Babak Khorramdin Revolt

The term "Bābakīya" ({{Langx|fa|بابکیا}}; Khorramdinism) refers to the followers of Babak Khorramdin, who was considered a Batinist. He was allegedly born as the result of an illicit affair in the mountainous regions of Azerbaijan in 202 AH (818 CE). His teachings gained many followers.{{cn|date=April 2025}} Babak emerged during the reign of Al-Ma'mun. He spread chaos and corruption across the land, seizing control of many regions. Khorramdin sought to revive the religion of the "Magi" (Zoroastrianism).{{cn|date=March 2025}} His mother, who was described as a "blind woman " (known as "Rumīya the Blind Woman"), became pregnant after an affair. One source recounts a story from Ali ibn Marr about a beggar, who claimed that he had once had relations with Khorramdin's mother, only for her to spread the word that the child was his. When confronted, the beggar threatened to kill her if she spoke of it further.{{cn|date=March 2025}} The Khurramites evolved in the 9th century, as a result of long standing conflict between the caliphate and native Persians, following the conquest of Azerbaijan. Al-Tabari records that Babak claimed he possessed Javadan's spirit and that he became active in 816–817. Babak took refuge during his revolt against the Abbasid Caliphate in a mountainous region between Azerbaijan and Aran{{dn|date=May 2025}}, also known as Badhan between the years 201 AH (816 CE) and 223 AH (838 CE).{{cn|date=April 2025}}

In (807CE) The Caliph Harun al-Rashid Dispatched Abdallah ibn Malik al-Khuza'i to fight against the Khurramites in Azerbaijan, He captured and enslaved many of them, Harun ordered the execution of the prisoners and the sale of the captives.{{cite book|last=Crone |first=Patricia |title=Slaves on Horses: The Evolution of the Islamic Polity |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge |year=1980 |page=182 |isbn=0-521-52940-9}} In the same year (192 AH) (807 CE), the year Harun al-Rashid set out for Khurasan and died on the way, the Khurramites launched a series of revolts. A number of villages in Isfahan took up arms alongside other parts of the mountainous region, including Rayy, Hamadan, Karaj, and Dastaba. At the same time, Khurramite uprisings occurred in Azerbaijan, where it is reported that 30,000 men were killed, and their women and children were enslaved. The rebels appear to have used Harun’s departure as an opportunity, and the extent of the revolts suggests a high level of coordination.{{cite book|last=Crone |first=Patricia |title=The Nativist Prophets of Early Islamic Iran |date=2012 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge, New York |page=40}} which the Abbasids successfully Suppressed the rebellion

The khurramites Rebelled against the Caliphate for the third time in (212AH/827CE) at Isfahan,{{cite book|last=Crone |first=Patricia |title=The Nativist Prophets of Early Islamic Iran |date=2012 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge, New York |page=40}} in response Al-Ma'mun in the beginning of appointed some generals to defeat Babak, One was Yahyā bin Mu'adh a khorasani of persian origin, He fought against Babak without Major results. The other appointee Isa bin mohammed bin Abi Khalid another khorasani of iranian origin, Fought against Babak and ignominiously defeated. Al-Ma'mün then tried to co-opt one of the robber-barons, Called "Zurayq", but this backfired when Zurayq did nothing and then refused to vacate his post. The governor and general who succeeded in removing Zurayq (in 212/827f.)," Muhammad b. Humayd al-Tüsi", a Khurāsāni of Arab descent, preferred also to remove as many magnates as he could lay hands on. But Muhammad b. Humayd proceeded to be caught by Babak in a narrow pass, where he and most of his men lost their lives. This was in 214/829.{{cite book|last=Crone |first=Patricia |title=The Nativist Prophets of Early Islamic Iran |date=2012 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge, New York |page=70}}. In fact Muhammad bin Humayd was sent to Azerbaijan in the year of 827, and according to al-tabri the battle between him and babak fell in the year of 829, which he was defeated.{{cite book|last=Crone |first=Patricia |title=The Nativist Prophets of Early Islamic Iran |date=2012 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge, New York |page=40}}

