List of Abbasid caliphs

For the state ruled by the dynasty, see Abbasid Caliphate.

The Abbasid caliphs were the holders of the Islamic title of caliph who were members of the Abbasid dynasty, a branch of the Quraysh tribe descended from the uncle of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, Al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib.

Abbasid Caliphs (750–1258)

Further information: Abbasid Caliphate

The Abbasids came to power overthrowing Umayyad dynasty in the Abbasid Revolution. As caliphs ^[1] , they held both temporal and religious suzerainty over Muslim lands. After a golden age and a temporary revival, their decline accelerated the fragmentation of the Muslim world into autonomous states. Their religious authority was also challenged by the Shi'a Fatimid Caliphate (909-1171) and the Caliphate of Córdoba (929-1031). The caliphs lost their temporal power completely in mid-tenth century; first to a series of military strongmen, then to the Shi'a Buyid Emirs, which were in turn replaced by the Sunni Seljuk Turks. Their independence from the Seljuks was short-lived, as the dynasty ended with the Mongol Sack of Baghdad in 1258.

No.	Coin [a]	Name [b]	Reign	Parents [c]	Life details
Abbasid Consolidation (750-775)
1		al-Saffah أبو العباس عبدالله بن محمد السفّاح Abū’l-ʿAbbās ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad al-Saffāḥ	750 – 8 June 754 (~4 years)	Muhammad ibn Ali Rayta bint Ubaydallah [6]	721 – 8 June 754 (aged 33) Great-great-grandson of Muhammad's uncle, al-Abbas. Proclaimed caliph after Abbasid victory over Umayyad caliph Marwan II. [7] Battle of Talas (751); end of Tang influence in central Asia.
2		al-Mansur أبو جعفر عبد الله بن محمد المنصور Abū Jaʿfar ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad al-Manṣūr	10 June 754 – October 775 (~21 years)	Muhammad ibn Ali Sallamah, Berber concubine	714 – October 775 (aged 61) Heir apparent of his brother al-Saffah. [8] Execution of general Abu Muslim (755). Conquest of Tabaristan (761). Founded Baghdad as new capital (762). Emirate of Córdoba founded by Umayyad prince Abd al-Rahman I (756).
Abbasid Golden Age (775-861)
3		al-Mahdi أبو عبد الله محمد بن عبد الله المهدي Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh al-Mahdī	October 775 – August 785 (~10 years)	al-Mansur Arwa bint Mansur al-Himyari	744/745 – August 785 (aged 40-41) Heir apparent of his father al-Mansur. Rapprochement with the Alids. Resumed warfare against Byzantinnes (779). Rise of Barmakids.
4		al-Hadi أبو محمد موسى بن محمد الهادي Abū Muḥammad Mūsā ibn Muḥammad al-Hādī	August 785 – 14 September 786 (~1 year)	al-Mahdi al-Khayzuran bint Atta	759 / 762 – 14 September 786 (aged 24-27) Heir apparent of his father al-Mahdi. [9] Failed Alid revolt (786) due to resumed persecutions. [10] Tried to replace his brother al-Rashid with his own son as heir. [11] Possibly poisoned by his mother, [12] who favored al-Rashid. [11]
5		al-Rashid أبو جعفر هارون بن محمد الرشيد Abū Jaʿfar Hārūn ibn Muḥammad al-Rashīd	14 September 786 – 24 March 809 (~23 years)		March 763 / February 766 – 24 March 809 (aged 43-46) Named heir of his brother, al-Hadi. Established Baghdad's House of Wisdom. Fall of Barmakids (803). Anatolian invasion; sack of Herakleia (806).
6		al-Amin أبو موسى محمد بن هارون الأمين Abū Mūsā Muḥammad ibn Hārūn al-Amīn	24 March 809 – 25 September 813 (~4 years)	al-Rashid Zubaidah bint Ja'far ibn al-Mansur	April 787 – 25 September 813 (aged 26) Named first heir by his father al-Rashid. [13] Removed his half-brother al-Ma'mun as heir apparent after he removed al-Amin's name from coins, starting Fourth Fitna. [14] Executed after al-Ma'mun's capture of Baghdad.
