List of Abbasid caliphs


The Abbasid caliphs were the holders of the Islamic title of caliph who were members of the Abbasid dynasty, a branch of the Quraysh tribe descended from the uncle of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib.
The family came to power in the Abbasid Revolution in 748–750, supplanting the Umayyad Caliphate. They were the rulers of the Abbasid Caliphate, as well as the generally recognized ecumenical heads of Islam, until the 10th century, when the Shi'a Fatimid Caliphate and the Caliphate of Córdoba challenged their primacy. The political decline of the Abbasids had begun earlier, during the Anarchy at Samarra, which accelerated the fragmentation of the Muslim world into autonomous dynasties. The caliphs lost their temporal power in 936–946, first to a series of military strongmen, and then to the Shi'a Buyid dynasty that seized control of Baghdad; the Buyids were in turn replaced by the Sunni Seljuk Turks in the mid-11th century, and Turkish rulers assumed the title of "Sultan" to denote their temporal authority. The Abbasid caliphs remained the generally recognized suzerains of Sunni Islam, however. In the mid-12th century, the Abbasids regained their independence from the Seljuks, but the revival of Abbasid power ended with the Sack of Baghdad by the Mongols in 1258.
Most Abbasid caliphs were born to a concubine mother, known as umm al-walad. The term refers to a slave woman who had a child from her owner; those women were renowned for their beauty and intelligence, in that the owner might recognize the legitimacy of his children from them to be legally free and with full rights of inheritance, and refrain from trading the mothers afterwards. Those concubines mostly were Abyssinians, Armenians, Berbers, Byzantine Greeks, Turkish or even from Sicily.

List of Abbasid caliphs

Abbasid Caliphs (25 January 750 – 20 February 1258)

