Accession of Mahdi — His magnificent reign — His humanity — The Zindiks — War with the Romans — Irene agrees to pay tribute — Mahdi's death — Accession of Hadi — The separation of Mauritania — Hadi's death.
Mansur was succeeded by his son Mohammed, surnamed Mahdi, who was descended on his mother's side from the old Himyarite kings of Yemen. Mahdi's policy was totally different from that of his father. Naturally humane and generous, immediately on his accession to the throne he endeavoured to remedy the harshness and to rigour of his father's rule. He inaugurated his reign by setting at liberty all persons, save the worst felons who were awaiting execution for murder, or were undergoing imprisonment for dangerous crimes. He released from prison Hassan the son of Ibrahim, and conferred on him a substantial allowance. He restored to the Holy Cities their ancient privileges, that had been withdrawn by his father, and allowed them again to receive their supplies from Egypt. He also gave back to the descendants of the Prophet the properties confiscated by Mansur. Heavy fines had, from time to time, been imposed by Mansur upon dismissed servants of government on charges of extortion and defalcation. These were kept in a separate treasury, called the Bait-ul-Mal‘il Mazalim labelled with the names of those from whom the fines had been exacted. Mahdi restored these monies, even to the representatives of those that were dead.
In his campaign against the Romans, he passed by the mansion of the celebrated Maslamah. Remembering the dead warrior's kindness to his grandfather Mohammed, he sent for the descendants and retainers of Maslamah, and bestowed on them a gratuity of 20,000 dinars, besides valuable fiefs. In the course of his pilgrimage to Mecca in the year 160 a.h., which was conducted on an unprecedented scale of pomp and magnificence, he distributed nearly 30,000,000 dirhems in charity among the people of Hijaz, and gave away 150,000 garments in Mecca alone. The Mosque of the Prophet was rebuilt and beautified under his orders; the existing schools and mosques were enlarged in all the principal cities, and new ones built where none existed. With greater sagacity than his father, Mahdi selected 500 men from among the Ansar of Medina to form his bodyguard.
He fixed pensions for lepers and poor people imprisoned for debt. In Saffah's time rest-houses had been built on the road to Mecca only between Kadessia and Zubala (a distance of about 300 miles). The road was now metalled and widened throughout under Mahdi's orders; large and commodious houses, with wells and reservoirs, were built along the entire route to the Holy Cities, and guards were placed for the protection of pilgrims and travellers.
A son of Merwan II. attempted a rising in Syria, but was defeated and taken prisoner. Mahdi kept him in durance for a while, then set him at liberty with a substantial pension. Merwan's widow, Mazuna, had apartments allotted to her by Khaizuran, Mahdi's queen, in the palace, where she was treated with consideration and kindness by all the members of the imperial family. Khaizuran is said to have had great influence over her husband. Her audience-hall, in consequence, was crowded with courtiers and grandees and seekers for office or patronage. The unlucky Isa, Saffah's nephew, was induced definitely to resign his right to the succession, and Mahdi nominated his two sons by Khaizuran, Musa and Harun, his successors to the pontifical throne one after the other; and the oath of fealty was duly taken to them as his heirs.
The impostor Hashim bin Hakim, who figures in Moore's Lalla Rookh as "the veiled Prophet of Khorasan," appeared in the reign of Mahdi. Khorasan has always been prolific in sects, and was in a peculiarly agitated condition at this period. Hashim was a small, repulsive-looking man, and in order to hide his ugliness always wore a golden mask. He thus acquired the name of Mokajuia, or the veiled. He taught his followers that the Deity had from time to time incarnated Himself in order to appear among mankind; that Adam, Noah, Abu Muslim, and himself were God incarnate ; and that religion consisted in faith and not in work. His other doctrines were wildly revolutionary and immoral. He obtained a large following and for a while successfully defied the imperial forces, but was finally, overpowered and killed in Kish.
Mokanna's followers, like the Christian Taborites, dressed themselves in white, and were therefore called Mubaizze, "the white-clothed." Soon a new sect appeared in Jurjan, to the east of the Caspian, called the Muhammire, "the red-clothed," with similar fantastical and immoral doctrines, and caused trouble. They were repressed without much difficulty. The old nihilistic communism of Mazdak, mixed with Manichaean doctrines, appears to have gained ground amongst a considerable number of people. Mazdak lived in the time of Kesra Anuishirwan (the great Chosroes), in the fourth century of the Christian era; he preached a wild and utterly lawless communism. His sect had been stamped out with fire and sword by the Persian king; but the snake had been scotched, not killed. Manes, or Mani, who flourished later, was a philosopher. In the reign of Mahdi, the nihilism of Mazdak, more or less mixed with the philosophy of Manes, began to spread in Khorasan, and to find its way into parts of Western Persia and Irak. It loosened the bonds of society, weakened the reins of authority, and afforded unlimited licence to the passions of man. The followers of this sect were called Zanadik, and one of the complaints against them was that they stole children from the public streets. Whether this was true or not, there is no doubt that the Zindik undermined social conventions and religious beliefs by a pretence of obedience explained by glosses. Mahdi showed no mercy to these nihilists; they were hunted without pity, and placed under a ban as the enemies of morality, order, and authority.