7		al-Ma'mun أبو العباس عبد الله بن هارون المأمون Abū'l-ʿAbbās ʿAbd Allāh ibn Hārūn al-Maʾmūn	25 September 813 – 9 August 833 (~20 years)	al-Rashid Marajil, Persian concubine	14 September 786 – 9 August 833 (aged 46) Named second heir and ruler over Khorasan by his father. [13] Defeated and killed al-Amin. [15] Launch of the Translation Movement. Crete conquered by exiled Andalusian pirates (824/827). Aghlabids begin conquest of Sicily (827). Institution of miḥnah (833). [16] Start of official support for Mu'tazilism
8		al-Mu'tasim أبو إسحاق محمد بن هارون المعتصم بالله Abū Isḥāq Muḥammad ibn Hārūn al-Muʿtaṣim bi-'llāh	9 August 833 – 5 January 842 (~9 years)	al-Rashid Maridah bint Shabib, Turkic concubine	October 796 – 5 January 842 (aged 45) Allegedly named heir by his brother al-Ma'mun on his deathbed. [17] Establishment and rise of Turkic ghilman as a powerful military and political force. Samarra founded as new capital (836). [18] Invasion of Anatolia; fall of Amorium (838)
9		al-Wathiq أبو جعفر هارون بن محمد الواثق بالله Abū Jaʿfar Hārūn ibn Muḥammad al-Wāthiq bi-'llāh	5 January 842 – 10 August 847 (~5 years)	al-Mu'tasim Qaratis, Greek concubine	18 April 812 – 10 August 847 (aged 35) Heir apparent of his father, al-Musta'sim. Died from dropsy while in an oven in an attempt to cure it. [19]
10		al-Mutawakkil أبو الفضل جعفر بن محمد المتوكل على الله Abū'l-Faḍl Jaʿfar ibn Muḥammad al-Mutawakkil ʿalā 'llāh	10 August 847 – 11 December 861 (~14 years)	al-Mu'tasim Shuja, Khwarazmian concubine	31 March 822 – 11 December 861 (aged 39) Chosen by officials [20] after the unexpected death of al-Wathiq. [19] Abolition of the miḥnah (851). [21] End of official support for Mu'tazilism. [22] Alienated Turkic generals by trying to curb their influence and strengthen his rule. [23] Assassinated by his Turkic guards, with the support of his son al-Muntasir.
Anarchy at Samarra (861-870)
11		al-Muntasir أبو جعفر محمد بن جعفر المنتصر بالله Abū Jaʿfar Muḥammad ibn Jaʿfar al-Muntaṣir bi-'llāh	11 December 861 – 7 June 862 (~1 year)	al-Mutawakkil Hubshiya, Greek concubine	November 837 – 7 June 862 (aged 24) Heir apparent of al-Mutawakkil, [24] whom he had assassinated. [25] Died of unknown causes; possibly poisoned.
12		al-Musta'in أبو العباس أحمد بن محمد المستعين بالله Abū al-ʿAbbās Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad al-Mustaʿīn bi-ʾllāh	8 June 862 – 24 January 866 (~4 years)	Muhammad ibn al-Mu'tasim Makhariq, Sicilian concubine	836 – 17 October 866 (aged 30) Cousin of al-Muntasir; installed by Turkic troops. [26] Alienated Turkic soldiers, who instead proclaimed al-Mu'tazz caliph. Defeated in Fifth Fitna; forced to abdicate. Executed soon after by al-Mu'tazz.
13		al-Mu'tazz أبو عبد الله محمد بن جعفر المعتز بالله Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad ibn Jaʿfar al-Muʿtazz bi-ʾllāh	25 January 866 – 13 July 869 (~3 years)	al-Mutawakkil Qabiha, Greek concubine	847 – 16 July 869 (aged 22) Second heir of al-Mutawakkil; bypassed when Turkic military installed his cousin al-Musta'in, who then imprisoned him. [27] Freed and made caliph by disgruntled Turkic troops; overthrew al-Musta'in. Autonomous Saffarid rule in Sistan (867) and Tulunid rule in Egypt (868). Deposed and imprisoned by Turkic generals; died three days later. [28]
