List of Abbasid caliphs

For the state ruled by the dynasty, see Abbasid Caliphate.

The Abbasid caliphs were the holders of the Islamic title of caliph who were members of the Abbasid dynasty, a branch of the Quraysh tribe descended from the uncle of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, Al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib.

Abbasid Caliphs (750–1258)

Further information: Abbasid Caliphate

The Abbasids came to power overthrowing Umayyad dynasty in the Abbasid Revolution. As caliphs, they held both temporal and religious suzerainty over Muslim lands. After a golden age and a temporary revival, their decline accelerated the fragmentation of the Muslim world into autonomous states. Their religious authority was also challenged by the Shi'a Fatimid Caliphate (909-1171) and the Caliphate of Córdoba (929-1031). The caliphs lost their temporal power completely in mid-tenth century; first to a series of military strongmen, then to the Shi'a Buyid Emirs, which were in turn replaced by the Sunni Seljuk Turks. Their independence from the Seljuks was short-lived, as the dynasty ended with the Mongol Sack of Baghdad in 1258.

No.	Coin	Name	Reign	Parents	Life details
Abbasid Consolidation (750-775)
1		al-Saffah أبو العباس عبدالله بن محمد السفّاح Abū’l-ʿAbbās ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad al-Saffāḥ	750 – 8 June 754 (~4 years)	Muhammad ibn Ali Rayta bint Ubaydallah	721 – 8 June 754 (aged 33) Great-great-grandson of Muhammad's uncle, al-Abbas. Proclaimed caliph after Abbasid victory over Umayyad caliph Marwan II. Battle of Talas (751).
2		al-Mansur أبو جعفر عبد الله بن محمد المنصور Abū Jaʿfar ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad al-Manṣūr	10 June 754 – October 775 (~21 years)	Muhammad ibn Ali Sallamah, Berber concubine	714 – October 775 (aged 61) Heir apparent of his brother al-Saffah. Execution of general Abu Muslim (755). Conquest of Tabaristan (761). Founded Baghdad as new capital (762). Emirate of Córdoba founded by Umayyad prince Abd al-Rahman I (756).
Abbasid Golden Age (775-861)
3		al-Mahdi أبو عبد الله محمد بن عبد الله المهدي Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh al-Mahdī	October 775 – August 785 (~10 years)	al-Mansur Arwa bint Mansur al-Himyari	744/745 – August 785 (aged 40-41) Heir apparent of his father al-Mansur. War resumed against Byzantines (779).
4		al-Hadi أبو محمد موسى بن محمد الهادي Abū Muḥammad Mūsā ibn Muḥammad al-Hādī	August 785 – 14 September 786 (~1 year)	al-Mahdi al-Khayzuran bint Atta	759 / 762 – 14 September 786 (aged 24-27) Heir apparent of his father al-Mahdi. Failed Alid revolt (786) due to resumed persecution. Tried to replace his brother al-Rashid with his own son as heir. Possibly poisoned by his mother, who favored al-Rashid.
5		al-Rashid أبو جعفر هارون بن محمد الرشيد Abū Jaʿfar Hārūn ibn Muḥammad al-Rashīd	14 September 786 – 24 March 809 (~23 years)		March 763 / February 766 – 24 March 809 (aged 43-46) Named heir of his brother, al-Hadi. Established Baghdad's House of Wisdom. Invasion of Anatolia; sack of Herakleia (806).
6		al-Amin أبو موسى محمد بن هارون الأمين Abū Mūsā Muḥammad ibn Hārūn al-Amīn	24 March 809 – 25 September 813 (~4 years)	al-Rashid Zubaidah bint Ja'far ibn al-Mansur	April 787 – 25 September 813 (aged 26) Named first heir by his father al-Rashid. Removed his half-brother al-Ma'mun as heir apparent after he removed al-Amin's name from coins, starting Fourth Fitna. Executed after al-Ma'mun's capture of Baghdad.
7		al-Ma'mun أبو العباس عبد الله بن هارون المأمون Abū'l-ʿAbbās ʿAbd Allāh ibn Hārūn al-Maʾmūn	25 September 813 – 9 August 833 (~20 years)	al-Rashid Marajil, Persian concubine	14 September 786 – 9 August 833 (aged 46) Named second heir and ruler of Khorasan by his father. Defeated and killed al-Amin. Height of the translation movement. Crete conquered by exiled Andalusian pirates (824/827). Aghlabids begin the conquest of Sicily (827). Mihna launched (833); official support for Mu'tazilism begins.
8		al-Mu'tasim أبو إسحاق محمد بن هارون المعتصم بالله Abū Isḥāq Muḥammad ibn Hārūn al-Muʿtaṣim bi-'llāh	9 August 833 – 5 January 842 (~9 years)	al-Rashid Maridah, Turkic concubine	October 796 – 5 January 842 (aged 45) Allegedly named heir by his brother al-Ma'mun on his deathbed. Establishment and rise of Turkic ghilman as a powerful military and political force. Samarra founded as new capital (836). Invasion of Anatolia; sack of Amorium (838).
9		al-Wathiq أبو جعفر هارون بن محمد الواثق بالله Abū Jaʿfar Hārūn ibn Muḥammad al-Wāthiq bi-'llāh	5 January 842 – 10 August 847 (~5 years)	al-Mu'tasim Qaratis, Greek concubine	18 April 812 – 10 August 847 (aged 35) Heir apparent of his father, al-Musta'sim. Died from dropsy while in an oven in an attempt to cure it.
10		al-Mutawakkil أبو الفضل جعفر بن محمد المتوكل على الله Abū'l-Faḍl Jaʿfar ibn Muḥammad al-Mutawakkil ʿalā 'llāh	10 August 847 – 11 December 861 (~14 years)	al-Mu'tasim Shuja, Khwarazmian concubine	31 March 822 – 11 December 861 (aged 39) Chosen by officials after the unexpected death of al-Wathiq. Mihna abolished (851); official support for Mu'tazilism ends. Alienated Turkic generals by attempting to curb their influence. Assassinated by the Turkic troops.
Anarchy at Samarra (861-870)
11		al-Muntasir أبو جعفر محمد بن جعفر المنتصر بالله Abū Jaʿfar Muḥammad ibn Jaʿfar al-Muntaṣir bi-'llāh	11 December 861 – 7 June 862 (~1 year)	al-Mutawakkil Hubshiya, Greek concubine	November 837 – 7 June 862 (aged 24) Heir apparent of al-Mutawakkil, whom he had assassinated. Died of unknown causes; possibly poisoned.
12		al-Musta'in أبو العباس أحمد بن محمد المستعين بالله Abū al-ʿAbbās Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad al-Mustaʿīn bi-ʾllāh	8 June 862 – 24 January 866 (~4 years)	Muhammad ibn al-Mu'tasim Makhariq, Sicilian concubine	836 – 17 October 866 (aged 30) Cousin of al-Muntasir; installed by Turkic troops. Alienated Turkic soldiers, who instead proclaimed al-Mu'tazz caliph. Defeated in Fifth Fitna; forced to abdicate. Assassinated on al-Mu'tazz's orders.
13		al-Mu'tazz أبو عبد الله محمد بن جعفر المعتز بالله Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad ibn Jaʿfar al-Muʿtazz bi-ʾllāh	25 January 866 – 13 July 869 (~3 years)	al-Mutawakkil Qabiha, Greek concubine	847 – 16 July 869 (aged 22) Second heir of al-Mutawakkil; bypassed when Turkic military installed his cousin al-Musta'in, who then imprisoned him. Freed and made caliph by disgruntled Turkic troops; overthrew al-Musta'in. Rise of Saffarids in Sistan and Tulunids in Egypt. Deposed and imprisoned by Turkic generals; died three days later.
14		al-Muhtadi أبو إسحاق محمد بن هارون المهتدي بالله Abū Isḥāq Muḥammad ibn Hārūn al-Muhtadī bi-'llāh	22 July 869 – 21 June 870 (~1 year)	al-Wathiq Qurb, Greek concubine	833 – 21 June 870 (aged 37) Cousin of al-Mu'tazz; installed by Turkic military. Sought to emulate pious caliph Umar II. Killed by Turkic general Musa ibn Bugha after refusing to abdicate.
Abbasid Revival (870-908)
15		al-Mu'tamid أبو العباس أحمد بن جعفر المعتمد على الله Abū'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad ibn Jaʿfar al-Muʿtamid ʿalā ’llāh	21 June 870 – 14 October 892 (~22 years)	al-Mutawakkil Fityan, Greek concubine	842 – 14 October 892 (aged 50) Installed by Turkic troops; de facto rule by his brother al-Muwaffaq and then his nephew al-Mu'tadid, who led the military. Failed Saffarid invasion (876); suppression of Zanj Revolt (883).. Unification of Samanid state in Transoxiana (892). Placed under house arrest after a failed escape attempt to Tulunid Egypt (882).
16		al-Mu'tadid أبو العباس أحمد بن الموفق المعتضد بالله Abū'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad ibn al-Muwaffaq al-Muʿtaḍid bi-'llāh	15 October 892 – 5 April 902 (~10 years)	al-Muwaffaq Dirar, Greek concubine	864 / 861 – 5 April 902 (aged 38-41) al-Mu'tamid's nephew; removed his cousin from line of succession to become heir apparent. Recovery of Jazira from Kharijite rebels (896). Return of the capital to Baghdad (892). Qarmatian state founded in Bahrain (899).
17		al-Muktafi أبو محمد علي بن أحمد المكتفي بالله Abū Muḥammad ʿAlī ibn Aḥmad al-Muktafī bi-'llāh	5 April 902 – 13 August 908 (~6 years)	al-Mu'tadid Jijak, Turkic concubine	877 / 888 – 13 August 908 (aged 20-31) Heir apparent of al-Mu'tadid. Recovery of Egypt from Tulunids (905).
Political fragmentation (908-945)
