To found a new dynasty among a people so enter prising and warlike as the Arabs, requ;i ed the dazzling accomplishments of a hero, as tet ll as t s•ctity of a prophet, and the prudence and sagacity of a statesman. The splendid victories of Mahomet contizu•idy add ing credibility to his prt.t•nsions as the me oger of God, commissioned to propagate the true reli•;ion, by persua sion or by the sword ; to convert or to ext•rminate the unbelieving nations throughout the world. Ili, succes sors gkried in the distilction of being commanders of the faithful. The warlike virtues of Almbek•r, Omar, and Othrnan, had been displayed under the ban ices of the prophet ; and the hope of dominion, or of paradise. made them ready to encounter every peril in the propa gation of the faith. Omar, in his reign of ten years, duccd thirty-six thousand cities, or strong holds, to his obedience ; demolished four thousand churches or tem ples of the infidels ; and erected fourteen hundred mosques for the exercise of the 'Mahometan worship. In one hundred years after the flig;it of Mahomet from Mecca, the empire of his successors extended from India to the Atlantic ocean, comprehending the widely distant regions of Persia, Syria, Egypt. Africa, and Spain.
When the power of the caliphs was confirmed beyond the fear of revolution, they forgot the real or affected virtues, which their predecessors had found necessary to its acquisition. Their interest, indeed, prevented any abatement of their zeal for the extension of Islamism : but the moderation, the affability, the self-denial, even the courage by which the first caliphs were distinguish ed, soon gave way to the love of pomp, of oppression, of luxury, and effeminacy, naturally inspired by uncontroul ed dominion over countless myriads, and by the exhaust less resources of the richest portions of the globe. The cares of government were relinquished for the softening pleasures of the seraglio; the rewards by which merit ought to have been encouraged, were appropriated by women and favourites ; and even when a caliph took the field against an enemy, his camp was encumbered by the unwieldy luxury of the palace. The enervating influ ence of this example spread rapidly through the empire. The warlike ardour of the Saracens was quenched by their love of ease, and of debasing indulgence ; and no pro mises or rewards could allure to the field the descendants of those enthusiastic champions, who had voluntarily crowded to the standards of Abubeker and Omar. After a duration of 656 years, the power of the caliphs was abolished by the Tartars, who captured the holy city of Bagdad, A. D. 1258, and put to death Al Mostasem 13i1
lah, the last of the race of Abassidcs.
As the caliphs succeeded to the regal and sacerdotal offices which Mahomet had assumed. they were the most absolute monarchs in the world. No privileged order was recognized in the Arabian empire, to impose a sa lutary restraint on the will of the despot ; and among a people, enslaved by superstition, and ignorant even of the name of liberty, no feelings of independence ever arose to prompt resistance to the tyranny of the vicar of the prophet, the vicegerent of God. The Koran was, indeed, prescribed as the rule of their actions, and incul cated strongly the duties of justice and humanity ; but they were themselves the judges and interpreters of that sacred code, nor was the most zealous Moslem at liberty to dispute their infallibility. In quality of iman, or high priest of the Mussulman religion, the caliph began the public prayers every Friday in the chief mosque, and delivered the khothbah, or sermon, animating his hearers to zeal and fidelity in their duties as true believers. The first part of this service was always performed by the caliphs in person, even when they affected the most pompous state, or were sunk in the most luxurious in dulgence ; but the utterance of the sermon was commit ted, in later times, to a deputy or assistant. It was part of the duty of the caliphs to conduct the pilgrims to Mecca, and to march at the head of the armies of his empire ; and it was their prerogative to grant letters pa tent of investiture, as well as swords, standards, robes, and other insignia to the Mahometan princes, who, even after they had thrown off the yoke of the caliphate, con tinued to hold of it as vassals. The caliphs usually went to the mosques mounted on mules ; and the sultans Sel gincides, although masters of Bagdad, were compelled to hold their stirrups, and to lead their mules for some distance on foot ; until they received from the caliph the sign of permission to mount on horseback. In short, the office of the caliphs, uniting spiritual influence with temporal power, bore a striking resemblance to that of the pope; and in their pomp, their haughtiness, and their oppression, little difference can be traced between the vicars of Mahomet, and the successors of Peter. See Herbelot's Bibliotheque Orientale ; Ockley's History of the Saracens ; Sale's Koran ; Gibbon's History, vol. ix. x.; and Mod. Univ. Hist. viols. (k)