14		al-Muhtadi أبو إسحاق محمد بن هارون المهتدي بالله Abū Isḥāq Muḥammad ibn Hārūn al-Muhtadī bi-'llāh	22 July 869 – 21 June 870 (~1 year)	al-Wathiq Qurb, Greek concubine	833 – 21 June 870 (aged 37) Cousin of al-Mu'tazz; installed by Turkic military. Sought to emulate the pious Umayyad caliph Umar II. [29] Killed by Turkic general Musa ibn Bugha after refusing to abdicate.
Abbasid Revival (870-908)
15		al-Mu'tamid أبو العباس أحمد بن جعفر المعتمد على الله Abū'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad ibn Jaʿfar al-Muʿtamid ʿalā ’llāh	21 June 870 – 14 October 892 (~22 years)	al-Mutawakkil Fityan, Greek concubine	842 – 14 October 892 (aged 50) Installed by Turkic troops; real power held by his brother al-Muwaffaq and then his nephew al-Mu'tadid, who led the military. Repulsion of Saffarid invasions (876). Subjugation of the Zanj Revolt (883). Autonomous Samanid rule in Transoxiana (891). Placed under house arrest after a failed escape attempt to Tulunid Egypt (882).
16		al-Mu'tadid أبو العباس أحمد بن الموفق المعتضد بالله Abū'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad ibn al-Muwaffaq al-Muʿtaḍid bi-'llāh	15 October 892 – 5 April 902 (~10 years)	al-Muwaffaq Dirar, Greek concubine	864 / 861 – 5 April 902 (aged 38-41) al-Mu'tamid's nephew; replaced his cousin with himself as heir Recovery of Jazira, Thughur, and Jibal. Return of the capital to Baghdad (892). Qarmatian state founded in Bahrain (899).
17		al-Muktafi أبو محمد علي بن أحمد المكتفي بالله Abū Muḥammad ʿAlī ibn Aḥmad al-Muktafī bi-'llāh	5 April 902 – 13 August 908 (~6 years)	al-Mu'tadid Jijak, Turkic concubine	877 / 888 – 13 August 908 (aged 20-31) Heir apparent of al-Mu'tadid. Recovery of Egypt and Syria from Tulunids (905).
Political fragmentation (908-945)
18		al-Muqtadir أبو الفضل جعفر بن أحمد المقتدر بالله Abū'l-Faḍl Jaʿfar ibn Aḥmad al-Muqtadir bi-'llāh	13 August 908 – 28 February 929 (~21 years)	al-Mu'tadid Shaghab, Greek concubine	13 November 895 – 31 October 932 (aged 36) Installed by viziers as a child puppet ruler. Fatimid caliphate founded in Ifriqiya (909). Caliphate claimed by Umayyads of Córdoba (929). Deposed by general Mu'nis al-Muzaffar.
19		al-Qahir أبو المنصور محمد بن أحمد القاهر بالله Abū al-Manṣūr Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad al-Qāhir bi-'llāh	1 March 929 – 2 March 929 (~1 day)	al-Mu'tadid Fitnah, Berber concubine	899 – 950 (aged 51) Installed and soon removed by Mu'nis.
(18)		al-Muqtadir أبو الفضل جعفر بن أحمد المقتدر بالله Abū'l-Faḍl Jaʿfar ibn Aḥmad al-Muqtadir bi-'llāh	2 March 929 – 31 October 932 (~3 years)	al-Mu'tadid Shaghab, Greek concubine	13 November 895 – 31 October 932 (aged 36) Reinstalled by Mu'nis al-Muzaffar. Qarmatian sack of Mecca and Medina (930). Killed in battle against Mu'nis.
(19)		al-Qahir أبو المنصور محمد بن أحمد القاهر بالله Abū al-Manṣūr Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad al-Qāhir bi-'llāh	31 October 932 – 24 April 934 (~2 years)	al-Mu'tadid Fitnah, Berber concubine	899 – 950 (aged 51) Installed by Mu'nis, whom he executed later (833). Deposed, blinded and imprisoned by vizier Ibn Muqla after refusing to abdicate. Freed by al-Mustakfi eleven years later. Spent rest of his life as a beggar. [30]
20		al-Radi أبو العباس أحمد بن جعفر الراضي بالله Abū'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad ibn Jaʿfar al-Rāḍī bi-'llāh	24 April 934 – 13 December 940 (~6 years)	al-Muqtadir Thaloum, Berber concubine	20 December 909 – 13 December 940 (aged 30) Heir apparent of his father al-Muqtadir; sidelined by Mu'nis in favor of his uncle, al-Qahir, who then imprisoned him. Made caliph after al-Qahir's deposition. Autonomous Ikhshidid rule in Egypt (935). Office of amīr al-umarāʾ created, who became the de facto rulers.
