and the Turks plundered the Daylamites’ houses. Subuktakin thereupon bestowed robes of honour upon the leaders of the populace, for they had stood with him against the Daylamites. Thus Sunnism gained the upper hand over Shiʿism, al-Karkh was burnt a second time (1), and the Sunnis triumphed at the hands of the Turks. Al-Muṭīʿ was deposed and his son al-Ṭāʾiʿ li-llāh appointed in his place, as we shall relate, God willing (may He be Glorified and Exalted).

The caliphate of al-Ṭāʾiʿ and the deposition of his father al-Muṭīʿ li-llāh

Ibn al-Athir records that on the thirteenth of Dhu al-Qaʿdah (2)—while Ibn al-Jawzi, in his al-Muntaẓam, dates the event to Tuesday the nineteenth of Dhu al-Qaʿdah (3) of that same year—al-Muṭīʿ li-llāh was deposed. A stroke had afflicted him, rendering his speech heavy, so Subuktakin asked him to abdicate and appoint (4) his son al-Ṭāʾiʿ to succeed him. He agreed (5), and the pledge of allegiance to al-Ṭāʾiʿ was concluded in the caliphal palace at the hand of the chamberlain Subuktakin. Thus al-Muṭīʿ was removed after twenty-nine years on the throne, yet he was compensated (6) by seeing the caliphate pass to his own son.

Al-Ṭāʾiʿ’s personal name was Abū Bakr ʿAbd al-Karīm (7) ibn al-Muṭīʿ li-llāh Abū al-Qāsim al-Faḍl ibn al-Muqtadir bi-llāh Jaʿfar ibn al-Muʿtaḍid Abū al-ʿAbbās Aḥmad ibn the prince Abū Aḥmad al-Muwaffaq al-Mutawakkil ibn al-Muʿtaṣim ibn Hārūn al-Rashīd. No other person named ʿAbd al-Karīm ever attained the caliphate, nor had anyone before him become caliph while his father was still alive (8), apart from Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq (9). Among the Abbasids, no one older than he had assumed the office: he was forty-eight years old on the day of his investiture. His mother, a concubine named ʿUtbah, was likewise alive at his accession.

When the pledge was sealed, al-Ṭāʾiʿ rode out wearing the Prophet’s mantle (burdah), with Subuktakin and the army marching before him. The next day he granted Subuktakin the royal robes of honour, conferred on him the title Nāṣir al-Dawlah, and entrusted to him the banner of command. When the Feast of Sacrifice arrived, al-Ṭāʾiʿ appeared clad in black and, after leading the prayer, delivered a concise and graceful sermon.

Ibn al-Jawzi relates in al-Muntaẓam (10) that after his deposition al-Muṭīʿ li-llāh was called “the virtuous elder.” Allah knows best.