No.ReignRegnal NamePersonal NameParentsNotes
1.750 – 10 June 754as-SaffāḥAbū’l-ʿAbbās ʿAbd Allāh
  • Descendant of al-Abbas, Muhammad's uncle.
  • Battle of Talas secures Muslim predominance in Central Asia.
    • 2.10 June 754 – 775al-ManṣūrAbū Jaʿfar ʿAbd Allāh
  • Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Abdallah
  • Sallamah, Berber concubine from Nefzaoua
  • Fugitive Umayyad prince Abd al-Rahman I founds the Emirate of Córdoba in al-Andalus.
  • Foundation of Baghdad.
    • 3.775 – 4 August 785al-Mahdī bi-'llāhAbū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad
  • Al-Mansur
  • Umm Musa
    • 4.August 785 – 14 September 786al-HādīAbū Muḥammad Mūsā
  • Al-Mahdi
  • Al-Khayzuran bint 'Atta
    • 5.14 September 786 – 24 March 809Hārūn ar-RashīdHārūn
  • Al-Mahdi
  • Al-Khayzuran bint 'Atta
  • Zaydi Shi'a Idrisid dynasty established in Morocco.
  • Aghlabids recognized as autonomous in Ifriqiya.
    • 6.March 809 – 24/25 September 813al-AmīnAbū Mūsā Muḥammad
  • Harun ar-Rashid
  • Zubaidah bint Ja`far, granddaughter of al-Mansur
  • Civil war of the Fourth Fitna. Al-Amin deposed and killed at the Siege of Baghdad.
    • 7.September 813 – 9 August 833al-MaʾmūnAbū'l-ʿAbbās ʿAbd Allāh
  • Harun ar-Rashid
  • Marajil, concubine from Badghis
  • Victor of the civil war. Anti-caliphate of Ibrahim ibn al-Mahdi in Baghdad ends with al-Ma'mun's return to Baghdad.
  • Ends persecution of Ahl al-Bayt
  • Launch of the Translation Movement, major revamp of the House of Wisdom, and systematic support of scholars for the gathering and translation of knowledge from various civilizations.
  • Establishment of the Emirate of Crete
  • Start of the Muslim conquest of Sicily
  • Start of official support for Mu'tazilism, institution of the mihna
    • 8.9 August 833 – 5 January 842al-Muʿtaṣim bi-’llāhAbū Isḥāq Muḥammad
  • Harun ar-Rashid
  • Marida, probably Turkish concubine from Sughd Region
  • Establishment of the Turkish ghilman in positions of power. Militarization and centralization of the administration.
  • Move of the capital to Samarra.
    • 9.5 January 842 – 10 August 847al-Wāthiq bi-'llāhAbū Jaʿfar Hārūn
  • Al-Mu'tasim
  • Qaratis, Greek concubine
    • 10.10 August 847 – 11 December 861al-Mutawakkil ʿalā 'llāhJaʿfar
  • Al-Mu'tasim
  • Shuja, probably Turkish concubine from Khawarizm
  • End of official support for Mu'tazilism, abolition of the miḥnah. Return to Sunni orthodoxy.
  • Destroyed the Imam Husayn Shrine.
  • Assassinated by his son Al-Muntasir.
    • 11.861 – 7 or 8 June 862al-Muntaṣir bi-'llāhAbū Jaʿfar Muḥammad
  • Al-Mutawakkil
  • Hubshiya, Greek concubine
  • Reigned during the Anarchy at Samarra
  • Ends persecution of Alids and returned their rightful endowments.
  • 12.862 – 866al-Mustaʿīn bi-ʾllāhAḥmad
  • Muhammad, son of al-Mu'tasim
  • Makhariq, concubine from Sicily
  • Reigned during the Anarchy at Samarra. Fled to Baghdad in 865, where he was besieged and deposed by the Turkish military.
    • 13.866 – 869al-Muʿtazz bi-ʾllāhAbū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad
  • Al-Mutawakkil
  • Sabiha, Greek concubine
  • Reigned during the Anarchy at Samarra. Deposed by the Turkish military.
    • 14.869 – 21 June 870al-Muhtadī bi-'llāhAbū Isḥāq Muḥammad
  • Al-Wathiq
  • Qurb, Greek concubine
  • Reigned during the Anarchy at Samarra. Assassinated by the Turkish military.
    • 15.21 June 870 – 15 October 892al-Muʿtamid ʿalā ’llāhAbū'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad
  • Al-Mutawakkil
  • Fityan, Greek concubine from Kufa
  • Actual power in the hands of his brother, al-Muwaffaq.
  • Start of the "Abbasid revival". Repulse of the Saffarids and subjugation of the Zanj Revolt.
  • Establishment of the autonomous Tulunid dynasty in Egypt, and overthrow of the Tahirids by the Saffarids in the East.
    • 16.October 892 – 5 April 902al-Muʿtaḍid bi-'llāhAbū'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad
  • Al-Muwaffaq, regent of the Abbasid Caliphate
  • Dirar, Greek concubine
  • Height of the "Abbasid revival". Recovery of Jazira, Thughur, Jibal.
  • Return of the capital to Baghdad.
  • Start of the Qarmatian missionary activity and raids.
    • 17.5 April 902 – 13 August 908al-Muktafī bi-'llāhAbū Aḥmad ʿAlī
  • Al-Mu'tadid
  • Jijak, Turkish concubine
  • Recovery of Egypt and Syria from the Tulunids. End of the "Abbasid revival".
