Tarikh (al-Tabari) 3307
The Year 220 AH
ثُمَّ دَخَلَتْ سَنَةُ عِشْرِينَ وَمِائَتَيْنِ ذِكْرُ ظَفَرِ عُجَيْفٍ بِالزُّطِّ وَفِي هَذِهِ السَّنَةِ دَخَلَ عُجَيْفٌ بِالزُّطِّ بَغْدَاذَ، بَعْدَ أَنْ ضَيَّقَ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَقَاتَلَهُمْ، وَطَلَبُوا مِنْهُ الْأَمَانَ، فَأَمَّنَهُمْ، فَخَرَجُوا إِلَيْهِ فِي ذِي الْحِجَّةِ سَنَةَ تِسْعَ عَشَرَةَ وَمِائَتَيْنِ، وَكَانَتْ عِدَّتُهُمْ مَعَ النِّسَاءِ وَالصِّبْيَانِ سَبْعَةً وَعِشْرِينَ أَلْفًا، وَالْمُقَاتِلَةُ مِنْهُمُ اثْنَا عَشَرَ أَلْفًا، فَلَمَّا خَرَجُوا إِلَيْهِ جَعَلَهُمْ فِي السُّفُنِ، وَعَبَّأَهُمْ فِي سُفُنِهِمْ عَلَى هَيْئَتِهِمْ فِي الْحَرْبِ مَعَهُمُ الْبُوقَاتُ، حَتَّى دَخَلَ بِهِمْ بَغْدَادَ يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ مِنْ هَذِهِ السَّنَةِ. وَخَرَجَ الْمُعْتَصِمُ إِلَى الشَّمَّاسِيَّةِ فِي سَفِينَةٍ يُقَالُ لَهَا الزَّوُّ، حَتَّى يَمُرَّ بِهِ الزُّطُّ عَلَى تَعْبِئَتِهِمْ وَهُمْ يَنْفُخُونَ فِي الْبُوقَاتِ، وَأَعْطَى عُجَيْفٌ أَصْحَابَهُ كُلَّ رَجُلٍ دِينَارَيْنِ دِينَارَيْنِ، وَأَقَامَ الزُّطُّ فِي سُفُنِهِمْ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ، ثُمَّ نُقِلُوا إِلَى الْجَانِبِ الشَّرْقِيِّ، وَسُلِّمُوا إِلَى بِشْرِ بْنِ السَّمَيْدَعِ، فَذَهَبَ بِهِمْ إِلَى خَانِقِينَ، ثُمَّ نَقَلُوا إِلَى الثَّغْرِ، إِلَى عَيْنِ زَرْبَةَ، فَأَغَارَتِ الرُّومُ عَلَيْهِمْ، فَاجْتَاحُوهُمْ، فَلَمْ يُفْلِتْ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدٌ. ذِكْرُ مَسِيرِ الْأَفْشِينِ لِحَرْبِ بَابَكَ الْخُرَّمِيِّ وَفِي هَذِهِ السَّنَةِ عَقَدَ الْمُعْتَصِمُ لِلْأَفْشِينِ حَيْدَرَ بْنَ كَاوُسَ عَلَى الْجِبَالِ، وَوَجَّهَهُ لِحَرْبِ بَابَكَ فَسَارَ إِلَيْهِ. وَكَانَ ابْتِدَاءُ خُرُوجِ بَابَكَ سَنَةَ إِحْدَى وَمِائَتَيْنِ، فَكَانَتْ مَدِينَتُهُ الْبَذَّ، وَهُزِمَ مِنْ جُيُوشِ السُّلْطَانِ عِدَّةٌ، وَقُتِلَ مِنْ قُوَّادِهِ جَمَاعَةٌ، فَلَمَّا أَفْضَى الْأَمْرُ إِلَى الْمُعْتَصِمِ، وَجَّهَ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ يُوسُفَ إِلَى أَرْدَبِيلَ، وَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَبْنِيَ الْحُصُونَ الَّتِي خَرَّبَهَا بَابَكُ فِيمَا بَيْنَ زَنْجَانَ وَأَرْدَبِيلَ، وَيَجْعَلُ فِيهَا الرِّجَالَ تَحْفَظُ الطُّرُقَ لِمَنْ يَجْلِبُ الْمِيرَةَ إِلَى أَرْدَبِيلَ؛ فَتَوَجَّهَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ لِذَلِكَ، وَبَنَى الْحُصُونَ. وَوَجَّهَ بَابَكُ سَرِيَّةً فِي بَعْضِ غُزَاتِهِ، فَأَغَارَتْ عَلَى بَعْضِ النَّوَاحِي وَرَجَعَتْ مُنْصَرِفَةً، وَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ؛ فَجَمَعَ النَّاسَ، وَخَرَجَ فِي طَلَبِ السَّرِيَّةِ، فَاعْتَرَضَهَا فِي بَعْضِ الطُّرُقِ، فَاقْتَتَلُوا قِتَالًا شَدِيدًا، فَقَتَلَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ بَابَكَ جَمَاعَةً، وَأَسَرَ جَمَاعَةً، وَاسْتَنْقَذَ مَا كَانُوا أَخَذُوهُ، وَسَيَّرَ الرُّؤُوسَ وَالْأَسْرَى إِلَى الْمُعْتَصِمِ، فَكَانَتْ هَذِهِ أَوَّلَ هَزِيمَةٍ عَلَى أَصْحَابِ بَابَكَ. ثُمَّ كَانَتِ الْأُخْرَى لِمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْبُعَيْثِ، وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا كَانَ فِي قَلْعَةٍ لَهُ حَصِينَةٍ تُسَمَّى الشَّاهِيَ، كَانَ ابْنُ الْبُعَيْثِ قَدْ أَخَذَهَا مِنِ ابْنِ الرُّوَّادِ، وَهِيَ مِنْ كُورَةِ أَذْرَبِيجَانَ، وَلَهُ حِصْنٌ آخَرُ مِنْ أَذْرَبِيجَانَ يُسَمَّى تَبْرِيزَ، وَكَانَ مُصَالِحًا لِبَابَكَ، تَنْزِلُ سَرَايَاهُ عِنْدَهُ، فَيُضَيِّفُهُمْ حَتَّى أَنِسُوا بِهِ. ثُمَّ إِنَّ بَابَكَ وَجَّهَ قَائِدًا اسْمُهُ عِصْمَةُ مِنْ أَصْبَهْبَذِيَّتِهِ فِي سَرِيَّةٍ، فَنَزَلَ بِابْنِ الْبُعَيْثِ، فَأَنْزَلَ لَهُ الضِّيَافَةَ عَلَى عَادَتِهَا، وَاسْتَدْعَاهُ لَهُ فِي خَاصَّتِهِ وَوُجُوهِ أَصْحَابِهِ، فَصَعِدَ فَغَذَّاهُمْ، وَسَقَاهُمُ الْخَمْرَ حَتَّى سَكِرُوا، ثُمَّ وَثَبَ عَلَى عِصْمَةَ، فَاسْتَوْثَقَ مِنْهُ، وَقَتَلَ مَنْ كَانَ مَعَهُ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ، وَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يُسَمِّيَ رَجُلًا رَجُلًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ؛ فَكَانَ يَدْعُو الرَّجُلَ بِاسْمِهِ، فَيَصْعَدُ، فَيُضْرَبُ عُنُقُهُ، حَتَّى عَلِمُوا بِذَلِكَ فَهَرَبُوا. وَسَيَّرَ عِصْمَةَ إِلَى الْمُعْتَصِمِ، فَسَأَلَ الْمُعْتَصِمُ عِصْمَةَ عَنْ بِلَادِ بَابَكَ، فَأَعْلَمَهُ طُرُقَهُ وَوُجُوهَ الْقِتَالِ فِيهَا، ثُمَّ تَرَكَ عِصْمَةَ مَحْبُوسًا، فَبَقِيَ إِلَى أَيَّامِ الْوَاثِقِ. ثُمَّ إِنَّ الْأَفْشِينَ سَارَ إِلَى بِلَادِ بَابَكَ، فَنَزَلَ بَرْزَنْدَ، وَعَسْكَرَ بِهَا، وَضَبَطَ الطُّرُقَ وَالْحُصُونَ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ أَرْدَبِيلَ، وَأَنْزَلَ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ يُوسُفَ بِمَوْضِعٍ يُقَالُ لَهُ خُشَّ، فَحَفَرَ خَنْدَقًا، وَأَنْزَلَ الْهَيْثَمَ الْغَنَوِيَّ بِرُسْتَاقَ أَرْشَقَ، فَأَصْلَحَ حِصْنَهُ، وَحَفَرَ خَنْدَقَهُ، وَأَنْزَلَ عُلُّوَيْهِ الْأَعْوَرَ، مِنْ قُوَّادِ الْأَبْنَاءِ، فِي حِصْنِ النَّهْرِ مِمَّا يَلِي أَرْدَبِيلَ، فَكَانَتِ السَّابِلَةُ وَالْقَوَافِلُ تَخْرُجُ مِنْ أَرْدَبِيلَ وَمَعَهَا مَنْ يَحْمِيهَا، حَتَّى تَنْزِلَ بِحِصْنِ النَّهْرِ، ثُمَّ يُسَيِّرُهَا صَاحِبُ حِصْنِ النَّهْرِ إِلَى الْهَيْثَمِ الْغَنَوِيِّ، فَيَلْقَاهُ الْهَيْثَمُ بِمَنْ جَاءَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ نَاحِيَةٍ فِي مَوْضِعٍ مَعْرُوفٍ لَا يَتَعَدَّاهُ أَحَدُهُمْ إِذَا وَصَلَ إِلَيْهِ، فَإِذَا لَقِيَهُ أَخَذَ مَا ( مَعَهُ، وَسَلَّمَ إِلَيْهِ مَا مَعَهُ، ثُمَّ يَسِيرُ الْهَيْثَمُ بِمَنْ مَعَهُ إِلَى أَصْحَابِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، فَيَلْقَوْنَهُ بِمُنْتَصَفِ الطَّرِيقِ، وَمَعَهُمْ مَنْ خَرَجَ مِنَ الْعَسْكَرِ، فَيَتَسَلَّمُونَ مَا مَعَ الْهَيْثَمِ وَيُسَلِّمُونَ إِلَيْهِ مَا مَعَهُمْ، وَإِذَا سَبَقَ أَحَدُهُمْ إِلَى الْمُنْتَصَفِ لَا يَتَعَدَّاهُ، وَيَسِيرُ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ بِمَنْ مَعَهُ إِلَى عَسْكَرِ الْأَفْشِينِ ( فَيَلْقَاهُ صَاحِبُ سَيَّارَةِ الْأَفْشِينِ، فَيَتَسَلَّمُهُمْ مِنْهُ، وَيُسَلِّمُ إِلَيْهِ مَنْ صَحِبَهُ مِنَ الْعَسْكَرِ، فَلَمْ يَزَلِ الْأَمْرُ عَلَى هَذَا. وَكَانُوا إِذَا ظَفِرُوا بِأَحَدٍ مِنَ الْجَوَاسِيسِ حَمَلُوهُ إِلَى الْأَفْشِينِ، فَكَانَ يُحْسِنُ إِلَيْهِمْ، وَيَهَبُ لَهُمْ، وَيَسْأَلُهُمْ عَنِ الَّذِي يُعْطِيهِمْ بَابَكُ، فَيُضَعِّفُهُ لَهُمْ، وَيَقُولُ لَهُمْ: كُونُوا جَوَاسِيسَ لَنَا، فَكَانَ يَنْتَفِعُ بِهِمْ. ذِكْرُ وَقْعَةِ الْأَفْشِينِ مَعَ بَابَكَ وَفِيهَا كَانَتْ وَقْعَةُ الْأَفْشِينِ مَعَ بَابَكَ، قُتِلَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ بَابَكَ خَلْقٌ كَثِيرٌ. وَكَانَ سَبَبُهَا أَنَّ الْمُعْتَصِمَ وَجَّهَ بُغَا الْكَبِيرَ إِلَى الْأَفْشِينِ، وَمَعَهُ مَالٌ لِلْجُنْدِ، وَالنَّفَقَاتِ، فَوَصَلَ أَرْدَبِيلَ، فَبَلَغَ بَابَكَ الْخَبَرُ، فَتَهَيَّأَ هُوَ وَأَصْحَابُهُ لِيَقْطَعُوا عَلَيْهِ قَبْلَ وُصُولِهِ إِلَى الْأَفْشِينِ، فَجَاءَ جَاسُوسٌ إِلَى الْأَفْشِينِ، فَأَخْبَرَهُ بِذَلِكَ، فَلَمَّا صَحَّ الْخَبَرُ عِنْدَ الْأَفْشِينِ كَتَبَ إِلَى بُغَا أَنْ يُظْهِرَ أَنَّهُ يُرِيدُ الرَّحِيلَ، وَيَحْمِلَ الْمَالَ عَلَى الْإِبِلِ، وَيَسِيرَ نَحْوَهُ، حَتَّى يَبْلُغَ حِصْنَ النَّهْرِ، فَيَحْبِسَ الَّذِي مَعَهُ، حَتَّى يَجُوزَ مَنْ صَحِبَهُ مِنَ الْقَافِلَةِ، فَإِذَا جَازُوا رَجَعَ بِالْمَالِ إِلَى أَرْدَبِيلَ. فَفَعَلَ بُغَا ذَلِكَ، وَسَارَتِ الْقَافِلَةُ، وَجَاءَتْ جَوَاسِيسُ بَابَكَ إِلَيْهِ، فَأَخْبَرُوهُ أَنَّ الْمَالَ قَدْ سَارَ فَبَلَغَ النَّهْرَ، وَرَكِبَ الْأَفْشِينُ فِي الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي وَاعَدَ فِيهِ بُغَا، عِنْدَ الْعَصْرِ، مِنْ بَرْزَنْدَ فَوَافَى خُشَّ مَعَ غُرُوبِ الشَّمْسِ، فَنَزَلَ خَارِجَ خَنْدَقِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ رَكِبَ سِرًّا، وَلَمْ يَضْرِبْ طَبْلًا، وَلَمْ يَنْشُرْ عَلَمًا، وَأَمَرَ النَّاسَ بِالسُّكُوتِ وَجَدَّ فِي السَّيْرِ، وَرَحَلَتِ الْقَافِلَةُ الَّتِي كَانَتْ تَوَجَّهَتْ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ مِنَ النَّهْرِ إِلَى نَاحِيَةِ الْهَيْثَمِ، وَتَعَبَّأَ بَابَكُ فِي أَصْحَابِهِ، وَسَارَ عَلَى طَرِيقِ النَّهْرِ، وَهُوَ يَظُنُّ أَنَّ الْمَالَ يُصَادِفُهُ، فَخَرَجَتْ خَيْلُ بَابَكَ عَلَى الْقَافِلَةِ، وَمَعَهَا صَاحِبُ النَّهْرِ، فَقَاتَلَهُمْ صَاحِبُ النَّهْرِ، فَقَتَلُوهُ، وَقَتَلُوا مَنْ كَانَ مَعَهُ مِنَ الْجُنْدِ، وَأَخَذُوا جَمِيعَ مَا كَانَ مَعَهُمْ، وَعَلِمُوا أَنَّ الْمَالَ قَدْ فَاتَهُمْ، وَأَخَذُوا عَلَمَهُ وَلِبَاسَ أَصْحَابِهِ، فَلَبِسُوهَا وَتَنَكَّرُوا لِيَأْخُذُوا الْهَيْثَمَ الْغَنَوِيَّ وَمَنْ مَعَهُ أَيْضًا، وَلَا يَعْلَمُونَ بِخُرُوجِ الْأَفْشِينِ، وَجَاؤُوا كَأَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَابُ النَّهْرِ، فَلَمْ يَعْرِفُوا الْمَوْضِعَ الَّذِي يَقِفُ فِيهِ عَلَمُ صَاحِبِ النَّهْرِ، فَوَقَفُوا فِي غَيْرِهِ. وَجَاءَ الْهَيْثَمُ فَوَقَفَ فِي