al-Wāthiq

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The death of the Vathek from the Tarich-i Alfi manuscript

Abū Jaʿfar Hārūn ibn al-Muʿtasim ( Arabic هارون بن المعتصم, DMG Abū Ǧaʿfar Hārūn b. al-Muʿtaṣim ; * 816 ; † August 10, 847 ) with the throne name al-Wāthiq bi-Llāh (الواثق بالله / Al-Wāṯiq bi-llah  / who God trusting ') was the ninth Caliph of the Abbasid (842-847) and in Western Europe as Vathek known.

Abū Jafar Hārūn al-Wāthiq succeeded his father al-Muʿtasim (833-842). His government was mainly characterized by the revolt of the Banu Hilal and the Banū Sulaim in the Hejaz (844-847), which could only be suppressed in protracted battles. In addition, al-Wāthiq tried to enforce the teachings of the Mutazilites .

Al-Wāthiq died on August 10, 847. His brother al-Mutawakkil (847-861) prevailed over the sons of al-Wāthiq as the new caliph.

In Western literature, al-Wāthiq appears in the English horror novel Vathek by William Beckford (1786). In this fantastic tale his insatiable thirst for knowledge and his striving for power become the caliph's undoing and plunge him into ruin.

literature

predecessor Office successor
al-Muʿtasim Abbasid Caliph
842–847
al-Mutawakkil