Full Name: Abu Ja’far al-Mansur ibn al-Mustarshid
Title: Ar-Rashid Billah (الرشيد بالله) – “He who is rightly guided by God”
Reign: 1135–1136 CE
Dynasty: Abbasid
Father: Al-Mustarshid
Predecessor: Al-Mustarshid
Successor: Al-Muqtafi
Capital: Baghdad
🪑 Accession and Political Climate
- Ar-Rashid became caliph in 1135 CE, following the assassination of his father, Al-Mustarshid, who was murdered under mysterious circumstances after attempting to challenge Seljuk authority.
- His accession came during a time of instability and rising tension between the Abbasid caliphs and Seljuk sultans.
- Ar-Rashid inherited both the ambition and the conflict of his father, aiming to continue efforts to reclaim political authority from the Seljuks.
⚔️ Rebellion Against Seljuk Control
- Like his father, Ar-Rashid refused to accept the subordinate role of the caliph and soon rebelled against Sultan Ghiyath ad-Din Mas’ud, the ruling Seljuk sultan.
- He allied himself with local opponents of the Seljuks, including Zengi, the powerful atabeg (governor) of Mosul, who also sought to weaken Seljuk influence.
- Ar-Rashid’s forces and those of his allies clashed with the Seljuk army in and around Baghdad.
🏹 Siege of Baghdad
- In 1136, Sultan Mas’ud led an army to retake Baghdad and suppress Ar-Rashid’s rebellion.
- After a fierce battle and a siege, the city was taken, and Ar-Rashid was deposed by the Seljuks.
- His brief reign had lasted just about one year.
⚰️ Exile and Death
- After being deposed, Ar-Rashid fled to Isfahan in Persia.
- Soon afterward, he was assassinated by members of the Nizari Ismaili sect—commonly known as the Assassins—in 1138 CE.
- Like his father, he fell victim to the era’s deadly political intrigues, though the exact motives and instigators behind his assassination remain debated.
🧾 Legacy
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| ⚔️ Continued Resistance | Followed in his father’s footsteps in trying to free the caliphate from Seljuk control. |
| 🏛️ Brief Reign | Ruled for only about one year before being overthrown. |
| 🗡️ Assassinated | Murdered in exile by the Assassins, likely due to political rivalries. |
| 🔥 Rebellion Suppressed | His defeat marked a temporary end to Abbasid military resistance against the Seljuks. |
📜 In Summary:
Ar-Rashid (1135–1136 CE) was a courageous but short-lived caliph who tried to revive Abbasid independence like his father, Al-Mustarshid.
Though his reign ended in defeat and assassination, his actions reflected the Abbasids’ growing desire to reclaim political power, which would eventually bear fruit in later generations.
