List of Fatimid caliphs

Imam-Caliphs of the Fatimid Caliphate
Details
First monarchal-Mahdi
Last monarchal-Adid
Formation909
Abolition1171
ResidenceRaqqada (909–921)
Mahdia (921–948)
Mansuriyah (948–973)
Cairo (973–1171)

The Fatimid caliphs were the holders of the Islamic title of caliph who were members of the Fatimid dynasty, claiming descent from Fatima, daughter of prophet Muhammad, and Ali, the fourth Rashidun caliph and cousin of Muhammad. Alongside the title of caliph, they were also regarded as the imams of the Isma'ili branch of Shi'a Islam.

Fatimid Caliphs

The Fatimids came to power after their Isma'ili supporters conquered the Aghlabid emirate of Ifriqiya in 909. Adhering to the Isma'ili branch of Shi'a Islam, they were rivals to the Sunni Abbasid caliphs seated in Baghdad. From their seat in Ifriqiya, the Fatimids lead the conquest of Egypt, Levant and Hejaz. After the rise of Seljuks and arrival of European crusaders, the dynasty fell in a decline, and was formally ended by the vizier Saladin, who switched Egypt's allegiance to the Abbasid caliphs in 1171, giving rise to the Ayyubid sultanate.

No. Coin Name Reign Parents Life details
1
al-Mahdi
أبو محمد عبد الله بن الحسين المهدي بالله
Abū Muḥammad ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Ḥusayn al-Mahdī bi'llāh		 27 August 909
–
4 March 934
(~24 years)		 31 July 874 – 4 March 934
(aged 60)
2
al-Qa'im
أبو القاسم محمد بن عبد الله القائم بأمر الله
Abū'l-Qāsim Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh al-Qāʾim bi-Amr Allāh		 4 March 934
–
17 May 946
(~12 years)		 March/April 893 – 17 May 946
(aged 53)
  • Son and heir apparent of al-Mahdi.
  • Anti-Fatimid revolt in Sicily (937)
  • Kharijite rebellion of Abu Yazid (944)
  • Died during the siege of Mahdiya by rebels.
3
al-Mansur
أبو طاهر إسماعيل بن محمد المنصور بنصر الله
Abū Ṭāhir Ismāʿīl ibn Muḥammad al-Manṣūr bi-Naṣr Allāh		 17 May 946
–
18 March 953
(~7 years)		 January 914 – 18 March 953
(aged 39)
  • Reportedly heir apparent of al-Qa'im.
  • Subjugation of Abu Yazid's rebellion (947).
  • Kalbids appointed viceroys of Sicily (948).
  • Mansuriya founded as new capital (948).
4
al-Mu'izz
أبو تميم معد بن إسماعيل المعز لدين الله
Abū Tamīm Maʿadd ibn Ismāʿīl al-Muʿizz li-Dīn Allāh		 19 March 953
–
18 December 975
(~22 years)		 26 September 931 – 18 December 975
(aged 44)
5
al-Aziz
أبو منصور نزار بن معد العزيز بالله
Abū Manṣūr Nizār ibn Maʿadd al-ʿAzīz bi'llāh		 18 December 975
–
13 October 996
(~21 years)		 10 May 955 – 13 October 996
(aged 41)
  • Named heir by al-Mu'izz.
  • Fatimid conquest of most of Syria.
  • Conflict with Byzantines over Aleppo.
  • Fatimid authority recognized in Yemen (992).
6
al-Hakim
أبو علي منصور بن نزار الحاكم بأمر الله
Abū ʿAlī Manṣūr ibn Nizār al-Ḥākim bi-Amr Allāh		 14 October 996
–
13 February 1021
(~25 years)		 13 August 985 – 13 February 1021
(aged 36)
7
al-Zahir
أبو الحسن علي بن منصور الظاهر لإعزاز دين الله
Abū'l-Ḥasan ʿAlī ibn Manṣūr al-Ẕāhir li-Iʿzāz Dīn Allāh		 13 February 1021
–
13 June 1036
(~15 years)		 20 June 1005 – 13 June 1036
(aged 31)
8 al-Mustansir
أبو تميم معد بن علي المستنصر بالله
Abū Tamīm Maʿadd ibn ʿAlī al-Mustanṣir bi'llāh		 13 June 1036
–
29 December 1094
(~59 years)		 2 July 1029 – 29 December 1094
(aged 65)
  • Zirid allegiance to Abbasids (1048); collapse of Kalbid rule (1053); loss of authority in Ifriqiya and Sicily.
  • Civil war between Turkic and Berber troops (1066).
  • Massive seven-year famine (1064-1071)
  • De facto rule by viziers.
  • Longest-reigning caliph, Fatimid or otherwise.
9
al-Musta'li
أبو القاسم أحمد بن معد المستعلي بالله
Abū'l-Qāsim Aḥmad ibn Maʿadd al-Mustaʿlī bi'llāh		 29 December 1094
–
12 December 1101
(~6 years)		 16 September 1074 – 12 December 1101
(aged 27)
10
al-Amir
أبو علي منصور بن أحمد الآمر بأحكام الله
Abū ʿAlī Manṣūr ibn Aḥmad al-Āmir bi-Aḥkām Allāh		 1101
–
8 October 1130
(~29 years)		 31 December 1096 – 8 October 1130
(aged 34)
  • Installed by al-Afdal, whom he possibly had assassinated later (1121)
  • Killed by Nizari Isma'ili Assassins.
Interregnum & Civil War
(1130-1132)
11
al-Hafiz
أبو الميمون عبد المجيد بن محمد الحافظ لدين الله
Abū'l-Maymūn ʿAbd al-Majīd ibn Muḥammad al-Ḥāfiẕ li-Dīn Allāh		 23 January 1132
–
8 October 1149
(~17 years)		 1074/5 – 8 October 1149
(aged 75)
  • Cousin of al-Amir; claimed caliphate after Kutayfat's demise; Musta'li Isma'ilis split into Hafizi and Tayyibi branches.
12 al-Zafir
أبو منصور إسماعيل بن عبد المجيد الظافر بأمر الله
Abū Manṣūr Ismāʿīl ibn ʿAbd al-Majīd al-Ẕāfir bi-Amr Allāh		 1149
–
March 1154
(~5 years)		 February 1133 – March 1154
(aged 21)
13 al-Fa'iz
أبو القاسم عيسى بن إسماعيل الفائز بنصر الله
Abū'l-Qāsim ʿĪsā ibn Ismāʿīl al-Fāʾiz bi-Naṣr Allāh		 1154
–
23 July 1160
(~6 years)		 1149 – 23 July 1160
(aged 11)
14 al-Adid
أبو محمد عبد الله بن يوسف العاضد لدين الله
Abū Muḥammad ʿAbd Allāh ibn Yūsuf al-ʿĀḍid li-Dīn Allāh		 1160
–
13 September 1171
(~11 years)		 16 May 1151 – 13 September 1171
(aged 20)
  • Cousin of al-Fa'iz; installed by Ibn Ruzzik.
  • Rise of Saladin as vizier; proclamation of Abbasid suzerainty (1171).
  • End of the Fatimid caliphate; Ayyubid rule begins.