    • 18.13 August 908 – 929al-Muqtadir bi-'llāhAbū'l-Faḍl Jaʿfar
  • Al-Mu'tadid
  • Shaghab, Greek concubine
  • First reign
  • Unsuccessful usurpation attempt in favour of Abdallah ibn al-Mu'tazz.
  • Caliphal title also claimed by al-Mahdi Billah of the Fatimids from 909 and 'Abd ar-Rahman III of Córdoba from 929.
    • 19.929al-Qāhir bi-'llāhAbū al-Manṣūr Muḥammad
  • Al-Mu'tadid
  • Fitna, Berber concubine
  • First reign; installed by the commander-in-chief Mu'nis al-Muzaffar for a few days.
    • 20.929 – 31 October 932al-Muqtadir bi-'llāhAbū'l-Faḍl Jaʿfar
  • See #18
  • Second reign; killed in battle before Baghdad against Mu'nis al-Muzaffar.
  • Qarmatian sack of Mecca and Medina.
    • 21.31 October 932 – 934al-Qāhir bi-'llāhAbū al-Manṣūr Muḥammad
  • See #19
  • Second reign
    • 22.934 – 23 December 940ar-Rāḍī bi-'llāhAbū'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad/Muḥammad
  • Al-Muqtadir
  • Thaloum, Berber concubine
  • Ibn Ra'iq becomes amīr al-umarāʾ ; end of caliphal temporal power.
    • 23.940 – 944al-Muttaqī li-'llāhAbū Isḥāq Ibrāhīm
  • Al-Muqtadir
  • Khalub, concubine
  • Beginning of the later Abbasid period.
  • Overthrown and blinded by the amīr al-umarāʾ Tuzun.
    • 24.September 944 – 29 January 946al-Mustakfī bi-ʾllāhʿAbd Allāh
  • Al-Muktafi
  • Ghusn, concubine
  • Installed by the amīr al-umarāʾ Tuzun.
  • Deposed and blinded after the Buyid takeover of Baghdad and Iraq.
    • 25.29 January 946 – 974al-Muṭīʿ li-ʾllāhAbū'l-Qāsim al-Faḍl
  • Al-Muqtadir
  • Shaghla, concubine from Sicily
  • Installed by the Buyid emir Mu'izz al-Dawla.
    • 26.974 – 991aṭ-Ṭāʾiʿ li-amri ʿllāhAbd al-Karīm
  • Al-Muti
  • Hazar, concubine
  • Deposed by the Buyid emir Baha' al-Dawla.
    • 27.1 November 991 – 29 November 1031al-Qādir bi-'llāhAḥmad
  • Ishaq bin Al-Muqtadir
  • Tumna, concubine
  • Installed by the Buyid emir Baha' al-Dawla.
  • Upholding of Sunni orthodoxy; publication of the Baghdad Manifesto.
    • 28.29 November 1031 – 2 April 1075al-Qāʾim bi-amri 'llāh
  • Al-Qadir
  • Badr al-Dija, Armenian concubine
  • End and disintegration of the Caliphate of Córdoba.
  • Takeover of Baghdad by the Seljuk Turks under Tughril, end of Buyid rule. Tughril is recognized as Sultan by al-Qa'im.
  • The Almoravids recognize the Abbasid Caliph's religious and nominal authority.
    • 29.2 April 1075 – February 1094al-Muqtadī bi-amri ’llāhAbū'l-Qāsim ʿAbd Allāh
  • Muhammad, son of al-Qa'im
  • Urjuwuan, Armenian concubine
    • 30.February 1094 – 6 August 1118al-Mustaẓhir bi-'llāhAbū l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad
  • Al-Muqtadi
  • Altın, Turkish concubine
  • First Crusade ; establishment of the Crusader states in the Levant.
    • 31.6 August 1118 – 29 August 1135al-Mustarshid bi-'llāhAbū'l-Manṣūr al-Faḍl
  • Al-Mustazhir
  • Lubaba, Turkish concubine
  • Foundation of the Almohad Caliphate in the Maghreb.
    • 32.29 August 1135 – 1136ar-Rāshid bi-'llāhAbu Jaʿfar al-Manṣūr
  • Al-Mustarshid
  • Umm al-Sada, Abyssinian concubine
  • Deposed by the Seljuk Sultan Ghiyath ad-Din Mas'ud.
    • 33.1136 – 12 March 1160al-Muqtafī li-ʾamri ’llāhAbū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad
  • Al-Mustazhir
  • Nasim, Abyssinian concubine
  • Siege of Baghdad by the Seljuks fails. Restoration of the Caliph's political independence.
    • 34.12 March 1160 – 20 December 1170al-Mustanjid bi-'llāhAbū'l-Muẓaffar Yūsuf
  • Al-Muqtafi
  • Thawus, Turkish or Abyssinian concubine
    • 35.20 December 1170 – 30 March 1180al-Mustaḍīʾ bi-amri ʾllāhal-Ḥasan
  • Al-Mustanjid
  • Ghadha, Armenian concubine
  • End of the Fatimid Caliphate, restoration of Sunni rule in Egypt under Saladin.
    • 36.2 March 1180 – 4 October 1225an-Nāṣir li-Dīni’llāhAbu'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad
  • Al-Mustadi
  • Zumurrud, Turkish concubine
  • Recovery of Jerusalem from the Crusaders.
    • 37.5 October 1225 – 11 July 1226aẓ-Ẓāhir bi-amri’llāhMuḥammad
  • An-Nasir
  • Asma
    • 38.11 July 1226 – 2 December 1242al-Mustanṣir bi-'llāhAbū Jaʿfar al-Manṣūr
  • Az-Zahir
  • Zahra, Turkish concubine
    • 39.2 December 1242 – 20 February 1258al-Mustaʿṣim bi-'llāhʿAbd Allāh
  • Al-Mustansir
  • Hajer, Abyssinian concubine
  • Last Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad; executed after the Mongol sack of Baghdad.

