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Qirwash ibn al-Muqallad (), also known by the
honorific An honorific is a title that conveys esteem, courtesy, or respect for position or rank when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term "honorific" is used in a more specific sense to refer to an Honorary title (academic), h ...
Muʿtamid al-Dawla (), was the third
Uqaylid The Uqaylid dynasty () was a Shia Arab dynasty with several lines that ruled in various parts of Al-Jazira, northern Syria and Iraq in the late tenth and eleventh centuries. The main line, centered in Mosul, ruled from 990 to 1096. History Ris ...
emir of Mosul This is a list of the rulers of the Iraqi city of Mosul. Umayyad governors * Muhammad ibn Marwan (ca. 685–705) * Yusuf ibn Yahya ibn al-Hakam (ca. 685–705) * Sa'id ibn Abd al-Malik (ca. 685–705) * Yahya ibn Yahya al-Ghassani (719–720) ...
, and ruler of other towns in
Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...
, from 1001 to 1050. An ambitious ruler, like the other petty rulers of the region he was engaged in a constant struggle of shifting alliances and enmities to keep and extend his domains. This involved his nominal overlords the
Buyid The Buyid dynasty or Buyid Empire was a Zaydi and later Twelver Shi'a dynasty of Daylamite origin. Founded by Imad al-Dawla, they mainly ruled over central and southern Iran and Iraq from 934 to 1062. Coupled with the rise of other Iranian dyna ...
emirs of
Baghdad Baghdad ( or ; , ) is the capital and List of largest cities of Iraq, largest city of Iraq, located along the Tigris in the central part of the country. With a population exceeding 7 million, it ranks among the List of largest cities in the A ...
, other
Bedouin The Bedouin, Beduin, or Bedu ( ; , singular ) are pastorally nomadic Arab tribes who have historically inhabited the desert regions in the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, the Levant, and Mesopotamia (Iraq). The Bedouin originated in the Sy ...
tribes, local warlords and administrators, and even members of his own tribe and family who begrudged his position. In 1010, Qirwash even briefly defected from the
Abbasid The Abbasid Caliphate or Abbasid Empire (; ) was the third caliphate to succeed the prophets and messengers in Islam, Islamic prophet Muhammad. It was founded by a dynasty descended from Muhammad's uncle, Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib (566–653 C ...
allegiance and recognized the
Fatimid Caliphate The Fatimid Caliphate (; ), also known as the Fatimid Empire, was a caliphate extant from the tenth to the twelfth centuries CE under the rule of the Fatimids, an Isma'ili Shi'a dynasty. Spanning a large area of North Africa and West Asia, i ...
in
Cairo Cairo ( ; , ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Egypt and the Cairo Governorate, being home to more than 10 million people. It is also part of the List of urban agglomerations in Africa, largest urban agglomeration in Africa, L ...
instead. He was eventually defeated, imprisoned and deposed by his brother,
Baraka Baraka or Barakah may refer to: * Berakhah or Baraka, in Judaism, a blessing usually recited during a ceremony * Barakah or Baraka, in Islam, the beneficent force from God that flows through the physical and spiritual spheres * Baraka, full ''ḥa ...
, and died on 27 October 1052.