Babak's influence continued to grow until the reign of al-Mu'tasim, during which the Khurramites gained strength and reached "al-Jibal " (Zagros mountains). Which the khurramites rebelled for the fourth time in (833 CE/218 AH) once again

striking at a time when the capital was denuded of caliphal troops, Many people in Zagros mountains from Hamadan, Isfahan, and Masabadhan, Mihrajanqadhaq, and the two Māhs (Nihawand,Dinawar) among other regions, adopted their beliefs and the rebels were coordinating their activities with Babak. They Killed Tax collectors, plundered Travellers, and slaughtered people. The khurramites were defeated in Fārs (South West). In Isfahan they captured Karaj, the centre of the local ruler Abu Dulaf al-Ijli who was away with his troops at the time, and then Babak sent reinforcements to the Zagros mountains prompting al-Mu'tasim to launch a series of military campaigns to crush the movement. He prepared multiple armies and forces lead by {{ill|Ishaq ibn Ibrahim|ar|إسحاق بن إبراهيم الخزاعي}}, the governor of Baghdad, who was given command over the mountainous regions. He dealt a decisive blow to the Khurramites and ruthlessy suppresed the rebellion, killing 60,000 to 100,000 Khurramites. The remaining survivors of 14,000 ran to the arms of the Byzantine territories where they were converted to Christianity and enrolled in the imperial army, with mixed success.{{cite book|last=Crone |first=Patricia |title=The Nativist Prophets of Early Islamic Iran |date=2012 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge, New York |page=41}}

During this period, al-Mu'tasim appointed the Persian general Afshin to lead the campaign against Babak and oversee the region of al-Jibal. Before Afshin's departure, the caliph had sent a group under "Abu Sa'id Muhammad ibn yusuf" to rebuild the forts demolished by Babak between Zanjan and Ardabil. The Khurramites, led by Mu'awiya, made a failed attack on the Arabs that was recorded by al-Tabari as Babak's first defeat.{{cite web |title=Korramis |url=https://iranicaonline.org/articles/korramis |website=Encyclopædia Iranica |access-date=13 September 2020}}

Meanwhile, Muhammad ibn al-Ba'ith, who ruled the fortress of Shahi and the citadel of Tabriz in Azerbaijan, was initially allied with Babak Khorramdin, providing provisions and entertainment for his troops. However, when an Abbasid army approached in 220 AH / 835 CE, he switched sides and pledged allegiance to Caliph Al-Mu'tasim, using the opportunity to consolidate his control over Marand. As part of this, he betrayed Isma the kurd, a Khurramite leader, by welcoming him with hospitality, getting him and his men drunk, then killing his companions and capturing Isma. He had Isma transported to a fortress on Lake Urmia, later sending him to the caliph, who extracted intelligence about the roads and military strategies in Azerbaijan.

After Babak's defeat, Ibn al-Ba'ith fell out with the Abbasid governor, leading to his imprisonment in Samarra.{{cite book|last=Crone |first=Patricia |title=The Nativist Prophets of Early Islamic Iran |date=2012 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge, New York |page=57}}

In 220 AH (835 CE), Caliph al-Mu‘tasim appointed his most capable general, Al-Afshin, to lead the campaign against Babak Khorramdin. As part of a broader strategy, Muhammad b. Yusuf al-Thaghri was dispatched to Ardabil to rebuild the fortresses between Zanjan and Ardabil and to establish garrisons along the route to ensure the secure passage of provisions. Al-Afshin began his campaign by clearing the Jibal region of rebellious local lords and fortified the road from Ardabil to Barzand with garrisons and defensive trenches to protect supply caravans. Operating from his base in Barzand, he engaged in systematic intelligence gathering and advanced with extreme caution—moving his camp only four miles a day and protecting it with trenches and scattered iron spikes to avoid ambushes. By March 221 AH (836 CE), he had reached a position just six miles from "al-Badhdh", Babak’s fortified base. Though he scored several victories over Babak, he also suffered several reverses, Al-Afshin ultimately succeeded in drawing Babak into the open. In 222 AH (837 CE), after prolonged preparation and steady progress, he stormed Babak Fort (al-Badhdh), delivering a decisive blow to the Khurramite revolt and marketing the collapse of the Khurramite Resistance.{{cite book|last=Crone |first=Patricia |title=The Nativist Prophets of Early Islamic Iran |date=2012 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge, New York |page=71}}

