliphate. Province after province proclaimed independence; the rule of the caliphs was narrowed to Bagdad and vicinity, and the house of Abbas lost its power in the east forever when Hulagne, prince of the Mongols, set Bagdad on fire, and slew the reigning caliph, Motassem, Feb. 20,1258. The Abbasides continued to hold the semblance of power in the nominal caliphate of Egypt, and feebly attempted to recover their ancient seat. The last of the A., Nota-Wakkel III., was taken by sultan Selim I., conqueror of Egypt, to Constantinople, and kept there some time as a prisoner. IIe returned to Egypt.. and died in Cairo, in 1538, a pensioner of the Ottoman government, and the last of the Abbasides.