Towards a Shi`i Mediterranean Empire Fatimid Egypt and the Founding of Cairo

by Jiwa, Shainool

• ISBN13: 9781845119607
• ISBN10: 1845119606
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-08-15
• Publisher: I. B. Tauris

Summary

The caliph Al-Mu'izz li Din Allah, founder of Cairo, transformed the emergent Fatimid state from a regional power of limited influence to an impressive Mediterranean empire whose authority extended from the shores of the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. Al-Mu'izz (r. 953-75), the dynamic fourth Fatimid caliph, was a ruler whose vision and energy defined the high water mark of Fatimid ambition. Among his crowning achievements was the conquest of Egypt, a cherished goal of the Fatimids, which they governed for over two centuries. The writings of the erudite 13th/14th century Sunni Mamluk scholar al-Maqrizi, presented here for the first time in English, document this Fatimid triumph of the Shi'i, and provide one of the most comprehensive accounts of the era. Al-Maqrizi's Lessons for the Seekers of Truth in the History of the Fatimid Imams and Caliphs is a particularly valuable resource for research into the Fatimid dynasty, being compiled from a range of sources many of which are no longer extant. The author of the text shows a discernment regarding the value and limitations of his sources that is unusual among medieval Muslim historians. Moreover, he records official documents, letters and sermons in their entirety, often making his writings the only available source for this material. Shainool Jiwa's careful translation of such a rare work makes a notable contribution to one of the most fascinating periods in medieval Islamic history.

Author Biography

Shainool Jiwa is a specialist in the Fatimid era and Head of the Department of Community Relations at The Institute of Ismaili Studies, London. She holds degrees from McGill University and the University of Edinburgh, and is the author of several papers and articles in the field of medieval Islamic history.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	p. xiii
Chronology	p. xv
Map	p. xvii
Introduction	p. 1
The Fatimids	p. 2
Origins of the Fatimids. The Fatimids in North Africa.
Al-MuÆizz li-D&ibar;n All&abar;h	p. 11
The accession of al-MuÆizz
Egypt and the founding of Cairo
Al-MuÆizz and the Qar&abar;mi&tbdot;a Accomplishments of al-MuÆizz
Al-Maqr&ibar;z&ibar;s portrayal of al-MuÆizz
Al-Maqr&ibar;z&ibar; and the Fatimids	p. 32
Al-Maqr&ibar;z&ibar; and the Ahl al-Bayt
Al-Maqr&ibar;z&ibar;Æs scholarship on the Fatimids
A paradoxical Fatimid scion? The Khald&ubar;nian protégé
Note on the Translation	p. 49
Translation of the Text From the IttiÆ&abar;&zbdot; Al-&Hbdot;unaf&abar;Æ	p. 51
Establishing the Imamate of Al-MuÆizz	p. 53
Jawhar's campaign in the Maghrib
Circumcision of the Princes
Al MuÆizzÆs counsel to the Kut&abar;ma
Preparations for the Transfer to Egypt	p. 58
Jawhar's march to Egypt
A test of Kut&abar;ma loyalty
Al-MuÆizz's advice to Jawhar
Appointment of a viceroy in the Maghrib
Al-MuÆizz exhorts the Kut&abar;ma
Al-MuÆizz's departure for Egypt
Episode of the two Slavs
Resolution of a &Hbdot;asan&ibar;-JaÆfar&ibar; feud in the &Hbdot;ij&abar;z
Fatimid Administration and the Building of Cairo	p. 66
Proclamation of the am&abar;n
Revolt of the Ikshi&ibar;diyya and K&abar;furiyya
Jawhar's arrival in Fus&tbdot;&abar;&tbdot;
The foundation of Cairo
Jawhar's first year in Egypt
Then Began the Year 359 [969-970]	p. 86
Jawhar's administration of Egypt
The Fatimid invasion of Syria
Then Began the Year 360 [970-971]	p. 96
More on Jawhar's administration
Qar&abar;mi&tbdot;a incursion into Egypt
Then Began the Year 361 [971-972]	p. 98
The Qar&abar;mi&tbdot;a besiege Cairo
Then Began the Year 362 [972-973]	p. 101
More on Jawhar's administration
Al-MuÆizzÆs departure for Egypt
The Arrival of Al-MuÆizz in Egypt	p. 104
Al-MuÆzz leads æ&ibar;d prayer in Cairo
Inauguration of the Nile Canal
Display of the Fatimid shamsa
Celebration of æ&Ibar;d al-Ghad&ibar;r
Then Began the Year 363 [973-974]	p. 113
The collection of land-tax
Audiences with al-MuÆizz
An Account of Some News on the Qar&abar;mi&tbdot;a	p. 122
The conversion of &Hbdot;amad&abar;n Qarma&tbdot; The Qarma&tbdot;
The Qarma&tbdot;&ibar; leader æAbd&abar;n
The Qarma&tbdot;&ibar; leader Ab&ubar; SaÆ&ibar;d al-Janna&abar;b&ibar;
Abbasid attempts to curb the Qar&abar;mi&tbdot;a
Al-&Sbdot;an&abar;d&ibar;q&ibar; [Ibn &Hbdot;awshab]	p. 139
The Ismaili-Qar&abar;mi&tbdot;a split
The Qarma&tbdot; &ibar; leaders Zikrawayh and al-&Hbdot;asan b. Zikrawayh
The Qarma&tbdot;&ibar; leader Ab&ubar; &Tbdot;&abar;hir al-Jann&abar;b&ibar;
The Qar&abar;mi&tbdot;a in Iran
Fatimid forces battle the Qar&abar;mi&tbdot;a in Syria
Al-MuÆizzÆs letter to the Qar&abar;mi&tbdot;a
Defeat of the Qar&abar;mi&tbdot;a in Egypt
The Qar&abar;mi&tbdot;a defeat in Syria
The Qar&abar;mi&tbdot;a defeat in Iraq
The Final Phase of Al-MuÆizzÆs Reign	p. 187
Turmoil in Damascus
Then Began the Year 364 [974-975]	p. 195
Demise of Prince æAbd All&abar;h b. al-MuÆizz
The rise of Aftak&ibar;n in Syria
The year of the comet
The final year of al-MuÆizzÆs reign
The demise of al-MuÆizz
Bibliography	p. 217
Index	p. 227
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Supplemental Materials

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

Rewards Program

Currently unavailable