After the fall of Babak's stronghold al-Badhdh in 837, he fled westward with a small group of followers and sought refuge with the Armenian Noble Sahl Smbatean. Babak requested that his brother be hosted separately by another Armenian noble, in an attempt to protect him. However, these precautions failed,{{cite book|last=Crone |first=Patricia |title=The Nativist Prophets of Early Islamic Iran |date=2012 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge, New York |page=71}} Though Babak sometimes allied with Armenian nobles, these relationships were often unstable and opportunistic. Eventually, Sahl betrayed Babak to the Abbasids. By delivering him to the caliphal forces, Sahl aimed to regain favour at the caliphal court. This betrayal marked the final collapse of Babak's resistance,{{cite book|last=Crone |first=Patricia |title=The Nativist Prophets of Early Islamic Iran |date=2012 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge, New York |page=67}}Sahl Smbatean

said to have dishonoured Babak’s mother, sister, and wife in front of

Babak before handing them all over to the caliph,{{cite book|last=Crone |first=Patricia |title=The Nativist Prophets of Early Islamic Iran |date=2012 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge, New York |page=59}} This act was meant to symbolically and politically disgrace Babak, portraying him as morally and militarily defeated.

The dramatic conclusion of Babak's story his betrayal by Sahl and gruesome execution was shaped by the idea that Babak had pretended to be more than he was. Sahl reportedly scorned him during the betrayal, exclaiming:

{{blockquote| "You are just a herder of cows and sheep. What have you got to do with kingship, political decisions, or armies?"{{cite book|last=Crone |first=Patricia |title=The Nativist Prophets of Early Islamic Iran |date=2012 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge, New York |page=73}}}}

This was presented as the final symbolic blow: a nobleman reclaiming dominance over a pretender. both Babak and his brother were handed over to the caliph's forces.{{cite book|last=Crone |first=Patricia |title=The Nativist Prophets of Early Islamic Iran |date=2012 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge, New York |page=71}}

File:Illustrated leaf from the Tarikhnama of Abu 'Ali Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Bal'ami; Afshin and Babak arriving at Samarra. Persia, Safavid dynasty, 16th century.jpg, upon the camel, parades Babak, upon the elephant, into Samarra. Persian miniature created in 16th-century Safavid Iran, from a copy of Abu Ali Bal'ami's 10th-century Tarikhnama]]

Babak Khorramdin was eventually seized by Al-Afshin and was handed over to the Abbasid Caliph. During Babak's execution, the Caliph's henchmen first cut off his legs and hands in order to convey the most devastating message to his followers. It's said that Babak bravely rinsed his face with the drained blood pouring out of his cuts, thus preventing the Caliph and the rest of the Abbasid army from seeing his pale face, a result of the heavy loss of blood.{{sfn|Yusofi|1988|pp=299–306}}CAIS News, Restoration of Fortress of Babak Khorramdin to Continue, May 16, 2004 He was then gibbeted alive whilst sewn into a cow's skin with the horns at ear level to gradually crush his head as it dried out.The golden age of Islam by Maurice Lombard, p. 152, {{ISBN|978-1-55876-322-7}} Babak was executed in Samara in (838CE) and his brother "Abdullah" was executed in Baghdad in the same year. {{cite book |last=Crone |first=Patricia |title=The Nativist Prophets of Early Islamic Iran |date=2012 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge, New York |page=71}}

Later Mazyar rose to power in Tabaristan during which he also wanted to spread Zoroastrianism, however the Abbasids suppressed his rebellion and executed him, crucifying him next to Babak in 840CE.{{cite book |last=Crone |first=Patricia |title=The Nativist Prophets of Early Islamic Iran |date=2012 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge, New York |page=67|quote=about the same time as Mazyar, so that they were crucified together with babak (after execution) in Baghdad in 225/840.}}

{{notelist}}

• {{Encyclopædia Iranica Online|volume=3|fascicle=3|article=Bābak Ḵorramī|first=Gh. -H.|last=Yusofi|url=https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/babak-korrami|pages=299-306}}
• {{cite book |last=Crone |first=Patricia |title=The Nativist Prophets of Early Islamic Iran |year=2012 |location=Cambridge, New York |publisher=Cambridge University Press }}
• {{cite book |last=Crone |first=Patricia |title=Slaves on Horses: The Evolution of the Islamic Polity |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge |year=1980 |isbn=0-521-52940-9}}

Category:Rebellions against the Abbasid Caliphate

Category:Rebellions in Iran

Category:9th century in the Abbasid Caliphate

Category:9th-century rebellions

Category:Military history of the Abbasid Caliphate

Category:History of Iran

Category:History of Azerbaijan (Iran)

Category:Khurramites