21		al-Muttaqi أبو إسحاق إبراهيم بن جعفر المتقي لله Abū Isḥāq Ibrāhīm ibn Jaʿfar al-Muttaqī li-'llāh	15 December 940 – 26 August 944 (~4 years)	al-Muqtadir Khalub, Greek concubine	908 – July 968 (aged 60) Selected by amir al-umara Bajkam after his brother's death. Deposed and blinded by amir al-umara Tuzun.
22		al-Mustakfi أبو القاسم عبد الله بن علي المستكفي بالله Abū'l-Qāsim ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAlī al-Mustakfī bi-ʾllāh	September 944 – 29 January 946 (~2 years)	al-Muktafi Ghusn, Greek concubine	11 November 908 – September 949 (aged 40) Installed by Tuzun after the deposition of his nephew, al-Muttaqi. Buyids takeover Baghdad (945); appointment of Buyids as amir al-umaras. Deposed and blinded: died under house arrest.
Buyid Control (945-1055)
23		al-Muti أبو القاسم الفضل بن جعفر المطيع لله Abū'l-Qāsim al-Faḍl ibn Jaʿfar al-Muṭīʿ li-ʾllāh	29 January 946 – 5 August 974 (~28 years)	al-Muqtadir Mash'ala, Slavic concubine	913/14 – 12 October 974 (aged 60-61) Went into hiding upon his uncle al-Muktafi's enthronement, who sought to have him captured. Installed by Buyid emir Mu'izz al-Dawla. Egypt, Palestine and Hejaz lost to the Fatimids (969). Byzantine reconquests under Nikephoros II; fall of Antioch (969). Forced to abdicate by Turkic general Sabuktakin; died two months later.
24		al-Ta'i أبو بكر عبد الكريم بن الفضل الطائع لأمر الله Abū Bakr ʿAbd al-Karīm ibn al-Faḍl al-Ṭāʾiʿ li-amri ʿllāh	5 August 974 – 22 November 991 (~17 years)	al-Muti Utb, Greek concubine	929 – 3 August 1003 (aged 74) Heir apparent of al-Muti. Buyid civil wars. Byzantine reconquests under John I. [31] Deposed by Buyid emir Baha' al-Dawla.
25		al-Qadir أبو العباس أحمد بن إسحاق القادر بالله Abū'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad ibn Isḥāq al-Qādir bi-'llāh	22 November 991 – 29 November 1031 (~40 years)	Ishaq ibn al-Muqtadir Tammani/Dimna, concubine	28 September 947 – 29 November 1031 (aged 84) Installed by Buyid emir Baha' al-Dawla after the deposition of his cousin, al-Ta'i. Granting of the title of Sultan as deputies to caliph, notably to Mahmud of Ghazni. Publication of the Baghdad Manifesto against Fatimids (1011).
Seljuk Control (1055-1157)
26		al-Qa'im أبو جعفر عبد الله بن أحمد القائم بأمر الله Abū Jaʿfar ʿAbd Allāh ibn Aḥmad al-Qāʾim bi-amri 'llāh	29 November 1031 – 3 April 1075 (~44 years)	al-Qadir Qatr al-Nida, Armenian concubine	8 November 1001 – 3 April 1074 (aged 72) End of the Caliphate of Córdoba (1031). Buyids ousted from Baghdad by Seljuk Sultan Tughril (1055). Recognition of Abbasid nominal authority by Almoravids (1062). End of the Qarmatian state (1067). Battle of Manzikert (1071); Turkic settlement in Anatolia begins.
27		al-Muqtadi أبو القاسم عبد الله بن محمد المقتدي بأمر الله Abū'l-Qāsim ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad al-Muqtadī bi-amri ’llāh	3 April 1075 – 3 February 1094 (~19 years)	Muhammad ibn al-Qa'im Urjuwuan, Armenian concubine [32]	24 July 1056 – 3 February 1094 (aged 37) Grandson and heir apparent of al-Qa'im. Recognition of Abbasid authority in Hejaz; Fatimid decline. [33]