Genealogy

Family tree of the Fatimid dynasty
Abu Muhammad Abdallah
al-Mahdi bi'llah
(r. 909–934)
Abu'l-Qasim Muhammad
al-Qa'im bi-Amr Allah
(r. 934–946)		Abu Ali AhmadOther children
al-Qasim§Abu Tahir Isma'il
al-Mansur bi'llah
(r. 946–953)		Other children
Abu Tamim Ma'ad
al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah
(r. 953–975)		Abd al-Rahim§
TamimAbdallah§Abu Mansur Nizar
al-Aziz bi'llah
(r. 975–996)		Other children
AminaAbu Ali Mansur
al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah
(r. 996–1021)		Sitt al-MulkOther children
Abu'l-Hasan Ali
al-Zahir li-I'zaz Din Allah
(r. 1021–1036)
Abu Tamim Ma'ad
al-Mustansir bi'llah
(r. 1036–1094)
Abu Mansur Nizar§
(elder son)		Abu AbdallahAbdallahIsma'ilAbu'l-Qasim MuhammadOther childrenAbu'l-Qasim Ahmad
al-Musta'li bi'llah
(r. 1094–1101)
al-HusaynNizari imams
(claimed descent)		Abu'l-Maymun Abd al-Majid
al-Hafiz li-Din Allah
(r. 1132–1149)		Abu Ali Mansur
al-Amir bi-Ahkam Allah
(r. 1101–1130)		Ja'farOther children
Sulayman§Haydara§Hasan§Abu Mansur Isma'il
al-Zafir bi-Amr Allah
(r. 1149–1154)		YusufOther childrenAbu'l-Qasim al-Tayyib§
Abu'l-Qasim Isa
al-Fa'iz bi-Nasr Allah
(r. 1154–1160)		Abu Muhammad Abdallah
al-Adid li-Din Allah
(r. 1160–1171)		Tayyibi hidden imams
(claimed descent)
Dawud
Sulayman
§ denotes designated heirs who did not accede to the throne
   denotes ruling Fatimid caliphs (with regnal names in bold and regnal dates)

Timeline

al-Adid li-Din Allahal-Fa'iz bi-Nasr Allahal-Zafir bi-Amr Allahal-Hafiz li-Din Allahal-Amir bi-Ahkam Allahal-Musta'lial-Mustansir Billahal-Zahir li-I'zaz Din Allahal-Hakim bi-Amr Allahal-Aziz Billahal-Mu'izz li-Din Allahal-Mansur bi-Nasr Allahal-Qa'im bi-Amr Allahal-Mahdi Billah

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ While the year 1035 is cited by some historians as the year in which he ascended the throne, the year 1036 is cited more frequently, particularly by Muslim scholars.
  2. 1 2 His death date, when converted to the Western calendar, is sometimes given as 6 January 1095, but 29 December is the date commonly used.
  3. ↑ al-Amir was only survived by the infant al-Tayyib. Abd al-Majid, the oldest surviving grandson of al-Mustansir, took over as regent. The army rebelled and installed Kutayfat as vizier, who tried to abolish the dynasty, but was killed by Fatimid loyalists.