Life


Clashes with the Buyids

Qirwash was the oldest son of al-Muqallad ibn al-Musayyab, the
Emir of Mosul This is a list of the rulers of the Iraqi city of Mosul. Umayyad governors * Muhammad ibn Marwan (ca. 685–705) * Yusuf ibn Yahya ibn al-Hakam (ca. 685–705) * Sa'id ibn Abd al-Malik (ca. 685–705) * Yahya ibn Yahya al-Ghassani (719–720) ...
, who was assassinated in 1001, while plotting to seize
Baghdad Baghdad ( or ; , ) is the capital and List of largest cities of Iraq, largest city of Iraq, located along the Tigris in the central part of the country. With a population exceeding 7 million, it ranks among the List of largest cities in the A ...
from the
Buyids The Buyid dynasty or Buyid Empire was a Zaydi and later Twelver Shi'a dynasty of Daylamite origin. Founded by Imad al-Dawla, they mainly ruled over central and southern Iran and Iraq from 934 to 1062. Coupled with the rise of other Iranian dyna ...
. During his brief reign (996–1001), al-Muqallad had managed to take over a number of towns in Iraq, including Anbar and
Tikrit Tikrit ( ) is a city in Iraq, located northwest of Baghdad and southeast of Mosul on the Tigris River. It is the administrative center of the Saladin Governorate. In 2012, it had a population of approximately 160,000. Originally created as a f ...
, and other settlements almost to the gates of Baghdad. The Uqaylid institutions were tribal, depending on the Bedouin for military support rather than a salaried, standing army. As a result, al-Muqallad's unexpected death threw the loose tribal confederation into turmoil, as Qirwash and his uncle, al-Hasan, both claimed the tribe's leadership. The two were soon forced to come to a compromise, however, and make common cause against the claims of another tribesman, Qarrad ibn Ladid. As a result, the revenue of Mosul was split between them, while Qirwash inherited his father's rule over
Kufa Kufa ( ), also spelled Kufah, is a city in Iraq, about south of Baghdad, and northeast of Najaf. It is located on the banks of the Euphrates, Euphrates River. The estimated population in 2003 was 110,000. Along with Samarra, Karbala, Kadhimiya ...
. There he had to force out the Khafaja tribe that had taken control of the city, and drive them into the
Syrian Desert The Syrian Desert ( ''Bādiyat Ash-Shām''), also known as the North Arabian Desert, the Jordanian steppe, or the Badiya, is a region of desert, semi-desert, and steppe, covering about of West Asia, including parts of northern Saudi Arabia, ea ...
. In 1002, Qirwash allied with the Banu Asad tribe against the Buyids, and moved to capture
al-Mada'in Al-Mada'in (, ; ''Māḥozā''; ) was an ancient metropolis situated on the Tigris in what is now Iraq. It was located between the ancient royal centers of Ctesiphon and Seleucia, and was founded by the Sasanian Empire. The city's name was used ...
. The Buyid army moved against the allies, but was defeated near Kufa on 22 July 1002. The Buyid commander al-Hajjaj ibn Ustadh Hurmuz then called upon the Khafaja and the Kurdish Annazids for assistance, and this time scored a major victory at Baziqiya. The Uqaylid–Asadid alliance broke, and the two armies were defeated again separately. The women of the Khafaja were able to loot the Uqayl camp in the aftermath, a major humiliation according to traditional Bedouin mores. Even worse, al-Hajjaj's politically astute brother, al-Hasan, was appointed governor of Iraq, and soon adopted a
divide and rule The term divide and conquer in politics refers to an entity gaining and maintaining political power by using divisive measures. This includes the exploitation of existing divisions within a political group by its political opponents, and also ...
approach that left the Uqaylids isolated: the Banu Asad were conciliated and their leader,
Ali ibn Mazyad Ali ibn Abi Talib (; ) was the fourth Rashidun caliph who ruled from until his assassination in 661, as well as the first Shia Imam. He was the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Born to Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib an ...
, given the position Qirwash had held, while the Khafaja likely received back control of Kufa. The revival of Buyid fortunes left Qirwash trying to reassert control over the towns his father had claimed in Iraq. The most the Uqaylids could achieve during the next years were raids and kidnappings. The situation changed when the Khafaja joined the uprising of Abu'l-Abbas ibn Wasil in
Basra Basra () is a port city in Iraq, southern Iraq. It is the capital of the eponymous Basra Governorate, as well as the List of largest cities of Iraq, third largest city in Iraq overall, behind Baghdad and Mosul. Located near the Iran–Iraq bor ...
. To counter them, in 1005/6 the Buyids again assigned Kufa to Qirwash. Not only that, but Qirwash visited Baghdad, where Caliph
al-Qadir Abu'l-Abbas Ahmad ibn Ishaq (; 28 September 947 – 29 November 1031), better known by his regnal name al-Qadir (, , ), was the Abbasid caliph in Baghdad from 991 to 1031. Born as an Abbasid prince outside the main line of succession, al-Qad ...
awarded him the title () and confirmed him in the leadership of the Bedouin and all rights held by Muqallad. At the same time, the death of the last of Qirwash's uncles in 1006/7, left him the undisputed leader of his tribe. His campaign against Kufa in 1006/7 failed, and the Buyids were forced to a rapprochement with Ibn Mazyad, but Qirwash was still able to extend his influence in Iraq. In 1008/9, the Uqaylids even seized Rahba from its pro-
Fatimid The Fatimid Caliphate (; ), also known as the Fatimid Empire, was a caliphate extant from the tenth to the twelfth centuries CE under the rule of the Fatimid dynasty, Fatimids, an Isma'ili Shi'a dynasty. Spanning a large area of North Africa ...
governor, the Khafaji leader Abu Ali ibn Thimal.


