Mizalla

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The Mizalla ( Arabic مظلة, DMG miẓalla  'umbrella') was the outstanding insignia of the Fatimid caliphs in the 10th to 12th centuries.

The person of the caliph could be recognized by the public through a golden umbrella held over him, which was supposed to leave him in the shade of the sun. It was customary to hold the screen over the caliph at all times as soon as he moved outside his palace. The pious and ascetic caliph al-Hakim (d. 1021), on the other hand, did without the umbrella during his many rides in the old town and the surrounding area of Cairo , much to the amazement of the common people. In combination with the "sword of the backbone" ( DU liter faqār ) the presence of the God-given blessing power was the parasol ( baraka ) signaled that the caliph, at the same time, the recognized "head" (Imam) of the Shia of the Ismailis were , thanks to their descent from the Prophet. The parasol was occasionally held over the person of the heir to the throne in order to publicly display his designation (naṣṣ) by the ruler.

The appearance of the parasol was described as that of a round shield, which was attached to the center of a lance tip and held over the caliph. The goldsmith's work was also artfully decorated with precious stones. The umbrella bearer (ḥāmil al-miẓalla) had to make sure that he kept the caliph in the shadow of the sun without disturbing him. The bearers were usually special confidants of the caliph, often their friends from their youth, and from this office they were able to climb the career ladder in the Fatimid state and military service.

The parasol was also used as a standard in battle, provided the caliph or his heir apparent actively participated in it. Such as B. about the Crown Prince Ismail (later Caliph al-Mansur , d. 953) in the battle of Kairuan against Abu Yazid on June 5, 946, or about Kalif al-Aziz (d. 996) in the battle of the Mill River against Alp- Tigin on August 15, 978.

As a further insignia of power, the caliphs wore a crown or diadem (tāǧ) , mostly during audiences in the palace . In addition, they sat under a dome-shaped canopy sewn from gold-colored panels ( al-qubba , from which the Spanish Alcoba , alcove ), which replaced the parasol. With the oversized crown circlet "Sunshine" (šamsa) , with which the caliphs used to adorn the Kaaba in Mecca as a special honor , they referred to the divine blessings resting on them.

literature

  • Heinz Halm: The Empire of the Mahdi. The rise of the Fatimids 875–973. CH Beck, Munich 1991, pp. 249, 279, 312. ISBN 3-406-35497-1 .