28		al-Mustazhir أبو العباس أحمد بن عبد الله المستظهر بالله Abū l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad ibn ʿAbd Allāh al-Mustaẓhir bi-'llāh	3 February 1094 – 6 August 1118 (~24 years)	al-Muqtadi Tayf al-Khayal, Turkic concubine	April / May 1078 – 6 August 1118 (aged 40) al-Muqtadi's heir apparent. First Crusade; fall of Jerusalem (1099).
29		al-Mustarshid أبو المنصور الفضل بن أحمد المسترشد بالله Abū'l-Manṣūr al-Faḍl ibn Aḥmad al-Mustarshid bi-'llāh	6 August 1118 – 29 August 1135 (~17 years)	al-Mustazhir Lubaba, Slavic concubine	April / May 1092 – 29 August 1135 (aged 43) Heir apparent of al-Mustazhir. Almohad caliphal rule in Maghreb (1121) and al-Andalus (1173). Failed campaign against Seljuks (1135). Murdered, possibly by the Assassins.
30		al-Rashid أبو جعفر المنصور بن الفضل الراشد بالله Abū Jaʿfar al-Manṣūr ibn al-Faḍl al-Rāshid bi-'llāh	29 August 1135 – 17 August 1136 (~1 year)	al-Mustarshid Khushf, Iraqi concubine	1109 – 6 June 1138 (aged 29) Heir apparent of al-Mustarshid. Deposed by Seljuk Sultan Mas'ud. Fled to Isfahan; killed by assassins.
31		al-Muqtafi أبو عبد الله محمد بن أحمد المقتفي لأمر الله Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad al-Muqtafī li-ʾamri ’llāh	17 September 1136 – 12 March 1160 (~24 years)	al-Mustazhir Ashin, Syrian concubine	9 April 1096 – 12 March 1160 (aged 63) Uncle of al-Rashid; installed by Mas'ud. Failed Seljuk Siege of Baghdad (1157).
Final Revival (1157-1258)
32		al-Mustanjid أبو المظفر يوسف بن محمد المستنجد بالله Abū'l-Muẓaffar Yūsuf ibn Muḥammad al-Mustanjid bi-'llāh	12 March 1160 – 18 December 1170 (~10 years)	al-Muqtafi Thawus, Turkic or Abyssinian concubine	1124 – 18 December 1170 (aged 46) Heir apparent of al-Muqtafi. Formal independence from Seljuks; Sultan's name removed from Abbasid coinage (1165).
33		al-Mustadi أبو محمد الحسن بن يوسف المستضيء بأمر الله Abū Muḥammad al-Ḥasan ibn Yūsuf al-Mustaḍīʾ bi-amri ʾllāh	18 December 1170 – 27 March 1180 (~10 years)	al-Mustanjid Ghadha, Armenian concubine	1142 – 27 March 1180 (aged 38) Heir apparent of al-Mustanjid. End of the Fatimid Caliphate (1171); Abbasid nominal authority restored in Egypt under Saladin.
34		al-Nasir أبو العباس أحمد بن الحسن الناصر لدين الله Abū'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad ibn al-Ḥasan al-Nāṣir li-Dīn Allāh	27 March 1180 – 5 October 1225 (~45 years)	al-Mustadi Zumurrud, Turkic concubine	6 August 1158 – 5 October 1225 (aged 67) Heir apparent of al-Mustadi Recovery of Jerusalem from the Crusaders by Saladin (1187). End of Seljuk Empire; conquest by the Khwarazmians (1194). Mongol conquest of Khwarazmian Empire (1221). Longest reigning Abbasid caliph; died of dysentery.
35		al-Zahir أبو نصر محمد بن أحمد الظاهر بأمر الله Abū Naṣr Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad al-Ẓāhir bi-amri’llāh	5 October 1225 – 10 July 1226 (~9 months)	al-Nasir Asma	1175 – 10 July 1226 (aged 51) Heir apparent of Al-Nasir.
36		al-Mustansir أبو جعفر المنصور بن محمد المستنصر بالله Abū Jaʿfar al-Manṣūr ibn Muḥammad al-Mustanṣir bi-'llāh	10 July 1226 – 5 December 1242 (~16 years)	al-Zahir Zahra, Turkic concubine	17 February 1192 – 5 December 1242 (aged 50) Heir apparent of Al-Zahir. Almohad withdrawal from al-Andalus (1228).
37		al-Musta'sim أبو أحمد عبد الله بن المنصور المستعصم بالله Abū Aḥmad ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Manṣūr al-Mustaʿṣim bi-'llāh	5 December 1242 – 20 February 1258 (~16 years)	al-Mustansir Hajer, Abyssinian concubine	1213 – 20 February 1258 (aged 45) Heir apparent of Al-Mustansir. Mamluk overthrow of Ayyubids in Egypt (1250). Executed after Mongol sack of Baghdad. End of Abbasid Caliphate as a political entity.