18		al-Muqtadir أبو الفضل جعفر بن أحمد المقتدر بالله Abū'l-Faḍl Jaʿfar ibn Aḥmad al-Muqtadir bi-'llāh	13 August 908 – 28 February 929 (~21 years)	al-Mu'tadid Shaghab, Greek concubine	13 November 895 – 31 October 932 (aged 36) Installed by viziers as a child puppet ruler. Fatimid caliphate founded in Ifriqiya (909). Caliphal title claimed by Umayyads of Córdoba (929). Deposed by general Mu'nis al-Muzaffar.
19		al-Qahir أبو المنصور محمد بن أحمد القاهر بالله Abū al-Manṣūr Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad al-Qāhir bi-'llāh	1 March 929 – 2 March 929 (~1 day)	al-Mu'tadid Fitnah, Berber concubine	899 – 950 (aged 51) Installed and soon removed by Mu'nis.
(18)		al-Muqtadir أبو الفضل جعفر بن أحمد المقتدر بالله Abū'l-Faḍl Jaʿfar ibn Aḥmad al-Muqtadir bi-'llāh	2 March 929 – 31 October 932 (~3 years)	al-Mu'tadid Shaghab, Greek concubine	13 November 895 – 31 October 932 (aged 36) Reinstalled by Mu'nis al-Muzaffar. Qarmatian sack of Mecca (930). Killed in battle against Mu'nis.
(19)		al-Qahir أبو المنصور محمد بن أحمد القاهر بالله Abū al-Manṣūr Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad al-Qāhir bi-'llāh	31 October 932 – 24 April 934 (~2 years)	al-Mu'tadid Fitnah, Berber concubine	899 – 950 (aged 51) Installed by Mu'nis, whom he executed later (833). Deposed, blinded and imprisoned by vizier Ibn Muqla after refusing to abdicate. Freed by al-Mustakfi eleven years later. Spent rest of his life as a beggar.
20		al-Radi أبو العباس أحمد بن جعفر الراضي بالله Abū'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad ibn Jaʿfar al-Rāḍī bi-'llāh	24 April 934 – 13 December 940 (~6 years)	al-Muqtadir Zalum, Greek concubine	20 December 909 – 13 December 940 (aged 30) Nephew of al-Qahir, who had him imprisoned. Made caliph after al-Qahir's deposition. Ikhshidid consolidation of Egypt (935). Office of amīr al-umarāʾ created, who became the de facto rulers.
21		al-Muttaqi أبو إسحاق إبراهيم بن جعفر المتقي لله Abū Isḥāq Ibrāhīm ibn Jaʿfar al-Muttaqī li-'llāh	15 December 940 – 26 August 944 (~4 years)	al-Muqtadir Khalub, Greek concubine	908 – July 968 (aged 60) Selected by amir al-umara Bajkam after his brother's death. Deposed and blinded by amir al-umara Tuzun.
22		al-Mustakfi أبو القاسم عبد الله بن علي المستكفي بالله Abū'l-Qāsim ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAlī al-Mustakfī bi-ʾllāh	September 944 – 29 January 946 (~2 years)	al-Muktafi Ghusn, Greek concubine	11 November 908 – September 949 (aged 40) Uncle of al-Muttaqi; installed by Tuzun. Buyid takeover of Baghdad (945); appointment of Buyids as amir al-umaras. Deposed and blinded by Buyid emir Mu'izz al-Dawla; died under house arrest.
Buyid Control (945-1055)
23		al-Muti أبو القاسم الفضل بن جعفر المطيع لله Abū'l-Qāsim al-Faḍl ibn Jaʿfar al-Muṭīʿ li-ʾllāh	29 January 946 – 5 August 974 (~28 years)	al-Muqtadir Mash'ala, Slavic concubine	913/14 – 12 October 974 (aged 60-61) Cousin of al-Mustakfi; hid upon his enthronement; installed by Mu'izz al-Dawla after his deposition. Egypt, Palestine and Hejaz lost to Fatimids (969). Byzantine reconquests under Nikephoros II; fall of Antioch (969). Forced to abdicate by Turkic general Sabuktakin; died two months later.
24		al-Ta'i أبو بكر عبد الكريم بن الفضل الطائع لأمر الله Abū Bakr ʿAbd al-Karīm ibn al-Faḍl al-Ṭāʾiʿ li-amri ʿllāh	5 August 974 – 22 November 991 (~17 years)	al-Muti Utb, Greek concubine	929 – 3 August 1003 (aged 74) Installed by Sabuktakin. Buyid civil wars; Byzantine reconquests continue under John I. Deposed by Buyid emir Baha' al-Dawla; died in captivity.
25		al-Qadir أبو العباس أحمد بن إسحاق القادر بالله Abū'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad ibn Isḥāq al-Qādir bi-'llāh	22 November 991 – 29 November 1031 (~40 years)	Ishaq ibn al-Muqtadir Tammani/Dimna, concubine	28 September 947 – 29 November 1031 (aged 84) Cousin of al-Ta'i; Installed by Baha' al-Dawla. Granting of the title of Sultan as deputies to caliph, notably to Mahmud of Ghazni. Baghdad Manifesto against Fatimids (1011).
Seljuk Control (1055-1157)
