The preminence of ahmad ibn tulun as the leading amir of the Tulunid Kingdom

Abstract

The Abbasid Empire emerged as the main power ruling the Muslim world in the year 132H/750CE with its centre in Baghdad, after defeating the Umayyad Dynasty in the battlefield. The Abbasid Empire began to achieve its golden age during the era of Caliph Harun al-Rashid (171-193H/787-809CE). However, the Abbasids gradually experienced decline after the rise of the Turkic military which was brought en masse during the rule of Caliph al-Mu‘tasim (218-226H/833-841CE). The Turkic military began to seize power and some of them set up their own small kingdoms. The most influential leader among the Turkic was Amir Ahmad ibn Tulun (254-270H/868-884CE), who succeeded in founding the Tulunid Kingdom in Egypt. Thus the objective of this research is to examine in detail the biography of Amir Ibn Tulun and attempt to understand and appraise from history, his attitude, interests and authority as the leading Tulunid ruler. This is in view of the close relationship partially between an individual’s current interests and behaviour with the environment in which he grew up. This is a qualitative research using historical and biographical study. This research uses documentation as a method of collecting data by focusing on primary and secondary sources. Analysis of data is descriptive using content analysis and interpretation of sources based on historical interpretation. Research results find that Ibn Tulun succeeded in laying down the ultimate benchmark in the history of Egypt by establishing his domain extending from Syria to the borders of Iraq in the East and to Libya in the West, and declaring full independence from the Abbasid Dynasty centred in Baghdad at that time.