Abbasids Caliphs of Cairo (1261–1517)

"Caliphs of Cairo" redirects here. For the Carnival krewe, see Caliphs of Cairo (krewe).

Further information: Mamluk Sultanate

In 1261, the Abbasid dynasty was re-established by a cadet branch of the dynasty at Cairo under the auspices of the local Mamluk sultans, but these caliphs were purely ceremonial figures, while temporal power rested with the Mamluks. ^{[34] [35]} This revived caliphate lasted until the Ottoman conquest of Egypt in 1517, after which the caliphal title passed to the Ottoman dynasty.

No.	Name	Reign	Parents	Life details
1	al-Mustansir أبو القاسم أحمد بن محمد المستنصر بالله Abū'l-Qāsim Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad al-Mustanṣir bi-llāh	13 June 1261 – 28 November 1261 (~5 months)	al-Zahir Hayat, concubine	d. 28 November 1261 Uncle of al-Musta'sim, last caliph of Baghdad, who had imprisoned him. [36] Freed by the Mongols, fled to Bedouin tribes, then to Cairo after the Battle of Ain Jalut (1260). [37] Proclaimed caliph by Mamluk sultan Baybars, legitimizing his rule in turn. [36] Killed in a Mongol ambush while marching with Baybars' troops to recover Baghdad. [36]
2	al-Hakim I أبو العباس أحمد بن حسن الحاكم بأمر الله Abū'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad ibn Ḥasan al-Ḥākim bi-Amri'llāh	16 November 1262 – 19 January 1302 (~39 years)	Hasan ibn Abu Bakr ibn Hasan ibn Ali ibn al-Mustarshid	1247 – 19 January 1302 (aged 55) Great-great-great grandson of caliph Al-Mustarshid (r. 1118–1135). [38] Fled to Syria after fall of Baghdad; installed by Aleppo's Mamluk emir Aqush. [36] Joined al-Mustansir while on his way to Harran with his army, and abdicated in his favor. [38] Survived the Mongol ambush, [36] fled to Cairo and was proclaimed caliph by Baybars. [34]
3	al-Mustakfi I أبو الربيع سليمان بن أحمد المستكفي بالله Abū ar-Rabīʿ Sulaymān ibn Aḥmad al-Mustakfī bi-llāh	20 January 1302 – February 1340 (~38 years)	al-Hakim I	1285 – February 1340 (aged 55)
4	al-Wathiq I أبو إسحاق إبراهيم بن أحمد الواثق بالله Abū Isḥāq Ibrāhīm ibn Aḥmad al-Wāthiq bi-'llāh	February 1340 – 17 June 1341 (~1 year)	Ahmad ibn al-Hakim I	d. After 1341
5	al-Hakim II أبو العباس أحمد بن سليمان الحاكم بأمر الله Abū'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad ibn Sulaymān al-Ḥākim bi-Amri'llāh	1341 – 1352 (11 years)	al-Mustakfi I	d. 1352
6	al-Mu'tadid I أبو الفتح أبو بكر بن سليمان المعتضد بالله Abū al-Fatḥ Abū Bakr ibn Sulaymān al-Muʿtaḍid bi-'llāh	1352 – 1362 (10 years)		d. 1362
7	al-Mutawakkil I أبو عبد الله محمد بن أبي بكر المتوكل على اللهAbū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad ibn Abī Bakr al-Mutawakkil ʿalā'llāh	1362 – 1377 (15 years)	al-Mu'tadid I	d. 9 January 1406 First reign.
8	al-Musta'sim أبو يحيى زكريا بن إبراهيم المستعصم بالله Abū Yaḥyā Zakariyyāʾ ibn Ibrāhīm al-Mustaʿṣim bi-'llāh	1377 (<1 year)	al-Wathiq I	d. 1389 First reign.
(7)	al-Mutawakkil I أبو عبد الله محمد بن أبي بكر المتوكل على الله Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad ibn Abī Bakr al-Mutawakkil ʿalā'llāh	1377 – 1383 (6 years)		d. 9 January 1406 Second reign.
9	al-Wathiq II ) أبو حفص عمر بن إبراهيم الواثق بالله Abū Ḥafṣ ʿUmar ibn Ibrāhīm al-Wāthiq bi-'llāh	September 1383 – 13 November 1386 (~3 years)	al-Wathiq I	d. 13 November 1386