26		al-Qa'im أبو جعفر عبد الله بن أحمد القائم بأمر الله Abū Jaʿfar ʿAbd Allāh ibn Aḥmad al-Qāʾim bi-amri 'llāh	29 November 1031 – 3 April 1075 (~44 years)	al-Qadir Qatr al-Nada, Armenian concubine	8 November 1001 – 3 April 1075 (aged 73) Younger son and heir apparent of al-Qadir. End of the Caliphate of Córdoba (1031). Buyids ousted from Baghdad by Seljuk Sultan Tughril (1055). Recognition of Abbasid nominal authority by Almoravids (1062). End of the Qarmatian state (1067). Battle of Manzikert (1071); Turkic settlement in Anatolia begins.
27		al-Muqtadi أبو القاسم عبد الله بن محمد المقتدي بأمر الله Abū'l-Qāsim ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad al-Muqtadī bi-amri ’llāh	3 April 1075 – 3 February 1094 (~19 years)	Muhammad ibn al-Qa'im Urjuwuan, Armenian concubine	24 July 1056 – 3 February 1094 (aged 37) Grandson and heir apparent of al-Qa'im. Recognition of Abbasid authority in Hejaz.
28		al-Mustazhir أبو العباس أحمد بن عبد الله المستظهر بالله Abū l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad ibn ʿAbd Allāh al-Mustaẓhir bi-'llāh	3 February 1094 – 6 August 1118 (~24 years)	al-Muqtadi Tayf al-Khayal, Turkic concubine	April / May 1078 – 6 August 1118 (aged 40) First Crusade; fall of Jerusalem (1099).
29		al-Mustarshid أبو المنصور الفضل بن أحمد المسترشد بالله Abū'l-Manṣūr al-Faḍl ibn Aḥmad al-Mustarshid bi-'llāh	6 August 1118 – 29 August 1135 (~17 years)	al-Mustazhir Lubaba, Slavic concubine	April / May 1092 – 29 August 1135 (aged 43) Almohad consolidation of the Maghreb (1147) and al-Andalus (1173). Failed campaign against Seljuks (1135). Murdered, possibly by the Assassins.
30		al-Rashid أبو جعفر المنصور بن الفضل الراشد بالله Abū Jaʿfar al-Manṣūr ibn al-Faḍl al-Rāshid bi-'llāh	29 August 1135 – 17 August 1136 (~1 year)	al-Mustarshid Khushf, Iraqi concubine	1109 – 6 June 1138 (aged 29) Deposed by Seljuk Sultan Mas'ud. Fled to Isfahan; killed by assassins.
31		al-Muqtafi أبو عبد الله محمد بن أحمد المقتفي لأمر الله Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad al-Muqtafī li-ʾamri ’llāh	17 September 1136 – 12 March 1160 (~24 years)	al-Mustazhir Ashin, Syrian concubine	9 April 1096 – 12 March 1160 (aged 63) Uncle of al-Rashid; installed by Mas'ud. Failed Seljuk Siege of Baghdad (1157); Abbasid consolidation of Iraq.
Final Revival (1157-1258)
32		al-Mustanjid أبو المظفر يوسف بن محمد المستنجد بالله Abū'l-Muẓaffar Yūsuf ibn Muḥammad al-Mustanjid bi-'llāh	12 March 1160 – 18 December 1170 (~10 years)	al-Muqtafi Thawus, Greek concubine	1124 – 18 December 1170 (aged 46) Formal independence from Seljuks; Sultan's name removed from Abbasid coinage (1165)
33		al-Mustadi أبو محمد الحسن بن يوسف المستضيء بأمر الله Abū Muḥammad al-Ḥasan ibn Yūsuf al-Mustaḍīʾ bi-amri ʾllāh	18 December 1170 – 27 March 1180 (~10 years)	al-Mustanjid Ghadha, Armenian concubine	1142 – 27 March 1180 (aged 38) End of the Fatimid Caliphate (1171); Abbasid nominal authority restored in Egypt under Saladin.
34		al-Nasir أبو العباس أحمد بن الحسن الناصر لدين الله Abū'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad ibn al-Ḥasan al-Nāṣir li-Dīn Allāh	27 March 1180 – 5 October 1225 (~45 years)	al-Mustadi Zumurrud, Turkic concubine	6 August 1158 – 5 October 1225 (aged 67) Recovery of Jerusalem from the Crusaders by Saladin (1187). End of Seljuk Empire; conquest by the Khwarazmians (1194). Mongol conquest of Khwarazmian Empire (1221). Longest reigning Abbasid caliph; died of dysentery.
35		al-Zahir أبو نصر محمد بن أحمد الظاهر بأمر الله Abū Naṣr Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad al-Ẓāhir bi-amri’llāh	5 October 1225 – 10 July 1226 (~9 months)	al-Nasir Asma	1175 – 10 July 1226 (aged 51) Heir apparent of Al-Nasir.
36		al-Mustansir أبو جعفر المنصور بن محمد المستنصر بالله Abū Jaʿfar al-Manṣūr ibn Muḥammad al-Mustanṣir bi-'llāh	10 July 1226 – 5 December 1242 (~16 years)	al-Zahir Zahra, Turkic concubine	17 February 1192 – 5 December 1242 (aged 50) Almohad withdrawal from al-Andalus (1228).
37		al-Musta'sim أبو أحمد عبد الله بن المنصور المستعصم بالله Abū Aḥmad ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Manṣūr al-Mustaʿṣim bi-'llāh	5 December 1242 – 20 February 1258 (~16 years)	al-Mustansir Hajer, Abyssinian concubine	1213 – 20 February 1258 (aged 45) Mamluk overthrow of Ayyubids (1250). Executed after Mongol sack of Baghdad. End of Abbasid Caliphate as a political entity.