    • Mamluk Abbasid dynasty

    Caliphs of Cairo (13 June 1261 – 22 January 1517)

    In 1261, the Abbasid caliphate was re-established by a cadet branch of the dynasty at Cairo, under the auspices of the local Mamluk sultans but these caliphs were a purely religious and symbolic figure, while temporal power rested with the Mamluks. The revived Abbasid caliphate lasted until the Ottoman conquest of Egypt in 1517, after which the caliphal title passed to the Ottoman dynasty.
    The Cairo Abbasids were largely ceremonial caliphs under the patronage of the Mamluk Sultanate that existed after the takeover of the Ayyubid dynasty.
    No.ReignRegnal NamePersonal NameParentsNotes
    1.13 June 1261 – 28 November 1261al-Mustanṣir bi-llāhAbū'l-Qāsim Aḥmad
    • Az-Zahir
  • Installed as Caliph in Cairo, Egypt by the Mamluk Sultan Baybars in 1261. Title also claimed by al-Hakim I, installed as caliph by the ruler of Aleppo, Aqqush al-Burli
    • 2.16 November 1262 – 19 January 1302al-Ḥākim bi-Amri'llāh IAbū'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad
  • Abbasid descent disputed; installed as caliph by ruler of Aleppo, Aqqush al-Burli, in 1261, proclaimed as caliph by Baybars after al-Mustansir II died.
  • Fall of the Almohad Caliphate.
    • 3.20 January 1302 – February 1340al-Mustakfī bi-llāh IAbū ar-Rabīʾ Sulaymān
  • Al-Hakim I
    • 4.February 1340 – 17 June 1341al-Wāthiq bi-'llāh IAbū ʾIsḥāq ʾIbrāhīm
  • Muhammad, son of al-Hakim I
    • 5.1341 – 1352al-Ḥākim bi-Amri'llāh IIAbū'l-ʿAbbas ʾAḥmad
  • Al-Mustakfi I
    • 6.1352 – 1362al-Muʿtaḍid bi-'llāh IAbū al-Fatḥ Abū Bakr
  • Al-Mustakfi I
    • 7.1362 – 1377al-Mutawakkil ʿalā'llāh IAbū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad
  • Al-Mu'tadid I
  • First reign
    • 8.1377al-Mustaʿṣim bi-'llāhAbū Yaḥya Zakarīyāʾ
  • Al-Wathiq I
  • First reign
    • 9.1377 – 1383al-Mutawakkil ʿalā'llāh IAbū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad
  • Second reign
    • 10.September 1383 – 13 November 1386al-Wāthiq bi-'llāh IIAbū Ḥafṣ ʿUmar
  • Al-Wathiq I
    • 11.1386 – 1389al-Mustaʿṣim bi-'llāhAbū Yaḥya Zakarīyāʾ
  • Second reign
    • 12.1389 – 9 January 1406al-Mutawakkil ʿalā'llāh IAbū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad
  • Third reign
    • 13.22 January 1406 – 9 March 1414al-Mustaʿīn bi-'llāhAbū al-Faḍl al-ʿAbbas
  • Al-Mutawakkil I
  • Bay Khatun, Turkish concubine
  • Became Sultan of Egypt from 7 May – 6 November 1412, as a titular figurehead for Shaykh al-Mahmudi.
    • 14.1414 – 1441al-Muʿtaḍid bi-'llāh IIAbū al-Fatḥ Dāwud
  • Al-Mutawakkil I
  • Kazal, Turkish concubine
    • 15.1441 – 29 January 1451al-Mustakfī bi-llāh IIAbū al-Rabīʿ Sulaymān
  • Al-Mutawakkil I
  • Bay Khatun
    • 16.1451 – 1455al-Qāʾim bi-ʾamr AllāhAbū al-Baqāʾ Ḥamza
  • Al-Mutawakkil I
  • Bay Khatun
    • 17.1455 – 7 April 1479al-Mustanjid bi-'llāhAbū al-Maḥāsin Yūsuf
  • Al-Mutawakkil I
  • Bay Khatun
    • 18.5 April 1479 – 27 September 1497al-Mutawakkil ʿalā'llāh IIAbū al-ʿIzz ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz
  • Ya'qub bin Al-Mutawakkil I
  • Haj al-Malik
    • 19.1497 – 1508al-Mustamsik bi-'llāhAbū al-Ṣabr Yaqūb
  • Al-Mutawakkil II
  • First reign
    • 20.1508 – 1516al-Mutawakkil ʿalā'llāh IIIMuḥammad
  • First reign
    • 21.1516 – 1517al-Mustamsik bi-'llāhAbū al-Ṣabr Yaqūb
  • Second reign
    • 22.1517al-Mutawakkil ʿalā'llāh IIIMuḥammad
  • Second reign
  • He formally surrendered the title of caliph as well as its outward emblems—the sword and mantle of Muhammad—to Ottoman Sultan Selim I in 1517, making him the last caliph from Abbasid dynasty and the Banu Quraysh.

    • Genealogy