Historical Figure
Harun al-Rashid
763–809
5th Abbasid caliph (r. 786–809)
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Biography
Abū Jaʿfar Hārūn ibn Muḥammad ar-Rashīd, or simply Hārūn ibn al-Mahdī, famously known as Hārūn al-Rashīd, was the fifth Abbasid caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate, reigning from September 786 until his death in March 809. His reign is traditionally regarded to be the beginning of the Islamic Golden Age. His epithet al-Rashid translates to "the Just", "the Upright", or "the Rightly-Guided".
Timeline
The story of Harun al-Rashid, told in moments.
Became caliph at 20 after his brother's sudden death. He appointed the Barmakid family as his viziers. They ran the empire while he held court and patronized scholars.
Sent an elephant named Abul-Abbas to Charlemagne as a diplomatic gift. The elephant traveled from Baghdad to Aachen. It was the first elephant in northern Europe since Hannibal.
Destroyed the Barmakid family overnight. Executed Jafar, his closest friend and vizier. Imprisoned the rest. No clear reason was ever established. The fall was absolute and sudden.
In Their Own Words (2)
I endured afflictions and sowrrowWhen death took Haylanah to itself. I parted from my happiness when I lost her And care not now what it may be.She was my world: and when she sankInto her grave, I parted from my world.Verily people have multiplied, but I Behold no creature after her.By Allah, I shall not forget theeAs long as the wind shaketh the boughs on the upland.
O, mistress of the mansion in Firk,And mistress of the Sultan and his kingdomFor God's sake, spare to slay meFor I am neither Daylam nor Turk.
Artifacts (8)
[t]he Bengalis had initially failed to appreciate a leader of Mr. Suhrawardy's s...
al framework, while Mujib supported autonomy and was open to the idea of East Bengali independence. Mujib reportedly remarked that "[t]he Bengalis had initially failed to appreciate a leader of Mr....
I used to play football, volleyball and field hockey... I was not a very good pl...
mpassionate and very energetic", either playing or roaming around, feeding birds, monkeys and dogs. In his autobiography, Mujib mentions, "I used to play football, volleyball and field hockey... I was...
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