Abdallah ibn al-Mu'tazz

Lore & Background

Born in Samarra as a prince and great-great-grandson of Harun al-Rashid, Ibn al-Mu'tazz had a tragic childhood. His grandfather, Caliph al-Mutawakkil, was assassinated when he was six weeks old, ushering in the nine-year Anarchy at Samarra. His father, Caliph al-Mu'tazz, was murdered in 869, and the boy fled to Mecca with his grandmother Qabiha to escape a palace purge. After returning to Baghdad, he distanced himself from politics and lived a hedonistic life as a young prince, writing poetry devoted to the pleasures he knew well.

Despite his reluctance, Ibn al-Mu'tazz was persuaded by the opposition to assume the caliphate. He fled and hid with a friend, but was found on 29 December and strangled, bringing al-Muqtadir to the throne. The work, whose title means 'the book of the new style,' aimed to show that the style of 'modern' poets was not truly new, as its features were anticipated in the Quran, traditions of Muhammad and his companions, and old poetry. Charles Greville Tuety described him as a spontaneous poet, akin to Abu Nuwās, noted for newness of approach and bold, sensuous imagery.

Reader's Guide

Abdallah ibn al-Mu'tazz holds significance primarily as a poet and literary theorist rather than as a caliph. His Kitab al-Badi is a foundational text in Arabic literary criticism, systematically analyzing poetic devices and arguing for continuity between older and newer poetic styles. This work influenced subsequent Arabic scholarship on poetry. As a poet, he is noted for his spontaneous, hedonistic themes and innovative imagery, placing him among the 'modern' poets he studied.

His brief, one-day caliphate illustrates the political instability of the Abbasid court, where palace intrigues and the influence of viziers often determined succession. His life—marked by early tragedy, withdrawal from politics, and a violent end—reflects the dangers faced by Abbasid princes. The two main editions of his diwan, by Muhammad Badī‘ Šarīf and Yūnus Ahmad as-Sāmarrā’ī, preserve his poetic legacy, with the latter considered more reliable.

Did You Know?

• He was caliph for only a single day and night before being overthrown and strangled.
• He wrote the Kitab al-Badi at age 27, one of the earliest works of Arabic literary theory.