(8)	al-Musta'sim أبو يحيى زكريا بن إبراهيم المستعصم بالله Abū Yaḥyā Zakariyyāʾ ibn Ibrāhīm al-Mustaʿṣim bi-'llāh	1386 – 1389 (3 years)		d. 1389 Second reign.
(7)	al-Mutawakkil I أبو عبد الله محمد بن أبي بكر المتوكل على الله Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad ibn Abī Bakr al-Mutawakkil ʿalā'llāh	1389 – 9 January 1406 (17 years)		d. 9 January 1406 Third reign.
10	al-Musta'in أبو الفضل العباس بن محمد المستعين بالله Abū al-Faḍl al-ʿAbbās ibn Muḥammad al-Mustaʿīn bi-'llāh	22 January 1406 – 9 March 1414 (~8 years)	al-Mutawakkil I Bay Khatun, Turkic concubine	1390 – 1430 (aged 40) Elected sultan by al-Mu'ayyad, who dominated and eventually forced him to resign in his favor six months later (1412). [36] Deposed and imprisoned by al-Mu'ayyad. [36] Freed by Sultan Tatar (1421); [39] died of plague. [36]
11	al-Mu'tadid II أبو الفتح داود بن محمد المعتضد بالله Abū al-Fatḥ Dāwūd ibn Muḥammad al-Muʿtaḍid bi-'llāh	1414 – 1441 (27 years)	al-Mutawakkil I Kazal, Turkic concubine	d. 1441 Installed by al-Mu'ayyad after deposing his brother, al-Musta'in. [36]
12	al-Mustakfi II أبو الربيع سليمان بن محمد المستكفي بالله Abū al-Rabīʿ Sulaymān ibn Muḥammad al-Mustakfī bi-llāh	1441 – 29 January 1451 (10 years)	al-Mutawakkil I Bay Khatun, Turkic concubine	1388 - 29 January 1451 (aged 63)
13	al-Qa'im أبو البقاء حمزة بن محمد القائم بأمر الله Abū al-Baqāʾ Ḥamza ibn Muḥammad al-Qāʾim bi-ʾamr Allāh	1451 – 1455 (4 years)		d. 1458 Ottoman conquest of Constantinople (1453).
14	al-Mustanjid أبو المحاسن يوسف بن محمد المستنجد بالله Abū al-Maḥāsin Yūsuf ibn Muḥammad al-Mustanjid bi-'llāh	1455 – 7 April 1479 (24 years)		d. 7 April 1479
15	al-Mutawakkil II أبو العز عبد العزيز بن يعقوب المتوكل على الله Abū al-ʿIzz ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn Yaʿqūb al-Mutawakkil ʿalā'llāh	5 April 1479 – 27 September 1497 (~18 years)	Ya'qub ibn al-Mutawakkil I Haj al-Malik	d. 27 September 1497 Fall of Granada (1492); Muslim rule ends in Spain.
16	al-Mustamsik أبو الصبر يعقوب بن عبد العزيز المستمسك بالله Abū al-Ṣabr Yaʿqūb ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz al-Mustamsik bi-'llāh	1497 – 1508 (11 years)	al-Mutawakkil II	d. 1521 Safavid dynasty founded by Ismail I (1501). Abdicated in favor of his son, al-Mutawakkil III, [36] due to his health. [40]
17	al-Mutawakkil III محمد بن يعقوب المتوكل على الله Muḥammad ibn Yaʿqūb al-Mutawakkil ʿalā'llāh	1508 – 1516 (8 years)	al-Mustamsik	d. 1543 Appointed by his father, al-Mustamsik. Safavid capture of Baghdad (1509). Beginning of Second Mamluk-Ottoman war (1516). Accompanied Sultan Qansuh II to Syria; captured after his defeat against Ottomans. [36]
(16)	al-Mustamsik أبو الصبر يعقوب بن عبد العزيز المستمسك بالله Abū al-Ṣabr Yaʿqūb ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz al-Mustamsik bi-'llāh	1516 – 1517 (1 year)	al-Mutawakkil II	d. 1521 Appointed deputy in Cario by al-Mutawakkil III after he left for Syria. [36] Legitimized Sultan Tuman Bey II (1516). [36] Ottoman capture Cairo; execution of Tuman Bey II. Left in Cairo by Ottomans due to his old age. [41]
(17)	al-Mutawakkil III محمد بن يعقوب المتوكل على الله Muḥammad ibn Yaʿqūb al-Mutawakkil ʿalā'llāh	1517 (<1 year)	al-Mustamsik	d. 1543 Brought to Cairo as a prisoner by Ottomans, and then taken to Istanbul, [34] [42] where he spent rest of his life. [36]

