Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 01:14, 14 June 2021

Qaratis also known as Umm Harun (Template:Lang-ar) or Umm al-Wathiq (Template:Lang-ar) was the mother of ninth Abbasid caliph Al-Wathiq who ruled Abbasid Caliphate from 842 to 847.

Biography

Al-Wathiq was the son of al-Mu'tasim by a Byzantine Greek slave (umm walad), called Qaratis. He was born on 17 April 812 (various sources give slightly earlier or later dates in 811–813), on the road to Mecca. He was named Harun after his grandfather, Caliph Harun al-Rashid (r. 786–809).

Early life of Qaratis is unclear as Al-Wathiq's early life is obscure, all the more since his father was initially a junior prince without prospects of succession. When al-Mu'tasim became caliph, he took care for his son and heir to acquire experience in governance. Thus Abu Ja'far al-Wathiq was left in charge of the capital Baghdad in 835, when al-Mu'tasim moved north to found a new capital at Samarra.

Death of al-Mu'tasim

Al-Tabari states that al-Mu'tasim fell ill on 21 October 841. His regular physician, Salmawayh ibn Bunan, whom the Caliph had trusted implicitly, had died the previous year. His new physician, Yahya ibn Masawayh, did not follow the normal treatment of cupping and purging. According to Hunayn ibn Ishaq this worsened the caliph's illness and brought about his death on 5 January 842, after a reign of eight years, eight months and two days according to the Islamic calendar. He was buried in the Jawsaq al-Khaqani palace in Samarra.

Accession of her son al-Wathiq to Caliphate

Al-Tabari records that al-Wathiq was of medium height, handsome and well-built. He was fair with a ruddy complexion. His left eye was paralyzed. When caliph al-Mu'tasim died on 5 January 842, al-Wathiq succeeded him without opposition. His reign was brief and unremarkable, being essentially a continuation of al-Mu'tasim's own, as the government continued to be led by the men al-Mu'tasim had raised to power: the Turkish military commanders Itakh, Wasif, and Ashinas, the vizier Muhammad ibn al-Zayyat, and the chief qādī, Ahmad ibn Abi Duwad.

Qaratis accompanied al-Wathiq's brother Ja'far (the future caliph al-Mutawakkil) on the pilgrimage in 842, but she died on the way at al-Hirah, on 16 August 842 (A.H 227). She was buried in Kufa.

Qaratis in literature

The name Qaratis is used for a fictional novel Vathek. Vathek (also known as Vathek, an Arabian Tale) is a Gothic novel written by William Beckford. It was composed in French beginning in 1782, and then translated into English by Reverend Samuel Henley

The fictional character of Qaratis is portrayed as a woman of Greek origin, who is well versed in science, astrology, and occult magic. She teaches all of her skills to Vathek, and convinces him to embark on his quest for power which eventually leads to his damnation. When arriving in hell, Carathis runs amok, exploring the palace, discovering its hidden secrets, and even tries to stage a rebellion. However, once her own punishment is enacted, she too loses all hope and is consumed by her guilt.

See also

• Muhammad ibn al-Mu'tasim
• Itakh

Sources

• Turner, John P. (2013). "The Enigmatic Reign of al-Wāthiq (r. 227/842-232/847)". In Bernards, Monique (ed.). Abbasid Studies IV. Occasional Papers of the School of Abbasid Studies. Gibb Memorial Trust. pp. 218–231. ISBN 9780906094983.
• Kraemer, Joel L., ed. (1989). The History of al-Ṭabarī, Volume XXXIV: Incipient Decline: The Caliphates of al-Wāthiq, al-Mutawakkil and al-Muntaṣir, A.D. 841–863/A.H. 227–248. SUNY Series in Near Eastern Studies. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press. ISBN 978-0-88706-874-4.
• Zetterstéen, K. V.; Bosworth, C. E. & van Donzel, E. (2002). "al-Wāt̲h̲iḳ Bi 'llāh". In Bearman, P. J.; Bianquis, Th.; Bosworth, C. E.; van Donzel, E. & Heinrichs, W. P. (eds.). The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Volume XI: W–Z. Leiden: E. J. Brill. p. 178. ISBN 978-90-04-12756-2.

References

1. ^ Turner 2013, p. 219.
2. Kraemer 1989, pp. 52–53.
3. Zetterstéen, Bosworth & van Donzel 2002, p. 178.
4. Kraemer 1989, p. 53.
5. Bosworth 1991, pp. 207–209. sfn error: no target: CITEREFBosworth1991 (help)
6. Bosworth 1991, p. 208. sfn error: no target: CITEREFBosworth1991 (help)
7. Kennedy 2006, p. 147. sfn error: no target: CITEREFKennedy2006 (help)
8. Kraemer 1989, p. 52.
9. Kennedy 2006, p. 231. sfn error: no target: CITEREFKennedy2006 (help)
10. Kraemer 1989, p. 4.

• 9th-century births
• 842 deaths
• Medieval slaves
• 9th-century people of the Abbasid Caliphate
• Concubines of the Abbasid caliphs