مَوْضِعِهِ، وَأَنْكَرَ مَا رَأَى، فَوَجَّهَ ابْنَ عَمٍّ لَهُ، فَقَالَ لَهُ: اذْهَبْ إِلَى هَذَا الْبَغِيضِ، فَقُلْ لَهُ: لِأَيِّ شَيْءٍ وُقُوفُكَ، فَجَاءَ إِلَيْهِمْ، فَأَنْكَرَهُمْ، فَرَجَعَ إِلَيْهِ فَأَخْبَرَهُ، فَأَنْفَذَ جَمَاعَةً غَيْرَهُ، فَأَنْكَرُوهُمْ أَيْضًا، وَأَخْبَرُوهُ أَنَّ بَابَكَ قَدْ قَتَلَ عُلُّوَيْهِ صَاحِبَ النَّهْرِ، وَأَصْحَابَهُ، وَأَخَذَ أَعْلَامَهُمْ وَلِبَاسَهُمْ، فَرَحَلَ الْهَيْثَمُ رَاجِعًا، وَنَجَّى الْقَافِلَةَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ مَعَهُ، وَبَقِيَ هُوَ وَأَصْحَابُهُ فِي أَعْقَابِهِمْ حَامِيَةً لَهُمْ حَتَّى وَصَلَتِ الْقَافِلَةُ إِلَى الْحِصْنِ، وَهُوَ أَرْشَقُ، وَسَيَّرَ رَجُلَيْنِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ إِلَى الْأَفْشِينِ وَإِلَى أَبِي سَعِيدٍ يُعَرِّفُهُمَا الْخَبَرَ، فَخَرَجَا يَرْكُضَانِ، وَدَخَلَ الْهَيْثَمُ الْحِصْنَ، ( وَنَزَلَ بَابَكَ عَلَيْهِ، وَوَضَعَ لَهُ كُرْسِيًّا بِحِيَالِ الْحِصْنِ )، وَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى الْهَيْثَمِ أَنْ خَلِّ الْحِصْنَ وَانْصَرِفْ، فَأَبَى الْهَيْثَمُ ذَلِكَ، فَحَارَبَهُ بَابَكُ وَهُوَ يَشْرَبُ الْخَمْرَ عَلَى عَادَتِهِ وَالْحَرْبُ مُشْتَبِكَةٌ. وَسَارَ الْفَارِسَانِ، فَلَقِيَا الْأَفْشِينَ عَلَى أَقَلِّ مِنْ فَرْسَخٍ، فَقَالَ لِصَاحِبِ مُقَدِّمَتِهِ: أَرَى فَارِسَيْنِ يَرْكُضَانِ رَكْضًا شَدِيدًا، ثُمَّ قَالَ: اضْرِبُوا الطَّبْلَ، وَانْشُرُوا الْأَعْلَامَ، وَارْكُضُوا نَحْوَهُمَا، وَصِيحُوا: لَبَّيْكُمَا لَبَّيْكُمَا ! فَفَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ، وَأَجْرَى النَّاسُ خَيْلَهُمْ طَلْقًا وَاحِدًا، حَتَّى لَحِقُوا بَابَكَ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ، فَلَمْ يُطِقْ أَنْ يَرْكَبَ، حَتَّى وَافَتْهُ الْخَيْلُ، فَاشْتَبَكَتِ الْحَرْبُ، فَلَمْ يُفْلِتْ مِنْ رَجَّالَةِ بَابَكَ أَحَدٌ، وَأَفْلَتَ هُوَ فِي نَفَرٍ يَسِيرٍ مِنْ خَيَّالَتِهِ، وَدَخَلَ مُوقَانَ وَقَدْ تَقَطَّعَ عَنْهُ أَصْحَابُهُ، وَرَجَعَ عَنْهُ الْأَفْشِينُ إِلَى بَرْزَنْدَ. وَأَقَامَ بَابَكَ بِمُوقَانَ، وَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى الْبَذِّ، فَجَاءَهُ عَسْكَرٌ، فَرَحَلَ بِهِمْ مِنْ مُوقَانَ، حَتَّى دَخَلَ الْبَذَّ، وَلَمْ يَزَلِ الْأَفْشِينُ مُعَسْكِرًا بِبَرْزَنْدَ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ فِي بَعْضِ الْأَيَّامِ مَرَّتْ قَافِلَةٌ، فَخَرَجَ عَلَيْهَا أَصْبَهْبَذَ بَابَكَ، فَأَخَذَهَا وَقَتَلَ مَنْ فِيهَا، فَقَحَطَ عَسْكَرُ الْأَفْشِينِ لِذَلِكَ، فَكَتَبَ الْأَفْشِينُ إِلَى صَاحِبِ مَرَاغَةَ بِحَمْلِ الْمِيرَةِ وَتَعْجِيلِهَا، فَوَجَّهَ إِلَيْهِ قَافِلَةً عَظِيمَةً، فِيهَا قَرِيبٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ ثَوْرٍ، سِوَى غَيْرِهَا مِنَ الدَّوَابِّ، تَحْمِلُ الْمِيرَةَ، وَمَعَهَا جُنْدٌ يَسِيرُونَ بِهَا، فَخَرَجَ عَلَيْهِمْ سَرِيَّةٌ لِبَابَكَ، فَأَخَذُوهَا عَنْ آخِرِهَا، وَأَصَابَ الْعَسْكَرَ ضِيقٌ شَدِيدٌ، فَكَتَبَ الْأَفْشِينُ إِلَى صَاحِبِ شِيرَوَانَ يَأْمُرُهُ أَنْ يَحْمِلَ إِلَيْهِ طَعَامًا، فَحَمَلَ إِلَيْهِ طَعَامًا كَثِيرًا، وَأَغَاثَ النَّاسَ. وَقَدِمَ بُغَا عَلَى الْأَفْشِينِ بِمَا مَعَهُ. ذِكْرُ بِنَاءِ سَامَرَّا وَفِي هَذِهِ السَّنَةِ خَرَجَ الْمُعْتَصِمُ إِلَى سَامَرَّا لِبِنَائِهَا، وَكَانَ سَبَبُ ذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: إِنِّي أَتَخَوَّفُ هَؤُلَاءِ الْحَرْبِيَّةَ أَنْ يَصِيحُوا صَيْحَةً فَيَقْتُلُوا غِلْمَانِي، فَأُرِيدُ أَنْ أَكُونَ فَوْقَهُمْ، فَإِنْ رَابَنِي مِنْهُمْ شَيْءٌ أَتَيْتُهُمْ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْمَاءِ، حَتَّى آتِيَ عَلَيْهِمْ، فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهَا، فَأَعْجَبَهُ مَكَانُهَا. وَقِيلَ كَانَ سَبَبُ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ الْمُعْتَصِمَ كَانَ قَدْ أَكْثَرَ مِنِ الْغِلْمَانِ الْأَتْرَاكِ، فَكَانُوا لَا يَزَالُونَ يَرَوْنَ الْوَاحِدَ بَعْدَ الْوَاحِدِ قَتِيلًا، وَذَلِكَ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا جُفَاةً، يَرْكَبُونَ الدَّوَابَّ، فَيُرْكِضُونَهَا إِلَى الشَّوَارِعِ، فَيَصْدِمُونَ الرَّجُلَ وَالْمَرْأَةَ وَالصَّبِيَّ، فَيَأْخُذُهُمُ الْأَبْنَاءُ عَنْ دَوَابِّهِمْ، وَيَضْرِبُونَهُمْ، وَرُبَّمَا هَلَكَ أَحَدُهُمْ فَتَأَذَّى بِهِمُ النَّاسُ. خروج المعتصم إلى القاطول ثُمَّ إِنَّ الْمُعْتَصِمَ رَكِبَ يَوْمَ عِيدٍ، فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ شَيْخٌ، فَقَالَ لَهُ: يَا أَبَا إِسْحَاقَ ! فَأَرَادَ الْجُنْدُ ضَرْبَهُ، فَمَنَعَهُمْ، وَقَالَ: يَا شَيْخُ ( مَا لَكَ، مَا لَكَ ؟ ) قَالَ: لَا جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ عَنِ الْجِوَارِ خَيْرًا، جَاوَرْتَنَا وَجِئْتَ بِهَؤُلَاءِ الْعُلُوجِ مِنْ غِلْمَانِكَ الْأَتْرَاكِ، فَأَسْكَنْتَهُمْ بَيْنَنَا، فَأَيْتَمْتَ صِبْيَانَنَا، وَأَرْمَلْتَ بِهِمْ نِسْوَانَنَا، وَقَتَلْتَ رِجَالَنَا، وَالْمُعْتَصِمُ يَسْمَعُ ذَلِكَ، فَدَخَلَ مَنْزِلَهُ، وَلَمْ يَرَ رَاكِبًا إِلَى مِثْلِ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ، فَخَرَجَ، فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ الْعِيدَ، وَلَمْ يَدْخُلْ بَغْدَادَ، بَلْ سَارَ إِلَى نَاحِيَةِ الْقَاطُولِ، وَلَمْ يَرْجِعْ إِلَى بَغْدَادَ. قَالَ مَسْرُورٌ الْكَبِيرُ: سَأَلَنِي الْمُعْتَصِمُ أَيْنَ كَانَ الرَّشِيدُ يَتَنَزَّهُ إِذَا ضَجِرَ بِبَغْدَاذَ قُلْتُ: بِالْقَاطُولِ، وَكَانَ قَدْ بَنَى هُنَاكَ مَدِينَةً آثَارُهَا وَسُورُهَا قَائِمٌ، وَكَانَ قَدْ خَافَ مِنَ الْجُنْدِ مَا خَافَ الْمُعْتَصِمُ، فَلَمَّا وَثَبَ أَهْلُ الشَّامِ بِالشَّامِ وَعَصَوْا خَرَجَ إِلَى الرِّقَّةِ فَأَقَامَ بِهَا، وَبَقِيَتْ مَدِينَةُ الْقَاطُولِ لَمْ تُسْتَمَّ. وَلَمَّا خَرَجَ الْمُعْتَصِمُ إِلَى الْقَاطُولِ اسْتَخْلَفَ بِبَغْدَاذَ ابْنَهُ الْوَاثِقَ. وَكَانَ الْمُعْتَصِمُ قَدِ اصْطَنَعَ قَوْمًا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْحَوْفِ بِمِصْرَ، وَاسْتَخْدَمَهُمْ، وَسَمَّاهُمُ الْمَغَارِبَةَ، وَجَمَعَ خَلْقًا مِنْ سَمَرْقَنْدَ، وَأُشْرُوسَنَّةَ، وَفَرْغَانَةَ، وَسَمَّاهُمُ الْفَرَاغِنَةَ، فَكَانُوا مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ، وَبَقُوا بَعْدَهُ. وَكَانَ ابْتِدَاءُ الْعِمَارَةِ بِسَامَرَّا سَنَةَ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ وَمِائَتَيْنِ. ذِكْرُ قَبْضِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ وَكَانَ الْفَضْلُ بْنُ مَرْوَانَ مِنَ الْبَرَدَانِ، وَكَانَ حَسِنَ الْخَطِّ، فَاتَّصَلَ بِيَحْيَى الْجُرْمُقَانِيِّ كَاتِبِ الْمُعْتَصِمِ، قَبْلَ خِلَافَتِهِ، فَكَانَ يَكْتُبُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ، فَلَمَّا هَلَكَ الْجُرْمُقَانِيُّ صَارَ مَوْضِعَهُ، وَسَارَ مَعَ الْمُعْتَصِمِ إِلَى الشَّامِ، وَمِصْرَ، فَأَخَذَ مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ الْكَثِيرَ، فَلَمَّا صَارَ الْمُعْتَصِمُ خَلِيفَةً كَانَ اسْمُهَا لَهُ، وَكَانَ مَعْنَاهَا لِلْفَضْلِ، وَاسْتَوْلَى عَلَى الدَّوَاوِينِ كُلِّهَا، وَكَنْزِ الْأَمْوَالِ. وَكَانَ الْمُعْتَصِمُ يَأْمُرُهُ بِإِعْطَاءِ الْمُغَنِّي وَالنَّدِيمِ، فَلَا يُنَفِّذُ الْفَضْلُ ذَلِكَ، فَثَقُلَ عَلَى الْمُعْتَصِمِ، وَكَانَ لَهُ مُضْحِكٌ اسْمُهُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ، يُعْرَفُ بِالْهَفْتِيِّ، فَأَمَرَ لَهُ الْمُعْتَصِمُ بِمَالٍ، وَتَقَدَّمَ إِلَى الْفَضْلِ بِإِعْطَائِهِ، فَلَمْ يُعْطِهِ شَيْئًا، فَبَيْنَا الْهَفْتِيُّ يَوْمًا عِنْدَ الْمُعْتَصِمِ، يَمْشِي مَعَهُ فِي بُسْتَانٍ لَهُ، وَكَانَ الْهَفْتِيُّ يَصْحَبُهُ قَبْلَ الْخِلَافَةِ، وَيَقُولُ لَهُ فِيمَا يُدَاعِبُهُ: وَاللَّهِ لَا تُفْلِحُ أَبَدًا، وَكَانَ مَرْبُوعًا بَدِينًا، وَكَانَ الْمُعْتَصِمُ خَفِيفَ اللَّحْمِ؛ فَكَانَ يَسْبِقُهُ، وَيَلْتَفِتُ إِلَيْهِ وَيَقُولُ: مَا لَكَ لَا تُسْرِعُ الْمَشْيَ ؟ فَلَمَّا أَكْثَرَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ، قَالَ الْهَفْتِيُّ مُدَاعِبًا لَهُ: كُنْتُ أَرَانِي أُمَاشِي خَلِيفَةً، وَلَمْ [ أَكُنْ ] أَرَانِي أُمَاشِي فَيْجًا، وَاللَّهِ لَا أَفْلَحْتَ أَبَدًا ! فَضْحِكَ الْمُعْتَصِمُ وَقَالَ: وَهَلْ بَقِيَ مِنَ الْفَلَاحِ شَيْءٌ لَمْ أُدْرِكْهُ بَعْدَ الْخِلَافَةِ ؟ فَقَالَ: أَتَظُنُّ أَنَّكَ أَفْلَحْتَ ؟ لَا وَاللَّهِ، مَا لَكَ مِنِ الْخِلَافَةِ إِلَّا اسْمُهَا، مَا يَتَجَاوَزُ أَمْرُكَ أُذُنَيْكَ، إِنَّمَا الْخَلِيفَةُ الْفَضْلُ، فَقَالَ: وَأَيُّ أَمْرٍ لِي لَمْ يُنَفَّذْ ؟ فَقَالَ الْهَفْتِيُّ: أَمَرْتَ لِي بِكَذَا وَكَذَا مُنْذُ شَهْرَيْنِ، فَمَا أُعْطِيتُ حَبَّةً، فَحَقَدَهَا عَلَى الْفَضْلِ. فَقِيلَ: أَوَّلُ مَا أَحْدَثَهُ فِي أَمْرِهِ جَعَلَ زِمَامًا فِي نَفَقَاتِ الْخَاصَّةِ، وَفِي الْخَرَاجِ، وَجَمِيعِ الْأَعْمَالِ، ثُمَّ نَكَّبَهُ وَأَهْلَ بَيْتِهِ فِي صَفَرَ، وَأَمَرَهُمْ بِعَمَلِ حِسَابِهِمْ، وَصَيَّرَ مَكَانَهُ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ الزَّيَّاتَ، فَنَفَى الْفَضْلَ إِلَى قَرْيَةٍ فِي طَرِيقِ الْمَوْصِلِ تُعْرَفُ بِالسِّنِّ، وَصَارَ مُحَمَّدٌ وَزِيرًا كَاتِبًا. وَكَانَ الْفَضْلُ شَرِسَ الْأَخْلَاقِ، ضَيِّقَ الْعَطَنِ، كَرِيهَ اللِّقَاءِ، بَخِيلًا، مُسْتَطِيلًا، فَلَمَّا نُكِبَ شَمِتَ بِهِ النَّاسُ، حَتَّى قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ فِيهِ: لِيَبْكِ عَلَى الْفَضْلِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ نَفْسُهُ فَلَيْسَ لَهُ بَاكٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ يُعْرَفُ لَقَدْ صَحِبَ الدُّنْيَا مَنُوعًا لِخَيْرِهَا وَفَارَقَهَا وَهُوَ الظَّلُومُ الْمُعَنَّفُ إِلَى النَّارِ فَلْيَذْهَبْ، وَمَنْ كَانَ مِثْلَهُ عَلَى أَيِّ شَيْءٍ فَاتَنَا مِنْهُ نَأْسَفُ ؟ ذِكْرُ عِدَّةِ حَوَادِثَ ( فِي هَذِهِ السَّنَةِ سَيَّرَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ مَلِكُ الْأَنْدَلُسِ جَيْشًا إِلَى طُلَيْطِلَةَ، فَقَاتَلُوهَا، فَلَمْ يَظْفَرُوا بِهَا ). وَحَجَّ بِالنَّاسِ صَالِحُ بْنُ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ. طاعون البصرة وَكَانَ بِالْبَصْرَةِ فِي هَذِهِ السَّنَةِ طَاعُونٌ، مَاتَ فِيهِ خَلْقٌ كَثِيرٌ، وَكَانَ لِرَجُلٍ سَبْعُ بَنِينَ فَمَاتُوا فِي يَوْمٍ وَاحِدٍ فَعُزِّيَ، فَقَالَ: سَلِّمْ سَلِّمْ.
Translation
✧ Then the year 220 AH began. Mention of ʿUjayf’s victory over the Zuṭṭ In this year, ʿUjayf entered Baghdad with the Zuṭṭ, after he had pressed them hard, fought them, and they requested safe-conduct from him. He granted them safe-conduct, so they came out to him in Dhū al-Ḥijjah of the year 219 AH. Their number, including women and children, was twenty-seven thousand, and the fighting men among them were twelve thousand. When they came out to him, he placed them in boats and arrayed them in their vessels in the manner of their battle formation, with their war-trumpets, until he entered Baghdad with them on the Day of ʿĀshūrāʾ of this year. Al-Muʿtaṣim went out to al-Shammāsiyyah in a boat called al-Zaww, so that the Zuṭṭ passed by him in their array while they blew the trumpets. ʿUjayf gave his companions two dinars each. The Zuṭṭ remained in their boats for three days, then they were transferred to the eastern side and handed over to Bishr b. al-Sumaydaʿ, who took them to Khāniqīn. Then they were moved to the frontier, to ʿAyn Zarbah. The Byzantines raided them and annihilated them, so that not one of them escaped. Mention of al-Afshīn’s march to fight Bābak al-Khurramī In this year, al-Muʿtaṣim appointed al-Afshīn Ḥaydar b. Kāwūs over al-Jibāl and dispatched him to fight Bābak, so he marched against him. The beginning of Bābak’s uprising had been in the year 201 AH, and his city was al-Badhdh. He defeated several of the sultan’s armies and killed a group of his commanders. When authority passed to al-Muʿtaṣim, he sent Abū Saʿīd Muḥammad b. Yūsuf to Ardabīl and ordered him to build the fortresses that Bābak had destroyed between Zanjān and Ardabīl, and to station men in them to guard the roads for those bringing provisions to Ardabīl. Abū Saʿīd set out to do that and built the fortresses. Bābak sent a raiding party in one of his campaigns, and it raided some districts and returned. That reached Abū Saʿīd, so he gathered the people and went out in pursuit of the raiding party. He intercepted it on one of the roads, and they fought a fierce battle. Abū Saʿīd killed a group of Bābak’s men and captured a group, and recovered what they had taken. He sent the heads and captives to al-Muʿtaṣim. This was the first defeat inflicted on Bābak’s men. Then another defeat was inflicted by Muḥammad b. al-Buʿayth. That was because Muḥammad was in a strong fortress of his called al-Shāhī, which Ibn al-Buʿayth had taken from Ibn al-Rawwād. It is in the province of Azerbaijan, and he had another fortress in Azerbaijan called Tabrīz. He was at peace with Bābak; Bābak’s raiding parties used to stop with him, and he would host them until they became familiar with him. Then Bābak sent a commander named ʿIṣmah, one of his iṣbahbadhs, with a raiding party. He stopped with Ibn al-Buʿayth, who provided him hospitality as usual and invited him along with his close associates and the leaders of his men. He came up, and Ibn al-Buʿayth fed them and gave them wine to drink until they became drunk. Then he leapt upon ʿIṣmah, bound him securely, and killed those of his companions