Al-Mustakfi


Abdallah ibn al-Muktafi , better known by his regnal name al-Mustakfi bi-llah was the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad from 944 to 946. He was installed by Tuzun, a Turkish general who deposed and blinded the previous Caliph, al-Muttaqi.

Biography

In 944, Tuzun, with the Caliph, marched to Wasit and defeated the Buwayhids, who were threatening the Capital. The tribute due from Mosul being withheld, Tuzun also marched against the Hamdanid ruler Nasir al-Dawla; but, after friendly relations were re-established, he returned.
The next year, Tuzun died, and was succeeded by Abu Ja'far, one of his generals. Baghdad now fell into a fearful state of distress. Due to a blockade, supplies no longer reached the markets, and people were reduced to eating dogs, cats and garbage. The mob was driven by starvation to plunder the city's remaining shops. Multitudes fled Baghdad for Basra or elsewhere, dying in great numbers from weakness. Abu Ja'far at last, finding himself unable to control affairs, requested the aid of the Hamdanid commander Nasir al-Dawla from Mosul--even offering, if he would come, to turn over supreme command to him. However, the Hamdanids were at the moment engaged on one hand with the Rus' in Adharbayjan, and on the other with the Ikhshidids in Syria.
of Samanid Emir Nuh I ibn Nasr 331-343AH/AD 943-954. Citing Caliph al-Mustakfi. Nishapur mint. Dated 337 AH/948/9AD
Just then the governor of Wasit surrendered to the chief of the Buwayhids, and joined him in his march on Baghdad. Abu Ja'far and the Caliph fled into hiding. The Caliph then received the secretary of the Buwayhid chief to negotiate peace, which the Caliph accepted. Invited thus, the Buwayhid ruler, Mu'izz al-Dawla, entered Baghdad, and, under the title of Amir al-Umara, assumed the supreme command. The Caliph abjectly submitted to the Amir, whose name, in addition to al-Mustakfi's, was now by his command stamped upon the coinage and recited in the public prayers; but it was all in vain. Mu'izz al-Dawla feared the Caliph was a creature of the Turks. Eventually al-Mustakfi was blinded and deposed, having been Caliph for about eighteen months. The city fell into chaos, and the Caliph's palace was looted.