fourth involved conflict brothers succession throne father named successor named second granted son designated successor died succeeded baghdad encouraged baghdad court began trying autonomous status quickly sidelined response sought support provincial moves assert autonomy rift brothers respective camps widened declared son heir assembled large army troops marched general ibn defeated invaded iraq besieged baghdad city fell year executed remained come baghdad allowed power vacuum civil war fostered provinces grow local rulers sprang syria egypt addition policies followed powerful chief minister succession alienated traditional baghdad saw increasingly consequently uncle proclaimed rival baghdad forcing intervene personally ibn assassinated left baghdad entered years saw consolidation authority incorporation western provinces process completed local rebellions notably dragged far longer historians interpreted conflict variously words regard conflict succession incompetent competent brother product extension personal rivalry ministers struggle arabs control government background origins civil war lie succession arrangements reigned internal political dynamics main contenders born months apart elder named heir followed sequence influenced lines descent political implications lineage son descended second mother persian origin prestigious purely arab ties iranian dominated eastern provinces important factor choice heir contrast exclusively arab ruled state heavy iranian particularly influence revolution brought power originated dynasty relied heavily military leaders administrators original army came west given estates iraq new capital baghdad elite group known sons state dynasty retained privileged position provinces particular careful ties iranian element promotion family positions power youth ibn far ibn distance closely associated aristocracy baghdad remained influenced far associates powerful officials government pilgrimage definitive succession arrangement drawn succeed baghdad remain heir additionally rule enlarged practically independent son added heir received responsibility frontier areas byzantine_empire agreement extensively recorded historian distorted later especially regards extent autonomy granted eastern immediately returned baghdad january court witnessed abrupt fall family power hand decision reflect fact powerful liking timing suggests tied succession issue siding camps estranged day chance succeed power broken years fall saw increasing administration rise influence dispatched positions provincial governors bring provinces closer control baghdad led unrest provinces especially according policies fluctuated extremes governor attempt extract wealth province benefit iraq central government people protested loudly governors temporarily replaced ones attend local interests long standing rivalry resided chiefly iraq insisted retaining control affairs demanded province revenues sent west supply salaries strongly resisted local arab iranian resulting tension eased universally praised model governor appointed member placed charge province harsh taxation measures provoked increasing unrest expressed uprisings finally rebellion governor uprising forced accompanied powerful chamberlain chief minister ibn travel province sent ahead army stayed died march civil war death ascended throne baghdad popularity great remained planned campaign remaining rebels recalled army treasury east leaving little way military forces time came rely protégé began implement policy cooperation local autonomy privileges guaranteed soon began fall apart baghdad ambitions dispute status led imprisoned set free appointed head bodyguard joined influential officials chief ibn demanding revenue return direct control central government meant breaking agreement rift camps manifested added son list succession intention favour direct succession sons unusual onwards struggle brothers throne sons imprisoned brief reign elder brother resided far immediate area control escaped sharing fate younger brother fortunate accession swiftly moved initially removed governorship soon stripped altogether place succession placed guard baghdad vein sent delegation asking return baghdad fearing safety refused began interfere brother domain protested pardon surrender asked tribute governors western provinces sign submission demanded brother western regions admission tax postal agents province revenue baghdad rely large military forces position consequently weak inclined brother demands ibn course encouraged seek support native population opposed control court favourably regarded consciously set support local population reducing taxes justice person conceding privileges native princes episodes beginnings movement province political iranian refused province return baghdad began gather dissatisfied baghdad policies simply left share power revolution influence respective chief ministers took steps political climate breach symbolically removed coins friday prayer november removed succession nominated sons instead replied declaring religious title directly challenging implied independent authority early days movement carried power despite reservations senior ministers governors months later january formally began civil war appointed governor placed head unusually large army men drawn sent set reportedly took set silver chains carry baghdad news ali approach threw panic considered fleeing military force available small army men ibn sent confront ali advance widely regarded suicide mission father armies met western borders ensuing battle july resulted crushing victory ali killed army flight west unexpected victory decisive position secured main opponents lost men prestige dynamic leader advanced westwards defeated army ibn series hard fought engagements near reached winter desperately tried bolster forces alliances arab tribes notably syria veteran ibn sent syria troops son efforts failed long standing divisions reluctance involved civil war cooperate arab tribes political concessions failed efforts secure arab tribal support began doubt interests best served march ibn ali led short lived coup baghdad proclaiming rightful counter coup led factions restored throne ibn main war concluded case lost resigned court offices time officially proclaimed ibn acquired unique title signifying control civil military administration spring reinforced troops ibn resumed offensive invaded defeated killed governor surrendered took advancing baghdad west closed east time authority supporters took control egypt syria armenia fell control local arab tribal leaders army closed baghdad rift solidified desperate turned common people city help gave arms began august army appeared city