who were with him. He ordered ʿIṣmah to name his companions one by one; he would call each man by name, and he would come up and be beheaded, until they realized what was happening and fled. He sent ʿIṣmah to al-Muʿtaṣim, who questioned him about Bābak’s territory, and he informed him of its routes and the ways of fighting there. Then al-Muʿtaṣim left ʿIṣmah imprisoned, and he remained until the days of al-Wāthiq. Then al-Afshīn marched to Bābak’s territory and encamped at Barzand, where he set up his army camp. He secured the roads and fortresses between him and Ardabīl. He stationed Muḥammad b. Yūsuf at a place called Khushsh, where he dug a trench. He stationed al-Haytham al-Ghanawī in the rural district of Arshaq, where he repaired its fortress and dug its trench. He stationed ʿUlluwayh al-Aʿwar, one of the commanders of the abnāʾ, in the fortress of al-Nahr on the side toward Ardabīl. Thus travelers and caravans would set out from Ardabīl with an escort and stop at the fortress of al-Nahr. Then the commander of the fortress of al-Nahr would escort them to al-Haytham al-Ghanawī, who would meet them with whoever came to him from one direction at a known place that none of them would go beyond once he reached it. When he met him, he would take what was with him and hand over what he had. Then al-Haytham would proceed with those with him to Abū Saʿīd’s men, who would meet him at the midpoint of the road along with those who had set out from the camp. They would take what was with al-Haytham and hand over to him what they had. If one of them arrived first at the midpoint, he would not go beyond it. Abū Saʿīd would proceed with those with him to al-Afshīn’s camp, where the commander of al-Afshīn’s caravan escort would meet him, take them from him, and hand over to him those who had accompanied him from the camp. This continued to be the practice. Whenever they captured any of the spies, they brought them to al-Afshīn, who treated them kindly, gave them gifts, and asked them about what Bābak gave them, then doubled it for them and said to them: “Be spies for us.” Thus he benefited from them. Mention of the battle of al-Afshīn with Bābak In this year took place the battle of al-Afshīn with Bābak, in which a great many of Bābak’s men were killed. The reason for it was that al-Muʿtaṣim sent Bughā the Elder to al-Afshīn with money for the army and expenses. He reached Ardabīl, and the news reached Bābak, so he and his men prepared to intercept him before he reached al-Afshīn. A spy came to al-Afshīn and informed him of that. When the news was confirmed to al-Afshīn, he wrote to Bughā to make a show of intending to depart, to load the money on camels, and to march toward him until he reached the fortress of al-Nahr; then he was to hold back what he had with him until those of the caravan accompanying him had passed, and when they had passed, he was to return with the money to Ardabīl. Bughā did that, and the caravan set out. Bābak’s spies came to him and told him that the money had moved and reached al-Nahr. Al-Afshīn rode out on the day he had arranged with Bughā, in the late afternoon, from Barzand, and reached Khushsh at sunset. He encamped outside Abū Saʿīd’s trench. When morning came, he rode out secretly, without beating a drum or unfurling a banner, and ordered the people to be silent and to hasten. The caravan that had set out that day from al-Nahr toward al-Haytham’s position also departed. Bābak assembled his men and marched on the road by the river, thinking he would encounter the money. Bābak’s cavalry fell upon the caravan, which had with it the commander of al-Nahr. The commander of al-Nahr fought them, but they killed him and the troops with him, and seized everything they had. They realized that the money had eluded them. They took his banner and the garments of his men, put them on, and disguised themselves in order to seize al-Haytham al-Ghanawī and his men as well, not knowing of al-Afshīn’s departure. They came as if they were the men of al-Nahr, but they did not know the place where the banner of the commander of al-Nahr