Abbasids Caliphs of Cairo (1261–1517)

"Caliphs of Cairo" redirects here. For the Carnival krewe, see Caliphs of Cairo (krewe).

Further information: Mamluk Sultanate

In 1261, the Abbasid dynasty was re-established by a cadet branch of the dynasty at Cairo under the auspices of the local Mamluk sultans, but these caliphs were purely ceremonial figures, while temporal power rested with the Mamluks. This revived caliphate lasted until the Ottoman conquest of Egypt in 1517, after which the caliphal title passed to the Ottoman dynasty.

No.	Name	Reign	Parents	Life details
1	al-Mustansir أبو القاسم أحمد بن محمد المستنصر بالله Abū'l-Qāsim Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad al-Mustanṣir bi-llāh	13 June 1261 – 28 November 1261 (~5 months)	al-Zahir Hayat, concubine	d. 28 November 1261 Uncle of al-Musta'sim; fled to Cairo after Mongol defeat at Ain Jalut (1260). Proclaimed caliph by Baybars, legitimizing his rule in turn. Killed in a Mongol ambush while marching to recover Baghdad.
2	al-Hakim I أبو العباس أحمد بن حسن الحاكم بأمر الله Abū'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad ibn Ḥasan al-Ḥākim bi-Amri'llāh	16 November 1262 – 19 January 1302 (~39 years)	Hasan ibn Abu Bakr ibn Hasan ibn Ali ibn al-Mustarshid	1222/1232 – 19 January 1302 (aged 70/80) Descendant of al-Mustarshid (r. 1118–1135). Fled to Syria after fall of Baghdad; installed by Aleppo's emir Aqush (1261). Abdicated in al-Mustansir's favor after troops defected to him. Survived the Mongol ambush; fled to Cairo; proclaimed caliph by Baybars.
3	al-Mustakfi I أبو الربيع سليمان بن أحمد المستكفي بالله Abū ar-Rabīʿ Sulaymān ibn Aḥmad al-Mustakfī bi-llāh	20 January 1302 – February 1340 (~38 years)	al-Hakim I Turkic concubine	1285 – February 1340 (aged 56) Named heir by his father. Exiled to Qus by al-Nasir Muhammad (1337) for supporting rebel Baybars al-Jashnakir. Died of grief over his heir Sadaqa's death.
4	al-Wathiq I أبو إسحاق إبراهيم بن أحمد الواثق بالله Abū Isḥāq Ibrāhīm ibn Aḥmad al-Wāthiq bi-'llāh	May 1340 – 17 June 1341 (~1 year)	Ahmad ibn al-Hakim I	d. November 1347 Nephew of al-Mustakfi I; installed by al-Nasir. Disliked by 'ulama for his lavish lifestyle and controversial installation. Removed and put under house arrest by al-Mansur Abu Bakr; died of plague.
5	al-Hakim II أبو العباس أحمد بن سليمان الحاكم بأمر الله Abū'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad ibn Sulaymān al-Ḥākim bi-Amri'llāh	17 June 1341 – 1352 (~11 years)	al-Mustakfi I	d. 1352 Cousin of al-Wathiq I; original heir of al-Mustakfi I but bypassed by al-Nasir. Mamluk civil war; rapid succession of seven of al-Nasir Muhammad's sons. Died of black death.
6	al-Mu'tadid I أبو الفتح أبو بكر بن سليمان المعتضد بالله Abū al-Fatḥ Abū Bakr ibn Sulaymān al-Muʿtaḍid bi-'llāh	28 September 1352 – March 1362 (10 years)		d. March 1362 Brother of al-Hakim II; selected by elites after his death.
7	al-Mutawakkil I أبو عبد الله محمد بن أبي بكر المتوكل على الله Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad ibn Abī Bakr al-Mutawakkil ʿalā'llāh	1339 – 18 January 1406 (aged 67)	al-Mu'tadid I	1339 – 18 January 1406(aged 67) Named heir by his father. Deposed by Aynabak al-Yalbughawi for refusing to sanction al-Ashraf Sha'ban's murder.
8	al-Musta'sim أبو يحيى زكريا بن إبراهيم المستعصم بالله Abū Yaḥyā Zakariyyāʾ ibn Ibrāhīm al-Mustaʿṣim bi-'llāh	11 July 1377 – July 1377 (<2 weeks)	al-Wathiq I	d. 1399 Second cousin of al-Mutawakkil I; installed by Aynabak. Removed soon after amid popular pressure.
(7)	al-Mutawakkil I أبو عبد الله محمد بن أبي بكر المتوكل على الله Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad ibn Abī Bakr al-Mutawakkil ʿalā'llāh	July 1377 – September 1383 (6 years)	al-Mu'tadid I	1339 – 18 January 1406 (aged 67) Reinstalled by Aynabak. Burji dynasty established by al-Zahir Barquq (1382). Removed and put under house arrest by Barquq over an alleged plot against him.
9	al-Wathiq II أبو حفص عمر بن إبراهيم الواثق بالله Abū Ḥafṣ ʿUmar ibn Ibrāhīm al-Wāthiq bi-'llāh	September 1383 – 13 November 1386 (~3 years)	al-Wathiq I	1316 – 9 January 1406 (aged 70) Brother of al-Musta'sim; installed by Barquq. Died of an illness.