established quarters suburb traditionally stronghold historian characterized subsequent siege city episode parallel history early islamic society nearest early islamic history saw attempt social revolution baghdad urban defended city year vicious urban guerrilla war revolutionary situation city famine professional expertise brought fall september convinced richer citizens cut bridges connected city outside world allowing men occupy city eastern suburbs troops launched final assault captured executed orders trying seek refuge old family friend dominance reaction victory soon transferred public eye post deed prestige image dynasty according shattered surrounded person time ruler death rebellious subjects remained signs returning capital wave arab persian supporters came fore western regions particularly baghdad surroundings feared degraded mere province new entrusted governance state ibn intended permanently muslim world centre power eastwards circle control power exclusion groups responsible lining supporters ibn went inform real situation west turned executed charges treason june response son led short lived revolt armenia result policies revolts local power struggles erupted frontier districts byzantine empire exempt turmoil iraqi region particular descended near anarchy new governor iraqi region brother ibn soon lost support local population regime exploited january rose revolt led general revolt spread quickly iraq region groups old grievances opportunity exact revenge revolt led son executed orders uprising came close threatening baghdad intervention capable captured executed october secondary movements seized control son including grandson far proclaimed november suppression revolts entrusted son army successful provinces attempted unsuccessfully bolster prestige assumed title god taking note widespread support western provinces spared lives march named son heir apparent changed official colour black green seriousness commitment succession uncertain suggestions old hardly expected actually succeed impact disastrous fail produce popular support provoked members dynasty baghdad forced abandon city leaders shared power news succession ruined attempts instead july members family baghdad nominated new younger brother received broad backing baghdad princes like younger brother future old established members bureaucracy like ibn returned office leaders scholar commented words revival war camps baghdad dormant moved secure control iraq region captured ibn base operations managed governor egypt recognized events baghdad falsely informing merely declared governor finally december succeeded revealing real situation iraq convinced turmoil far greater presented reconciliation baghdad necessary resolved assume personal control empire january left began slow journey west baghdad ibn murdered february probably orders rest family spared persecution like time confirmed brother position daughters died march september possibly poison burial place known place major pilgrimage site meantime baghdad faced rebellions involved half brother able use turmoil advance north capturing months passed discontent baghdad grew supporters including ibn began abandoning april july plot captive surrender forces narrowly escaping conspiracy abandoned throne went hiding opening path reclaim baghdad august entered baghdad resistance political turmoil quickly subsided set reconcile opposition rescinded succession restored black colour sent ibn retirement recalled exile retain title standard siege baghdad established close ties proved useful acceptance rewarded governorship september died october succeeded son years line provide governors vast eastern province centred providing governors baghdad securing city loyalty government capital moved time entered baghdad western provinces slipped away effective control local rulers claiming degrees autonomy central government egypt divided hostile factions ibn come control south rival arabs controlled north country addition alexandria hands group northern syria traditionally dominant tribe taken control led ibn fallen control troubled revolts threatening rebellion anti muslim movement controlled large parts armenia face turned sons entrusted command army targeted ibn northern syria willing acknowledge authority demanded concessions followers remained hostile persian officials submission force capital securing northern flank marched syria egypt rivals opposed principle eager maintain status quo repulsed invasion ibn ibn managed quickly went leaving submit face baghdad alexandria secured departure left city byzantine island crete conquered transformed muslim return baghdad received reception appointed governor replacing place west taken younger brother revolt broke managed secure surrender negotiations process consolidation harder failed completely controlled confirmed autonomous status effectively slipping entirely control general established control local muslim lords cities unable suppress revolt expeditions sent ibn failed mountainous terrain guerrilla tactics losing life accession employed new military corps composed turkish slave soldiers rebellion suppressed years hard campaigning despite restoration authority provinces continued troubled rebellions rest reign saw series uprisings lower iraq year revolt oppressive taxation egypt muslims participated unsuccessful revolt successor governor armenia aftermath impact long civil war shattered social political order early state new system began emerge characterize middle period change supported new regime old arab families members dynasty lost positions administrative military machinery influence power provinces grouped larger units controlled hereditary dynasty like usually iranian descent time tried dependence iranian element empire creation new military corps brother turkish slaves arab tribal army byzantine frontier reorganized placed command son system elaborated acquired definite characteristics reign created tightly controlled centralized state expanded turkish corps effective military force waged campaigns byzantines internal rebellions alike turkish leaders came political power provincial governors old arab iranian completely sidelined victory repercussions official theological doctrine adopted attempt reconcile differences islam reduce social time willingness successors embrace non arab populations especially governance provinces local considerable autonomy helped end long series religious rebellions reconciled populations islam rate conversion reign increased markedly time local families iranian lands finally muslims comments time development represented prelude emergence autonomous provincial east relate centre nominal terms loyalty
Fourth Fitna