1. Al-Muktafi's reign saw the defeat of the Qarmatians of the Syrian Desert, and the reincorporation of Egypt and the parts of Syria ruled by the Tulunid dynasty.
18 Facts About Al-Muktafi
1. 2.
Al-Muktafi established an effective administration, but the incessant campaigning, and the need to keep the soldiery satisfied, meant that it was almost totally geared towards providing the funds necessary to maintain the army.
3.
Al-Muktafi completed al-Mu'tadid's third palace project, the Taj Palace, in Baghdad, for which he reused bricks from the palace of the Sasanian rulers in Ctesiphon.
4.
Al-Muktafi emulated his father in avarice and parsimony, which allowed him to leave, despite a short reign with almost continuous warfare, a considerable surplus.
5.
Al-Muktafi's popularity received a major boostr when, soon after his accession, he destroyed his father's underground prisons and gave the site to the people, released prisoners and returned lands confiscated by the government.
6.
Al-Muktafi is notable for personally attending the sessions of the, where he heard the complaints and petitions of the common people.
7.
Al-Muktafi was not as steadfast as his father, and was easily swayed by the officials at court.
8.
Al-Muktafi remained at Raqqa, and actual command was given to the head of the department of the army, Muhammad ibn Sulayman al-Katib.
9.
Al-Muktafi returned to Baghdad with the senior captives, who were thrown into prison.
10.
Al-Muktafi's campaign was to be assisted from the sea by a fleet from the frontier districts of Cilicia under Damian of Tarsus.
11.
Al-Muktafi's tenure was troubled from the start: within months, he was forced to abandon Fustat and flee to Alexandria due to a secessionist rebellion under a certain Ibrahim al-Khalanji.
12.
Al-Muktafi was possibly the same person as a certain Muhammad ibn Ali al-Khalij, who is recorded to have led a pro-Tulunid revolt at about the same time.
13.
Al-Muktafi was probably a half-sister of the famous Qatr al-Nada, another daughter of Khumarawayh who was intended for him but ended up being married to his father in 893.
14.
Al-Muktafi kept up the perennial conflict with the Byzantine Empire, with varying success.
15.
Al-Muktafi in turn replied with a letter of his own, but nothing came of this long-distance correspondence.
16.
Al-Muktafi was a successful ruler, as well as "a man of sensibility, a gourmet and an appreciator of the verses of poets like Ibn al-Rumi".
17.
Al-Muktafi had nine sons, but they were all underage, and due to his illness, he was unable to determine a successor.
18.
Al-Muktafi's death marked the "high point of the Abbasid revival" that had been spearheaded by his father and grandfather.