Hamdawayh ibn Ali ibn Isa ibn Mahan

Career

Hamdawayh was the son of Ali ibn Isa ibn Mahan, a former leader of the abna' and long-serving governor of Khurasan under Harun al-Rashid. He first appears in 815 as an officer serving forces loyal to al-Hasan ibn Sahl in southern Iraq, during the aftermath of the civil war between al-Amin and al-Ma'mun. After the death of the pro-Alid rebel Abu al-Saraya al-Sirri in late 815, al-Hasan appointed Hamdawayh governor of the Yemen, then held by the Alid Ibrahim ibn Musa al-Jazzar, with orders to recover the province for al-Ma'mun.

Hamdawayh traveled to Mecca alongside the caliph's brother Abu Ishaq, who oversaw the pilgrimage of 816, then advanced into Yemen and defeated Ibrahim's forces, forcing him to flee. Hamdawayh took control of Sana'a and the Yemeni highlands. In 817, al-Ma'mun designated Ibrahim's brother Ali ibn Musa al-Rida as his successor, leading the central government to reconcile with Ibrahim and invest him with the governorship of Yemen. Hamdawayh and many Yemenis refused to recognize this appointment.

When Ibrahim marched toward Sana'a in 818, Hamdawayh met him in battle, defeated the Alid, and killed many of his men. Ibrahim retreated to Mecca, and Hamdawayh retained command of the province as a rebel. His rule lasted until 820, when al-Ma'mun appointed Isa ibn Yazid al-Juludi as governor. Isa advanced south, routed Hamdawayh's forces, and pursued him into Sana'a, where he found and captured the rebel. Hamdawayh was placed under arrest and dispatched to al-Ma'mun in Baghdad.