Brief defection to the Fatimids

It was this complex political situation that drove Qirwash to switch his allegiance from the
Sunni Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam and the largest religious denomination in the world. It holds that Muhammad did not appoint any successor and that his closest companion Abu Bakr () rightfully succeeded him as the caliph of the Mu ...
al-Qadir, a puppet of the Buyids, to the
Shi'a Shia Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political successor ( caliph) and as the spiritual leader of the Muslim community ( imam). However, his right is understoo ...
Fatimid caliph of
Cairo Cairo ( ; , ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Egypt and the Cairo Governorate, being home to more than 10 million people. It is also part of the List of urban agglomerations in Africa, largest urban agglomeration in Africa, L ...
,
al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah Abu Ali al-Mansur (; 13 August 985 – 13 February 1021), better known by his regnal name al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (), was the sixth Fatimid caliph and 16th Ismaili imam (996–1021). Al-Hakim is an important figure in a number of Shia Ism ...
. On 18 August 1010, Qirwash had the
Friday sermon Friday prayer, or congregational prayer (), is the meeting together of Muslims for communal prayer and service at midday every Friday. In Islam, the day itself is called ''Yawm al-Jum'ah'' (shortened to ''Jum'ah''), which translated from Arabic me ...
read in the name of al-Hakim in Mosul, followed on 14 October by Anbar, and on 21 October in Anbar and al-Mada'in. Whether meant as a genuine shift in allegiance, or merely as an assertion of his independence, this move backfired. The Buyids mobilized money and men against him under al-Hasan ibn Ustadh Hurmuz, and even before the gifts sent from Cairo arrived, Qirwash had returned to the Abbasid allegiance. The whole affair left his position in Iraq severely weakened. At the same time, this episode resulted in the proclamation of al-Qadir's anti-Fatimid
Baghdad Manifesto The Baghdad Manifesto was a polemical tract issued in 1011 on behalf of the Abbasid caliph al-Qadir against the rival Isma'ili Fatimid Caliphate. Background The manifesto was the result of the steady expansion of the Fatimid Caliphate since its e ...
.


Under Sultan al-Dawla and Musharrif al-Dawla

The Buyid chief emir
Baha al-Dawla Abu Nasr Firuz Kharshadh (; died December 22, 1012), better known by his ''laqab'' of Baha al-Dawla () was the Buyid amir of Iraq (988–1012), along with Fars and Kerman (998–1012). His early reign was dominated by struggles with his rival rel ...
died in December 1012, and was succeeded by his son Sultan al-Dawla. Faced with opposition to his rule by powerful local warlords and the Bedouin tribes, he allied with Qirwash, taking his sister (or daughter) Jibara as wife. With their backing, he was able to take control of Baghdad itself, neutralize the other Bedouin tribes and finally subdue the Iraqi marshlands, that had been autonomous for decades, to the authority of Baghdad. Nevertheless, the decline of Buyid power was evident during this time, not least due to the infighting of the Buyid emirs. This further destabilized the political situation in Iraq, as various Arab and Kurdish groups felt free to pursue their own aims against their local rivals. Thus in 1018, Ibn Mazyad's grandson Dubays allied with the Uqaylid sheikh of
Samarra Samarra (, ') is a city in Iraq. It stands on the east bank of the Tigris in the Saladin Governorate, north of Baghdad. The modern city of Samarra was founded in 836 by the Abbasid caliph al-Mu'tasim as a new administrative capital and mi ...
, Gharib ibn Maqan, against the latter's cousin, Rafi ibn al-Husayn. The Buyids joined the former, while Qirwash assisted Rafi, hoping thus to extend his own influence over central Iraq. As a result, in 1020, the Banu Asad together with the Buyid troops defeated Qirwash, who was taken prisoner. Rafi immediately joined Gharib and, with Buyid assistance, captured Tikrit. Qirwash was able to escape and sought the assistance of the Khafaja, only to be defeated again by Buyid troops west of the Euphrates. Qirwash was able to quickly reconcile himself with the Buyids, however, possibly aided by the replacement of Sultan al-Dawla by his younger brother, Musharrif al-Dawla, in March 1021. Musharrif al-Dawla maintained good relations with the Uqaylids, but after his unexpected death in 1025, the struggle between the Buyid emirs Jalal al-Dawla and Abu Kalijar again destabilized the political situation in Iraq.