The Byzantines raided into the Moslem territories in 163 A.H., and ravaged the frontier province far and wide. They took Maraash (Germanicia), and reduced it to ashes, putting the people to the sword. On the approach of Hassan bin Kahtaba they retreated, and he avenged himself by destroying some of the Roman towns. A fresh inroad called Mahdi himself into the field. Leaving Musa his son as regent at Bagdad, he marched by Mosul towards the seat of war. Aleppo was made the head-quarters of the imperial army, and Harun was sent forward with generals like Isa bin Musa, Abdul Malik bin Saleh, and Hassan bin Kahtaba against the Romans. Yahya bin Khalid was the adjutant-general of the army, Samalion and other places either capitulated or were taken by storm. Mahdi then proceeded on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Harun was appointed viceroy of the west, including Armenia and Azarbijan. Sabit bin Musa was made his financial secretary, while Yahya bin Khalid held the portfolio.
But Byzantine restlessness allowed no peace. A Roman army, under a general whose name is given as Megathakomes, again burst into Saracenic territory and spread havoc all around. Harun hurried to repel the invaders. The Romans were routed with slaughter, and the Saracenic army marched towards Constantinople. Irene, the widow of Leo IV., who held the government of Byzantium in the name of her son Constantine VI., and whose ambition had provoked this new war, now saw the camp-fires of the Saracens lighting up the shores of the Bosphorus. After another heavy defeat Irene sued for peace, which was granted upon her agreeing to pay an immense annual tribute, besides furnishing guides and provisions for the victorious army on its return march.
In 168 A.H. an insurrection broke out among the nomades who wandered in the desert. They plundered the caravans, "gave up prayers," and subjected the pilgrims to contemptuous treatment. The insurrection was quelled, but the culprits seem to have been treated with great leniency.
The following year Mahdi undertook a journey towards the east, but died on the way, at a place called Masandan, where he had halted to enjoy some hunting, to which he was passionately devoted. He was after a stag which was pursued by the hounds; his horse rushing furiously along carried him against the gate of a ruined palace, and the concussion broke his spine. He died the same day.
Mahdi was forty-three years of age when he died, and had ruled ten years. He was a tall, fair, well-built man, with an amiable look.
In the beginning Abii Obaidullah acted as Mahdi's vizier. Afterwards he appointed Yakub bin Daud as his prime minister. It was under Yakub's advice that most of the great and munificent works in this reign were undertaken and carried out. Towards the end the Caliph's mind was poisoned against the minister, and, suspecting him of conspiring with the Alides, he confined him in the political prison called the Matbak, where Yakilb remained for several years, until released by Harun.
Harun was present at his father's death, and in accordance with the deceased monarch's covenant he immediately proclaimed Musa al-Hddi as the Caliph, and was the first to take the oath of fealty to him. He also despatched to Hadi the imperial signet and the Prophet's staff and mantle.
Hadi was twenty-four years of age when he ascended the throne, and ruled less than two years. He is described as headstrong, obstinate, and hard-hearted, but brave, energetic, and generous, and devoted to literature.
Hadi did not appreciate his brother's loyalty, and during his short reign strove hard to alter the succession in favour of his son Jaafar. With this object he threw into prison Yahya bin Khalid Barmeki, Harun's principal adviser, and several other of his brother's servants whom he considered opposed to his design. There was also a breach between Hadi and his mother, Khaizuran. This lady wanted to exercise the same influence over affairs of state in her son's reign as she did in her husband's time. Hadi resented her interference, and threatened the courtiers and nobles who frequented her receptions with his displeasure. There were thus two parties at court— one ranged on the side of the young Caliph and his son, the other on that of Harun and the queen-mother. Harun tried by every possible means to conciliate his self-willed brother; and at last, acting under Yahya's advice, left the court for his own personal safety.
The governor of Medina ill-treated some members of the Banu Hassan on a false charge of drunkenness. This led to a rising headed by Hussain, a great-grandson of Hassan I., in which several members of this and other families were killed or put to death. A cousin of Hussain, Idris, escaped to Mauritania, where he obtained the adhesion of the Berbers, and with their assistance founded the celebrated Idriside dynasty. Maghrib al-Aksa was henceforth separated from the Abbasside Empire.
Whilst sojourning at Isabad, a day's journey from Bagdad, Hadi succumbed to an incurable disease. Finding his end near, he sent for his mother. The meeting was sorrowful and touching. He told her that he had sometimes considered it his duty to take measures which were distasteful to her, but that he had never been an ungrateful son, and had always cherished her love and reverenced her. He then took her hand and placed it on his heart. He also directed that Harun was to succeed him. He died on the 15th Rabi I.
He was tall, like his father, and ruddy. He left seven sons and two daughters. One of the latter, named Umm-Isa, afterwards married Mamun, the son of Harun.
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