References

  1. ↑ Halm 1991, pp. 125–132.
  2. 1 2 3 Halm 1991, p. 246.
  3. ↑ Daftary 2007, pp. 101, 118–119.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Halm 1991, p. 63.
  5. ↑ Halm 1991, pp. 61–62.
  6. ↑ Halm 1991, pp. 145–147.
  7. ↑ Daftary 2007, p. 128.
  8. ↑ "Mahdia: Historical Background". Commune-mahdia.gov.tn. Archived from the original on 2013-11-09. Retrieved 2012-07-15.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Halm 1991, pp. 276–277.
  10. ↑ Halm 1991, p. 160.
  11. ↑ Halm 1991, p. 254.
  12. ↑ Halm 1991, p. 267.
  13. 1 2 Halm 1991, p. 299.
  14. ↑ Dachraoui 1991, p. 434.
  15. 1 2 Halm 2015, p. 99.
  16. ↑ Halm 1991, pp. 285–286.
  17. ↑ Metcalfe 2009, pp. xv, 53, 70.
  18. ↑ Kupferschmidt 1987, p. 436.
  19. 1 2 3 Halm 1991, pp. 299, 301.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 Canard 1960, p. 823.
  21. ↑ Walker 1998, p. 137.
  22. ↑ Halm 1991, p. 371.
  23. ↑ Abun-Nasr 1987, p. 67.
  24. ↑ Daftary 2007, pp. 172–173.
  25. ↑ Brett 2001, pp. 311–312.
  26. ↑ Canard, Marius (1960). "al-ʿAzīz Biʾllāh". In Gibb, H. A. R.; Kramers, J. H.; Lévi-Provençal, E.; Schacht, J.; Lewis, B. & Pellat, Ch. (eds.). The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Volume I: A–B. Leiden: E. J. Brill. pp. 823–825. doi:10.1163/1573-3912_islam_SIM_0953. OCLC 495469456.
  27. ↑ Kennedy 2004, p. 326.
  28. 1 2 3 Corduan, Winfried (2013). Neighboring Faiths: A Christian Introduction to World Religions. InterVarsity Press. ISBN 978-0-8308-7197-1.
  29. ↑ Delia Cortese and Simonetta Calderini (2006). Women and the Fatimids in the World of Islam. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 0-7486-1733-7.
  30. ↑ Jerome Murphy-O'Connor (23 February 2012). Keys to Jerusalem: Collected Essays. OUP Oxford. pp. 245–. ISBN 978-0-19-964202-1.
  31. ↑ Daftary 2007, p. 185.
  32. ↑ Willi Frischauer (1970). The Aga Khans. Bodley Head. p. ?. (Which page?)
  33. 1 2 3 4 Bianquis 2002, p. 391.
  34. ↑ Halm 2015, p. 100.
  35. ↑ Hitti, Philip K. (2002). History of the Arabs: From the Earliest Times to the Present (10th revised ed.). Macmillan Education UK. ISBN 0333631420.
  36. ↑ O'Leary, De Lacy (1923). A Short History of the Fatimid Khalifate. Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co. p. 193.
  37. 1 2 "Müsta'lî-Billâh el-Fâtımî". TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi (in Turkish).
  38. 1 2 3 "Mustansir Billah I (427–487/1036–1095), 18th Imam". ismaili.net. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  39. ↑ Cohen, Mark R. (2014). Jewish Self-Government in Medieval Egypt. Princeton University Press. p. 218. ISBN 9781400853588.
  40. ↑ Sayyid, Ayman Fu'ad (2002). The Fatimids and Their Successors in Yaman. I.B. Tauris. p. 5. ISBN 9781860646904.
  41. ↑ Hodgson, Natasha R. (2019). Crusading and Masculinities. Routledge. p. 72. ISBN 9781351680141.
  42. ↑ Holt, P. M.; Daly, M. W. (2014). A History of the Sudan: From the Coming of Islam to the Present Day. Taylor & Francis Group. p. 16.
  43. ↑ Holt, P. M.; Daly, M. W. (2014). A History of the Sudan: From the Coming of Islam to the Present Day. Taylor & Francis Group. p. 16.
  44. ↑ Lewis, Bernard (1990). Race and Slavery in the Middle East. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-505326-5. OL 7386556M.
  45. ↑ Davis, Lee Allyn (2010). Natural Disasters. Infobase Publishing. pp. 120–121. ISBN 9781438118789.
  46. ↑ "MÜSTA'LÎ-BİLLÂH el-FÂTIMÎ - TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi". TDV İslam Ansiklopedisi (in Turkish).