Under Jalal al-Dawla

In 1024, the Buyid
vizier A vizier (; ; ) is a high-ranking political advisor or Minister (government), minister in the Near East. The Abbasids, Abbasid caliphs gave the title ''wazir'' to a minister formerly called ''katib'' (secretary), who was at first merely a help ...
, Abu'l-Qasim al-Husayn ibn Ali al-Maghribi, fled Baghdad and entered Qirwash's service, but was expelled in 1026 on the insistence of the Abbasid caliph,
al-Qadir Abu'l-Abbas Ahmad ibn Ishaq (; 28 September 947 – 29 November 1031), better known by his regnal name al-Qadir (, , ), was the Abbasid caliph in Baghdad from 991 to 1031. Born as an Abbasid prince outside the main line of succession, al-Qad ...
. In 1026/7, the Khafaja invaded Uqaylid lands in central Iraq, and allied with the Banu Asad and the Buyids. Qirwash's vanguard was defeated near Kufa, forcing the Uqaylid emir to flee, while the allies occupied Anbar. Qirwash was also confronted by a league of Uqaylid rivals: Abu Mansur Kamil—a son of Qarrad ibn Ladid, who had tried to take over the rule of the Uqayl when Qirwash's father died, and Qirwash's deputy in the town of Sindiya—Rafi ibn al-Husayn of Tikrit, and his own brother and governor of
Nisibis Nusaybin () is a municipality and Districts of Turkey, district of Mardin Province, Turkey. Its area is 1,079 km2, and its population is 115,586 (2022). The city is populated by Kurds of different tribal affiliation. Nusaybin is separated ...
, Badran. During the battle between the two armies, a reconciliation was achieved, allowing Badran to retain Nisibis. In the meantime, the Khafaja and Asad had fallen out, as the former had plundered the town of al-Jami'yan, held by the latter. The Asad concluded a peace with Qirwash, who helped the inhabitants of Anbar to refortify their town. At the same time the Khafaja leader, Mani ibn al-Hasan, submitted to the Buyids. While Qirwash in the end managed to retain Anbar, these events spelled the definite end of Uqaylid rule in the territories south of Baghdad. In the contest between Jalal al-Dawla and Abu Kalijar, Qirwash initially supported the latter, even launching an abortive attack on Baghdad in 1029/30. When Jalal al-Dawla established himself in Baghdad, however, Qirwash accommodated himself to the new situation and during the 1030s supported the Buyid emir politically and militarily. Thus, in 1036 Qirwash took custody of the former Buyid vizier,
Ibn Makula Abū Naṣr Alī ibn Hibat Allāh ibn Ja'far ibn Allakān ibn Muḥammad ibn Dulaf ibn Abī Dulaf al-Qāsim ibn 'Īsā al-Ijlī, surnamed Sa’d al-Muluk and known as Ibn Mākūlā (; 1030/31–1082/83) was a highly regarded Arab muḥaddith (� ...
, and kept him imprisoned until he ordered him strangled in February 1039. In 1036/7, Qirwash helped Jalal al-Dawla against the mutiny of the Turk Barstoghan. In 1040, Qirwash tried to seize Tikrit back from the successors of Rafi ibn al-Husayn. The latter bribed Jalal al-Dawla with a large sum into attacking the Uqaylid emir's possessions, Sindiya and Anbar, forcing Qirwash to back down and recognize the loss of Tikrit. At the same time, Iraq faced the first attacks by the
Oghuz Turks The Oghuz Turks ( Middle Turkic: , ) were a western Turkic people who spoke the Oghuz branch of the Turkic language family. In the 8th century, they formed a tribal confederation conventionally named the Oghuz Yabgu State in Central Asia ...
. On 21 April 1044, Qirwash, leading the Uqaylids and allied with Dubays, inflicted a heavy defeat on the Turks at Ra's al-Ayil, driving them back to Adharbayjan.


Downfall and death

By 1048/9, another rival had emerged, his brother Abu Kamil Baraka. Qirwash was supported by Quraysh, the son of Badran, who forced Baraka to flee, but in June 1049 the armies of the two brothers clashed openly, and several of Qirwash's followers defected. Baraka captured Qirwash and brought him to Mosul. For a while, Qirwash remained the nominal emir of the Uqaylids, but ''de facto'' rule passed to Baraka, who imprisoned Qirwash in 1050. When Baraka died in 1052, he was succeeded by his own son,
Quraysh The Quraysh () are an Tribes of Arabia, Arab tribe who controlled Mecca before the rise of Islam. Their members were divided into ten main clans, most notably including the Banu Hashim, into which Islam's founding prophet Muhammad was born. By ...
. Shortly after, on 27 October 1052, Qirwash died at the fortress of al-Jarrahiya; according to at least one report, assassinated at his nephew's orders.


References


Sources

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Qirwash ibn Muqallad 10th-century births 1052 deaths 11th-century Arab people Uqaylid dynasty Emirs of Mosul Prisoners and detainees in Asia