Tulunids: Map & History

History

The rise and fall of the Tulunids occurred against a backdrop of increasing regionalism in the Muslim world. The Abbasid caliphate was struggling with political disturbances and losing its aura of universal legitimacy. There had previously been Coptic and Shia Alid-led movements in Egypt and Baghdad, without more than temporary and local success. There was also a struggle for power between the Turkic military command and the administration of Baghdad. Furthermore, there was a widening imperial financial crisis. All of these themes would recur during the Tulunid rule.

The internal politics of the Abbasid caliphate itself seem to have been unstable.

Military

Ahmad ibn Tulun was keenly aware of the pivotal role that a well-trained military force could play in realizing his ambitious goals. From the moment he set foot in Egypt, he sought to establish a military that was loyal to him and could be relied upon as a tool to achieve his goals and maintain his independence. Ahmad ibn Tulun's aspiration to establish a distinctive military force was first revealed when he observed the personal guard of Ahmad ibn al-Mudabbir and sought to emulate this structure for his purposes. However, his initial political caution, concern about inciting suspicion from the Abbasid Caliphate, and the need for financial resources, which were controlled by Ibn al-Mudabbir, prevented him from taking this bold step immediately.

Economy

Before Ibn Tulun's arrival, Egypt's economic situation was severely compromised. The economic instability commenced during the tenure of Caliph Abu Ja'far al-Mansur, who required that a fixed amount of kharaj be remitted by provincial governors to the capital while failing to oversee their activities. Consequently, the governors levied supplementary taxes on the populace and collected them with considerable rigor. This situation further deteriorated during the second Abbasid era with the advent of Turkic feudalism. Provinces were divided among Turkic military leaders, who implemented oppressive tax and agricultural policies to increase revenues by any means necessary. Upon assuming responsibility for the collection of kharaj, Ibn al-Mudabbir increased taxes fourfold.

Culture

Ahmad ibn Tulun founded his own capital, al-Qatā'i, north of the previous capital Fustat, where he seated his government. One of the dominant features of this city, and indeed the feature that survives today, was the Mosque of Ibn Tulun. The mosque is built in a Samarran style that was common in the period during which the caliphate had shifted capitals from Baghdad to Samarra. This style of architecture was not just confined to religious buildings, but secular ones also. Surviving houses of the Tulunid period have Samarran-style stucco panels.

Ḵh̲umārawayh's reign exceeded his father's in spending.