(8)	al-Musta'sim أبو يحيى زكريا بن إبراهيم المستعصم بالله Abū Yaḥyā Zakariyyāʾ ibn Ibrāhīm al-Mustaʿṣim bi-'llāh	21 November 1386 – March 1389 (3 years)	al-Wathiq I	d. 1399 Brother of al-Wathiq II; installed by Barquq. Put under house arrest after al-Mutawakkil I's restoration.
(7)	al-Mutawakkil I أبو عبد الله محمد بن أبي بكر المتوكل على الله Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad ibn Abī Bakr al-Mutawakkil ʿalā'llāh	March 1389 – 9 January 1406 (17 years)	al-Mu'tadid I	1339 – 18 January 1406 (aged 67) Reinstalled by Barquq after Yalbugha al-Nasiri's pro-Qalawunid revolt. Declined sultanate offer after Barquq's defeat (1399); recommending al-Salih Hajji's restoration. Timur's invasions of Levant (1400); Ottoman defeat (1402).
10	al-Musta'in أبو الفضل العباس بن محمد المستعين بالله Abū al-Faḍl al-ʿAbbās ibn Muḥammad al-Mustaʿīn bi-'llāh	22 January 1406 – 9 March 1414 (~8 years)	al-Mutawakkil I Bay Khatun, Turkic concubine	1390 – 16 March 1430 (aged 40) Named heir by his father. Elected sultan by al-Mu'ayyad, who dominated and forced his resignation six months later (1412). Deposed and imprisoned by al-Mu'ayyad. Freed by al-Zahir Tatar (1421); died of plague.
11	al-Mu'tadid II أبو الفتح داود بن محمد المعتضد بالله Abū al-Fatḥ Dāwūd ibn Muḥammad al-Muʿtaḍid bi-'llāh	9 March 1414 – 4 July 1441 (27 years)	al-Mutawakkil I Kazal, Turkic concubine	d. 4 July 1441 Halfbrother of al-Musta'in; installed by al-Mu'ayyad..
12	al-Mustakfi II أبو الربيع سليمان بن محمد المستكفي بالله Abū al-Rabīʿ Sulaymān ibn Muḥammad al-Mustakfī bi-llāh	4 July 1441 – 4 February 1451 (10 years)	al-Mutawakkil I Bay Khatun, Turkic concubine	1388 – 4 February 1451 (aged 63) Named heir by his half-brother, al-Mu'tadid II. Died of an illness.
13	al-Qa'im أبو البقاء حمزة بن محمد القائم بأمر الله Abū al-Baqāʾ Ḥamza ibn Muḥammad al-Qāʾim bi-ʾamr Allāh	7 February 1451 – 19 June 1455 (4 years)		d. 28 August 1458 Eldest living brother of al-Mustakfi II; chosen by elites. Supported al-Ashraf Inal's overthrow of al-Mansur Uthman (1453). Deposed and exiled for backing a failed revolt against Inal.
14	al-Mustanjid أبو المحاسن يوسف بن محمد المستنجد بالله Abū al-Maḥāsin Yūsuf ibn Muḥammad al-Mustanjid bi-'llāh	19 June 1455 – 17 April 1479 (24 years)		1396 – 17 April 1479 (aged 40) Brother of al-Qa'im; installed by Inal.
15	al-Mutawakkil II أبو العز عبد العزيز بن يعقوب المتوكل على الله Abū al-ʿIzz ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn Yaʿqūb al-Mutawakkil ʿalā'llāh	19 April 1479 – August 1497 (~18 years)	Ya'qub ibn al-Mutawakkil I Haj al-Malik	1417 – August 1497 (aged 80) Nephew and named heir of al-Mustanjid. Reign of al-Ashraf Qa'itbay (r. 1468-1496).
16	al-Mustamsik أبو الصبر يعقوب بن عبد العزيز المستمسك بالله Abū al-Ṣabr Yaʿqūb ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz al-Mustamsik bi-'llāh	August 1497 – 1508 (11 years)	al-Mutawakkil II Amna bint al-Mustakfi II	d. 1521 Named heir by his father, al-Mutawakkil II Safavid dynasty founded by Ismail I (1501). Abdicated in favor of his son, al-Mutawakkil III, due to his health.
17	al-Mutawakkil III محمد بن يعقوب المتوكل على الله Muḥammad ibn Yaʿqūb al-Mutawakkil ʿalā'llāh	1508 – 1516 (8 years)	al-Mustamsik	d. 1543 Appointed by his father, al-Mustamsik. Safavid capture of Baghdad (1509). Beginning of Second Mamluk-Ottoman war (1516). Accompanied Sultan Qansuh II to Syria; captured after his defeat against Ottomans.
(16)	al-Mustamsik أبو الصبر يعقوب بن عبد العزيز المستمسك بالله Abū al-Ṣabr Yaʿqūb ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz al-Mustamsik bi-'llāh	24 August 1516 – 30 January 1517 (~5 months)	al-Mutawakkil II	d. 1521 Appointed deputy in Cairo by al-Mutawakkil III after he left for Syria. Legitimized Sultan Tuman Bey II (1516). Ottoman capture Cairo; Tuman Bey II executed. Left in Cairo by Ottomans due to his old age.
(17)	al-Mutawakkil III محمد بن يعقوب المتوكل على الله Muḥammad ibn Yaʿqūb al-Mutawakkil ʿalā'llāh	1517	al-Mustamsik	d. 1543 Taken to Cairo, and then Istanbul by the Ottomans where he spent rest of his life.