stood, so they stood somewhere else. Al-Haytham came and stood in his own position, and he saw something he did not recognize. He sent a cousin of his and said to him: “Go to that hateful one and say to him: ‘Why are you standing there?’” He went to them but did not recognize them, so he returned and told him. Then he sent a group of others, and they too did not recognize them and told him that Bābak had killed ʿUlluwayh, the commander of al-Nahr, and his men, and had taken their banners and garments. So al-Haytham departed, returning, and brought the caravan that was with him to safety, while he and his men remained behind as a rear guard until the caravan reached the fortress, which was Arshaq. He sent two of his men to al-Afshīn and Abū Saʿīd to inform them of the news, and they rode off at full speed. Al-Haytham entered the fortress, and Bābak encamped against him and set up a chair for himself opposite the fortress. He sent word to al-Haytham: “Abandon the fortress and leave.” Al-Haytham refused, so Bābak fought him while drinking wine, as was his custom, and the battle raged. The two horsemen rode on and met al-Afshīn at less than a farsakh away. He said to the commander of his vanguard: “I see two horsemen riding at a hard gallop.” Then he said: “Beat the drum, unfurl the banners, and gallop toward them, shouting: ‘At your service! At your service!’” They did that, and the men urged their horses forward all at once until they reached Bābak while he was sitting. He could not mount before the cavalry reached him. The battle was joined, and not one of Bābak’s infantry escaped. He himself escaped with a small band of his cavalry and entered Mūqān after his men had become separated from him. Al-Afshīn then returned to Barzand. Bābak stayed in Mūqān and sent to al-Badhdh, and an army came to him. He departed with them from Mūqān until he entered al-Badhdh. Al-Afshīn remained encamped at Barzand. One day a caravan passed by, and Bābak’s iṣbahbadh went out against it, seized it, and killed those in it. Because of that, al-Afshīn’s camp suffered a shortage. Al-Afshīn wrote to the governor of Marāghah to send provisions and to hasten them, so he sent him a great caravan containing nearly a thousand oxen, besides other beasts of burden, carrying provisions, with troops escorting it. A raiding party of Bābak went out against them and seized it entirely. The camp suffered severe hardship, so al-Afshīn wrote to the ruler of Shīrawān ordering him to send food to him. He sent him much food and relieved the people. Bughā arrived at al-Afshīn with what he had. Mention of the building of Sāmarrā In this year, al-Muʿtaṣim went out to Sāmarrā to build it. The reason was that he said: “I fear these Ḥarbiyyah troops, that they may raise a clamor and kill my pages. I want to be above them, so that if anything from them disturbs me, I can come at them by land and water until I finish them.” So he went out to it, and its site pleased him. It is said that the reason was that al-Muʿtaṣim had come to have many Turkish pages, and they kept finding one after another of them killed. That was because they were rough fellows; they would ride mounts and gallop them through the streets, knocking down men, women, and children. Then the abnāʾ would pull them off their mounts and beat them, and sometimes one of them would die, so the people were harmed by them. Al-Muʿtaṣim’s departure to al-Qāṭūl Then one festival day al-Muʿtaṣim rode out, and an old man stood before him and said: “O Abū Isḥāq!” The soldiers wanted to strike him, but he prevented them and said: “Old man, what is the matter with you? What is the matter with you?” The old man said: “May God not reward you well for neighborliness! You became our neighbor and brought these barbarians, your Turkish pages, and settled them among us. You have orphaned our children, widowed our women, and killed our men.” Al-Muʿtaṣim heard that and went into his residence. No rider was seen out like that day. Then he went out, led the people in the festival prayer, and did not enter Baghdad, but marched to the area of al-Qāṭūl