—and a staunch Jahmite.

Al-Ḥārith ibn Miskīn was then appointed chief judge. From time to time he would flog him with twenty lashes so that he might discharge what he owed—indeed, to Allah we belong.

Al-Mutawakkil became enraged with Aḥmad ibn Abī Duʿād, confiscated his wealth, imprisoned his associates, and forced him to pay sixteen million dirhams (1); he and his household were reduced to poverty.

He installed Yaḥyā ibn Aktham as chief judge and released the remaining prisoners who had refused to declare the Quran created. The bones of the martyr Aḥmad ibn Naṣr were taken down, his relatives buried them, and the “Bride’s Palace” was built in Sāmarrāʾ at a cost of thirty million dirhams.

Al-Mutawakkil requested Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal to come to him. The Imam travelled to Sāmarrāʾ but did not meet the caliph; he asked to be excused and was excused. He did, however, visit the caliph’s son al-Muʿtazz and prayed for him.

In the year 238 AH: the governor of Tiflis rebelled, so Bughā marched against the city, killed its governor, burned it, perpetrated outrages, and captured several fortresses (2).

The Byzantines arrived with three hundred ships, surprised Damietta, carried off six hundred women as captives, set the place aflame, and withdrew in haste; al-Mutawakkil afterwards fortified it (3).

In the year 239 AH: Yaḥyā ibn ʿAlī the Armenian campaigned against Byzantine territory until he drew near to