Genealogy

Family tree of Abbasid rulers. Unless a separate year of death is given, the caliphs ruled till death (or died soon after deposition).

Abbasid Caliphs   Abbasid Caliphs in Cairo al-Abbas d. 653 Abd Allah d. 687 Ali d. 736 Muhammad d. 743 al-Saffah r. 750–754 al-Mansur r. 754–775 al-Mahdi r. 775–785 al-Hadi r. 785–786 al-Rashid r. 786–809 al-Amin r. 809–813 al-Mamun r. 813–833 al-Muta'sim r. 833–842 al-Wathiq r. 842–847 al-Mutawakkil r. 847–861 Muhammad d. 850s al-Muhtadi r. 869–870 al-Munstasir r. 861–862 al-Mu'tazz r. 866–869 al-Mu'tamid r. 870–892 al-Muwaffaq d. 891 al-Musta'in r. 862–866 al-Mu'tadid r. 892–902 al-Muktafi r. 902–908 al-Muqtadir r. 908–929, 929-932 al-Qahir r. 929, 932–934 d. 950 al-Musktafi r. 944–946 d. 949 al-Radi r. 934–940 al-Muttaqi r. 940–944 d. 968 al-Muti r. 946–974 Ishaq d. 988 al-Ta'i r. 974–991 d. 1003 al-Qadir r. 991–1031 al-Qa'im r. 1031–1075 Muhammad d. 1056 al-Muqtadi r. 1075–1094 al-Mustazhir r. 1094–1118 al-Mustarshid r. 1118–1135 al-Muqtafi r. 1136–1160 Ali al-Rashid r. 1135–1136 d. 1138 al-Mustanjid r. 1160–1170 Hasan al-Mustadi r. 1170–1180 Abu Bakr al-Nasir r. 1180–1225 Hasan al-Zahir r. 1225–1226 al-Hakim I r. 1262–1302 al-Mustansir II r. 1261 al-Mustansir r. 1226–1242 Ahmad al-Mustakfi I r. 1302–1340 al-Musta'sim r. 1242–1258 al-Wathiq I r. 1340–1341 d. after 1341 al-Hakim II r. 1341–1352 al-Mu'tadid I r. 1352–1362 al-Mu'tasim r. 1377, 1386–1389 al-Wathiq II r. 1383–1386 al-Mutawakkil I r. 1362–1377, 1377-1383, 1389–1406 al-Musta'in r. 1406–1414 d. 1430 al-Mu'tadid II r. 1414–1441 al-Mustakfi II r. 1441–1451 al-Qa'im r. 1451–1455 d. 1458 al-Mustanjid r. 1455–1479 Ya'qub al-Mutawakkil II r. 1479–1497 al-Mustamsik r. 1497–1508, 1516–1517 d. 1521 al-Mutawakkil III r. 1508–1516, 1517 d. 1543

