1. Al-Wathiq is described in the sources as well-educated, intellectually curious, but a poet, who enjoyed the company of poets and musicians as well as scholars.
19 Facts About Al-Wathiq
1. 2.
Al-Wathiq's character is relatively obscure compared to other early Abbasid caliphs.
3.
Al-Wathiq appears to have been a sedentary ruler occupied with the luxuries of the court, a capable poet, and a patron of poets and musicians, as well as showing interest in scholarly pursuits.
4.
Al-Wathiq's father was the Abbasid prince, and later caliph, al-Mu'tasim, and his mother a Byzantine Greek slave, Qaratis.
5.
Al-Wathiq was named Harun after his grandfather, Caliph Harun al-Rashid, and had the teknonym Abu Ja'far.
6.
Al-Wathiq is then mentioned in the account of al-Tabari as being sent to ceremonially welcome the general al-Afshin during his victorious return from the suppression of the revolt of Babak Khorramdin in 838, and being left behind as his father's deputy during the Amorion campaign of the same year.
7.
Al-Wathiq is then mentioned in 841 as bringing a bowl of fruit to al-Afshin, now disgraced and imprisoned.
8.
Al-Wathiq was fair with a ruddy complexion, commonly associated with noble descent.
9.
Al-Wathiq's left eye was paralyzed with a white fleck, which reportedly lent his gaze a stern aspect.
10.
Al-Wathiq sent his mother, Qaratis, accompanied by his brother Ja'far, to head the pilgrimage in 842.
11.
Al-Wathiq's reign was short and is generally considered to have been essentially a continuation of al-Mu'tasim's own, as the government continued to be led by men that had been raised to power by al-Mu'tasim: the Turkic military commanders Itakh, Wasif, and Ashinas, the vizier, Muhammad ibn al-Zayyat, and the chief, Ahmad ibn Abi Duwad.
12.
Al-Wathiq's age is variously given as 32,34, or 36 Islamic years at the time.
13.
Al-Wathiq was buried in the Haruni Palace in Samarra, that he had built.
14.
Al-Wathiq is reported as having been generous to the poor of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, and to have reduced taxes on maritime commerce, but he does not appear to have enjoyed any great popularity.
15.
Al-Wathiq was a patron of poets, singers and musicians, inviting them to the palace.
16.
Al-Wathiq married her, and she became one of his favourites.
17.
Al-Wathiq had another concubine, who was a servant of Farida.
18.
Al-Wathiq belonged to Salih bin Abdul al-Wahhab, who had trained her as a singer.
19.
Al-Wathiq bought her for 5000 dinars and called her Ightibat.