Genealogy

Family tree of Abbasid rulers. Unless a separate year of death is given, the caliphs ruled till death (or died soon after deposition).

Abbasid Caliphs    Abbasid Caliphs in Cairo al-Abbas d. 653 Abd Allah d. 687 Ali d. 736 Muhammad d. 743 al-Saffah r. 750–754 al-Mansur r. 754–775 al-Mahdi r. 775–785 al-Hadi r. 785–786 al-Rashid r. 786–809 al-Amin r. 809–813 al-Mamun r. 813–833 al-Muta'sim r. 833–842 al-Wathiq r. 842–847 al-Mutawakkil r. 847–861 Muhammad d. 850s al-Muhtadi r. 869–870 al-Munstasir r. 861–862 al-Mu'tazz r. 866–869 al-Mu'tamid r. 870–892 al-Muwaffaq d. 891 al-Musta'in r. 862–866 al-Mu'tadid r. 892–902 al-Muktafi r. 902–908 al-Muqtadir r. 908–929, 929-932 al-Qahir r. 929, 932–934 d. 950 al-Musktafi r. 944–946 d. 949 al-Radi r. 934–940 al-Muttaqi r. 940–944 d. 968 al-Muti r. 946–974 Ishaq d. 988 al-Ta'i r. 974–991 d. 1003 al-Qadir r. 991–1031 al-Qa'im r. 1031–1075 Muhammad d. 1056 al-Muqtadi r. 1075–1094 al-Mustazhir r. 1094–1118 al-Mustarshid r. 1118–1135 al-Muqtafi r. 1136–1160 Ali al-Rashid r. 1135–1136 d. 1138 al-Mustanjid r. 1160–1170 Hasan al-Mustadi r. 1170–1180 Abu Bakr al-Nasir r. 1180–1225 Hasan al-Zahir r. 1225–1226 al-Hakim I r. 1262–1302 al-Mustansir II r. 1261 al-Mustansir r. 1226–1242 Ahmad al-Mustakfi I r. 1302–1340 al-Musta'sim r. 1242–1258 al-Wathiq I r. 1340–1341 d. after 1341 al-Hakim II r. 1341–1352 al-Mu'tadid I r. 1352–1362 al-Mu'tasim r. 1377, 1386–1389 al-Wathiq II r. 1383–1386 al-Mutawakkil I r. 1362–1377, 1377-1383, 1389–1406 al-Musta'in r. 1406–1414 d. 1430 al-Mu'tadid II r. 1414–1441 al-Mustakfi II r. 1441–1451 al-Qa'im r. 1451–1455 d. 1458 al-Mustanjid r. 1455–1479 Ya'qub al-Mutawakkil II r. 1479–1497 al-Mustamsik r. 1497–1508, 1516–1517 d. 1521 al-Mutawakkil III r. 1508–1516, 1517 d. 1543

Notes

1. Only the side bearing the caliph's name (usually reverse, observe for last caliphs) is shown.
2. Abbasids began the tradition of using theologically loaded laqabs as regnal honorifics, which was also adopted by later rival caliphates of Fatimids, Almohads, and Umayyads of Cordoba. In both Western and Islamic historiography, the caliphs are referred to by these regnal titles.
3. Most Abbasid caliphs were born to a concubine mother, known as umm al-walad (Arabic: أم الولد, lit.  'mother of the child'). The term refers to a slave woman who had a child from her owner; they could not be sold by their owner and the children born were considered legitimate, legally free and with full rights of inheritance. ^[2] These concubines mostly were Abyssinians, Armenians, Berbers, Byzantine Greeks, Turkic or even from Sicily. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

References

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21. Turner 2010 , pp. 95–98 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFTurner2010 (help); Melchert 1996 , pp. 325–26 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFMelchert1996 (help); Hinds 1993 , pp. 4–5 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFHinds1993 (help); Zetterstéen & Pellat 1960 , p. 271; Ibn Khallikan 1871 , p. 70 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFIbn_Khallikan1871 (help); Yarshater 1985–2007 , v. 34: pp. 116-19 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFYarshater1985–2007 (help).
22. Turner 2010 , p. 95 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFTurner2010 (help); Melchert 1996 , pp. 321–25 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFMelchert1996 (help); Ibn Khallikan 1871 , pp. 66, 69–70 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFIbn_Khallikan1871 (help); Yarshater 1985–2007 , v. 34: p. 75 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFYarshater1985–2007 (help).
23. Kennedy 2006, pp. 234–239.
24. Bosworth, "Mu'tazz," p. 793
25. Bosworth, "al-Muntasir," p. 583
26. Bosworth, "Muntasir," p. 583
27. Bosworth, "Mu'tazz," p. 793
28. Bosworth 1993, p. 794. sfn error: no target: CITEREFBosworth1993 (help)
29. Zetterstéen & Bosworth 1993, pp. 476–477.
30. Sourdel 1978, p. 424.
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34. Bosworth 1996, p. 9.
35. Houtsma & Wensinck 1993, p. 3
36. Holt, P. M. (1984). "Some Observations on the 'Abbāsid Caliphate of Cairo". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies . 47 (3). University of London: 501–507. doi:10.1017/s0041977x00113710. JSTOR   618882. S2CID   161092185.
37. "Biography of Al-Mustansir II" (in Arabic). Islampedia.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-11.
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41. "Biography of Al-Mutawakkil III" (in Arabic). Islampedia.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-11.
42. El-Hibri 2021, pp. 275–276.

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