Bibliography

• Al-Tabari, Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Jarir (1985–2007). Ehsan Yar-Shater (ed.). The History of Al-Ṭabarī. Vol. 40 vols. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press.
• Bennison, Amira K. (2009). The Great Caliphs: The Golden Age of the 'Abbasid Empire. Princeton: Yale University Press, p. 47. ISBN 0300167989
• Bobrick, Benson (2012). The Caliph's Splendor: Islam and the West in the Golden Age of Baghdad. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1416567622.
• Bosworth, C. E., ed. (1987). The History of al-Ṭabarī, Volume XXXII: The Reunification of the ʿAbbāsid Caliphate: The Caliphate of al-Maʾmūn, A.D. 813–33/A.H. 198–213. SUNY Series in Near Eastern Studies. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press. ISBN 978-0-88706-058-8.
• Bosworth, Clifford Edmund (1996). The New Islamic Dynasties: A Chronological and Genealogical Manual. New Edinburgh Islamic Surveys. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 0-7486-2137-7.
• Cobb, P. M. (2000). "ʿUmar (II) b. ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz". In Bearman, P. J.; Bianquis, Th.; Bosworth, C. E.; van Donzel, E. & Heinrichs, W. P. (eds.). The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Volume X: T–U. Leiden: E. J. Brill. pp. 821–822. ISBN 978-90-04-11211-7.
• El-Hibri, Tayeb (2021). The Abbasid Caliphate: A History. Cambridge History Press. ISBN 9781316634394.
• Houtsma, M. Th.; Wensinck, A. J. (1993). E.J. Brill's First Encyclopaedia of Islam 1913–1936. Vol. IX. Leiden: BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-09796-4.
• Hurvitz, Nimrod (2002). The Formation of Hanbalism: Piety into Power. New York: Routledge. ISBN 0-7007-1507-X.
• Ibn Khallikan (1842). Ibn Khallikan's Biographical Dictionary, Translated from the Arabic. Vol. I. Translated by Baron Mac Guckin de Slane. Paris: Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. OCLC 1184199260.
• Kennedy, Hugh (2006). When Baghdad Ruled the Muslim World: The Rise and Fall of Islam's Greatest Dynasty. Cambridge, Massachuetts: Da Capo Press. ISBN 978-0-306814808.
• Lane-Poole, Stanley (1894). The Mohammedan Dynasties: Chronological and Genealogical Tables with Historical Introductions. Westminster: Archibald Constable and Company. OCLC 1199708.
• Sourdel, Dominique (1978). "al-Ḳāhir Bi'llāh". In van Donzel, E.; Lewis, B.; Pellat, Ch. & Bosworth, C. E. (eds.). The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Volume IV: Iran–Kha. Leiden: E. J. Brill. pp. 423–424. ISBN 978-90-04-05745-6. OCLC 758278456.
• Zetterstéen, K. V.; Pellat, Ch. (1960). "Ahmad b. Abi Du'ad". The Encyclopedia of Islam, New Edition, Volume I: A–B. Leiden and New York: BRILL. p. 271. ISBN 90-04-08114-3. {{cite encyclopedia}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
• Zetterstéen, K. V. (1987). "al-Muʿtaḍid Bi'llāh". In Houtsma, Martijn Theodoor (ed.). E.J. Brill's First Encyclopaedia of Islam, 1913–1936, Volume VI: Morocco–Ruzzik. Leiden: Brill. p. 777. ISBN 978-90-04-08265-6.
• Zetterstéen, K. V. & Bosworth, C. E. (1993). "al-Muhtadī". In Bosworth, C. E.; van Donzel, E.; Heinrichs, W. P. & Pellat, Ch. (eds.). The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Volume VII: Mif–Naz. Leiden: E. J. Brill. pp. 476–477. doi:10.1163/1573-3912_islam_SIM_5437. ISBN 978-90-04-09419-2.

Banister, Mustafa (2021). The Abbasid Caliphate of Cairo, 1261–1517: Out of the Shadows. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 9781474453363.