TULUNID

The rise and fall of the Tulunid Civilization occurred within an atmosphere of increasing regionalism in the Muslim world. In the middle of these disturbances, Ahmad ibn Tulun [i], a soldier of the Central Asian Turkish guard settled in Samarra, was sent to Egypt as resident governor, where he promptly established an independent Egyptian army. This allowed his dynasty to flourish in 868 CE and continue its legitimacy as caliphate’s vassal. After the death of Khumarawayh [ii], ibn Tulun’s son, the politically debilitated dynasty was unable to resist an invasion in 905 by the Abbasids, who restored the caliphal rule in the Tulunid territories.

Due to its independentist and imperialist nature, the Tulunid Dynasty developed their strategies throughout ups and downs with the Abbasid Empire. In 877 CE, troops from the caliphate under Abu Ahmad al-Muwaffak [iii] rivaled the Tulunids due to their insufficient payment of tribute. Nevertheless, Ahmad ibn Tulun kept his power and invaded Syria the following year. Afterwards and through advisers’ mediation in 892, an exorbitant marriage [iv] was arranged between Khumarawayh’s daughter, princess Qatr al-Nada [v], and the Abbasid Caliph al-Mu’tadid. Even then, there was speculation about the outrageous dowry, which was seen as a calculated attempt by the Abbasids to ruin the Tulunids.

As a symbol of the dynasty’s potential, Ahmad ibn Tulun founded his own capital in Egypt, named al-Qata’i [vi], North of the previous Abbasid capital, Fustat. There, he erected the great Mosque of ibn Tulun [vii], a Samarran [viii] style building that was restored several times, notably between 1296 and 1299, which still survives today. It was his son Khumarawayh, however, who went down in history for his extravagant investments of self-worshipping, including a luxury blue-eyed palace lion and his promotion of culture and arts, partly, to celebrate himself. An encomium about Khumarawayh’s battlefield triumphs [ix] was written by Ḳasim Yaḥya al-Maryami in 929 CE.

The ruler stood at the top of the hierarchy and his power was inherited by his descendents. Ahmad ibn Tulun’s style of rule was highly centralized in its execution. He replaced Abbasid Iraqi officials with an Egyptian bureaucracy and was supported by Egypt’s religious and social elite; especially by the merchant community, which backed the dynasty financially. The administration also helped the economy prosper using tax-contracts and agrarian reforms [x], which encouraged laborers to work their lands despite the considerable taxation. One remarkable project was the initiation of construction programs to benefit not only the capital, but also other parts of Egypt.

The Tulunid Civilization’s reign began in 868 CE when the Turkic slave-soldier, Ahmad ibn Tulun, grew a substantial military presence in Egypt that gradually achieved autonomy and invaded Syria. Ibn Tulun’s successful ten-years’ sovereignty continued with his heir, Khumarawayh, who expanded the existing territories into northern Iraq, and as far north as Tarsus by 890. Under his rule, the Abbasids recognized Tulunid authority over Egypt and the regions of Syria for a thirty-year period. After the assassination of the Tulunid successor Harun [xi] in 904 CE, the next and final heir, Shayban [xii], was unable to resist the Abbasid invasion that occurred the following year.

The most notable accomplishment to come from the Tulunids was the repair of the agricultural infrastructure, which was continuously damaged by the Nile River’s flooding. However, the key sector of investment was in textiles. Tulunid linen production was widely esteemed in the scope of Mediterranean commerce. The Tulunids were also recognized for their military force. Ibn Tulun created an army and navy [xiii] composed of Sudanese and Greek slave-soldiers and Turkish troops that guarded the dynasty. Tulunid rulers also founded an elite corps of rebellious Bedouins of the eastern Nile delta, whose loyalty brought peace to the region between Egypt and Syria.

The Tulunid Dynasty started their economic independence by asserting financial autonomy from the Abbasids, and therefore did not pay tributes to the kingdom. In 871 CE, ibn Tulun took control over the taxes and achieved victory over the head of the finance office, making Egypt wealthier than Baghdad and daringly imprinting his name on the caliphate’s coinage [xiv]. Under Khumarawayh, the regime entered a treaty with the Abbasids, resuming the tributes. Nonetheless, the large expenditures of Khumarawayh [xv] and the Abbasids’ attempt to ruin the Tulunids through a well-planned wedding drained the dynasty, and paved the way for the end of the civilization.