and did not return to Baghdad. Masrūr the Elder said: Al-Muʿtaṣim asked me: “Where did al-Rashīd go for recreation when he was weary of Baghdad?” I said: “To al-Qāṭūl. He had built a city there whose traces and wall still stand. He had feared the troops as al-Muʿtaṣim feared them. When the people of Syria revolted and disobeyed, he went out to al-Raqqah and stayed there, and the city of al-Qāṭūl remained unfinished.” When al-Muʿtaṣim went out to al-Qāṭūl, he left his son al-Wāthiq as his deputy in Baghdad. Al-Muʿtaṣim had taken into his service a people from the Ḥawf of Egypt and employed them, calling them al-Maghāribah. He also gathered a number of people from Samarqand, Ushrūsanah, and Farghānah, calling them al-Farāghinah. They were among his followers and remained after him. The beginning of construction at Sāmarrā was in the year 221 AH. Mention of the arrest of al-Faḍl b. Marwān Al-Faḍl b. Marwān was from al-Baradān and had fine handwriting. He attached himself to Yaḥyā al-Jurmūqānī, al-Muʿtaṣim’s secretary before his caliphate, and wrote in his presence. When al-Jurmūqānī died, he took his place and accompanied al-Muʿtaṣim to Syria and Egypt, where he acquired great wealth. When al-Muʿtaṣim became caliph, the caliphate was his in name but its substance belonged to al-Faḍl. He took control of all the bureaus and the treasury of funds. Al-Muʿtaṣim would order him to give to a singer or a boon companion, and al-Faḍl would not carry it out. This weighed on al-Muʿtaṣim. He had a jester named Ibrāhīm, known as al-Haftī, and al-Muʿtaṣim ordered money for him and instructed al-Faḍl to give it to him, but he gave him nothing. One day al-Haftī was with al-Muʿtaṣim, walking with him in a garden of his. Al-Haftī had accompanied him before the caliphate and would say to him in jest: “By God, you will never succeed.” He was of medium height and stout, while al-Muʿtaṣim was lean. Al-Muʿtaṣim would outpace him, turn to him, and say: “What is wrong with you that you do not walk faster?” When he did that too often, al-Haftī said jokingly: “I used to think I was walking with a caliph, but I did not think I was walking with a courier. By God, you will never succeed!” Al-Muʿtaṣim laughed and said: “Is there any success left that I have not attained after the caliphate?” He replied: “Do you think you have succeeded? No, by God, you have nothing of the caliphate but its name. Your command does not go beyond your ears. The real caliph is al-Faḍl.” He said: “What order of mine has not been carried out?” Al-Haftī said: “You ordered such-and-such for me two months ago, and I have not been given a single grain.” So he bore a grudge against al-Faḍl. It is said that the first thing he did in his affair was to appoint a controller over the expenditures of the private treasury, the land tax, and all the offices. Then he brought him down along with his household in Ṣafar and ordered their accounts to be audited. He put Muḥammad b. ʿAbd al-Malik al-Zayyāt in his place, and banished al-Faḍl to a village on the road to Mosul known as al-Sinn. Muḥammad became the vizier and secretary. Al-Faḍl was ill-tempered, narrow-minded, unpleasant to meet, stingy, and overbearing. When he fell, the people gloated over him, until one of them said of him: Let al-Faḍl b. Marwān weep for himself, for there is no one among the people known to weep for him. He kept company with the world, withholding its good, and parted from it as the oppressive, reproached one. Let him go to the Fire, and whoever is like him; for what thing that we have missed from him should we grieve? Mention of several events In this year, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān, king of al-Andalus, sent an army to Toledo, and they fought it but did not take it. The people performed the pilgrimage led by Ṣāliḥ b. al-ʿAbbās b. Muḥammad. The plague of al-Baṣrah In al-Baṣrah in this year there was a plague in which many people died. A man had seven sons, and they died in a single day. He was offered condolences, and he said: “Submit, submit.”
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