Qarmatians: Map & History
The Qarmatians were an Isma'ili Shia militant movement led by an Arabized dynasty of Persian descent.
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The Qarmatians were an Isma'ili Shia militant movement led by an Arabized dynasty of Persian descent. Claiming an Alid descent, the Qarmatians were centred in al-Ahsa in Eastern Arabia, where they established a religious state in 899 CE. The Qarmatians adhered to a syncretic branch of Sevener Ismaili Shia Islam, and were ruled by a dynasty founded by Abu Sa'id al-Jannabi. They rejected the claim of the Fatimid caliph Abdallah al-Mahdi Billah to the imamate and, clinging to their belief in the coming of the Mahdi, revolted against both the Fatimid and Abbasid caliphates.
Modern Countries Once Part of Qarmatians
At its mapped extent, Qarmatians covered territory in 5 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Kuwait899–979 CE · nearly all
- Bahrain899–1071 CE · nearly all
- Qatar899–979 CE · nearly all
- United Arab Emirates899–979 CE · a large part
- Saudi Arabia899–1071 CE · a small part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Qarmatians's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Qarmatians in Depth
History
Under the Abbasid Caliphate (750–1258 CE), various Shiite groups organised in secret opposition to their rule. Among them were the supporters of the proto-Isma'ili community, of whom the most prominent group were called the Mubarakiyyah.
According to the Ismaili school of thought, Imām Ja'far al-Sadiq (702–765) designated his second son, Isma'il ibn Ja'far (c. 721–755), as heir to the Imamate. However, Ismā‘īl predeceased his father. Some claimed he had gone into hiding, but the proto-Isma'ili group accepted his death and therefore accordingly recognized Isma'il's eldest son, Muhammad ibn Isma'il (746–809), as Imam. He remained in contact with the Mubarakiyyah group, most of whom resided in Kufa.
The split among the Mubarakiyyah came with the death of Muhammad ibn Isma'il (c. 813 CE).
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Qarmatians (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Qarmatians: Key Facts
| Religion | Shia Islam |
|---|---|
| Founded | 8th century |
Preceded by
Facts from Wikidata Q138803 (CC0).
Qarmatians Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Qarmatians appears, with the other states of the time.
Qarmatians Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 64,923 km² in 934 CE.
Qarmatians: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Qarmatians exist?
Qarmatians is dated to 899 CE – 1071 CE, in the Early Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Qarmatians?
The capital of Qarmatians was Al-Ahsa.
How large was Qarmatians at its peak?
At its peak in 934 AD Qarmatians covered about 64,923 km².
How did the map of Qarmatians change over time?
Qarmatians appears on 2 dated world maps in the atlas, from 900 CE to 1000 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
Other Sovereign Realms
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Early Middle Ages • Capital: Constantinople
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