Note: Abbasid leaders are highlighted in red
while Zanj commanders are in bold type.
869 Ali bn
Muhammad raises the banner of rebellion around the port of Basra. An
attempt by local militia to suppress the rebellion is ambushed and annihilated
(Day of the Barges).
870 The Abbasid
renew their effort but this proves unsuccessful as mounted troops are hindered by
the landscape. A Zanj assault by land and sea capture and sack Al-Ubulla
destroying most of the city’s goods.
871 The fall of
Suq al-Ahwaz to the rebels sends the people of Basra to flee the city. The
Abbasid renew their offense defeating the Zanj near Nahr Ma’qil. Nonetheless, the
Zanj surprise the Abbasid in a night assault of their camp forcing the Abbasid
to suspend further attacks. A full-scale assault of Basra is successful and the
city is sacked (September). An Abbasid relief force is beaten off after ten
days of continuous fighting.
872 Around
February, the Abbasid commander Muflih al-Turki
led a large army to the Basra region catching Ali ibn Muhammad by surprise. A
Zanj counterattack put the government forces to flight and during the retreat
to al-Ubulla, Muflih died of his wounds.
In the north, a second
Abbasid force led by Tashtimur al Turki caught up with Yahya ibn Muhammad near
Nahr Abi al-Asad, however, the massive area of swamp made reconnaissance
difficult. In a brisk engagement, Yahya was caught and transported to Samarra
where he met his end.
Further Abbasid activity
was delayed by an outbreak of disease. Recovering, government troops led by Abu Ahmad, moved to Badhaward to resume their campaign
against the Zanj. Government troops destroy a stronghold and nearby villages, yet
superior numbers of the Zanj forced Abu Ahmad to return to Badhaward. A wind
storm destroyed Abu Ahmad’s camp forcing the Abbasid to abandon the
campaign.
In the east, the Abbasid are
occupied with the suppression of the Saffarid secessionist movement in Persia
curtailing further activity against the Zanj for the remainder of the year.
873 The
rebellion expands to Suq al-Ahwaz. Several campaigns are planned to eradicate
the Zanj from the region. Ishaq ibn Kundai would lead a column to Basra, while Ibrahim ibn Sima marched
on Badhaward. Under pressure, the Zanj fell back to their headquarters near
Basra. The series of attacks and counterattacks produced little results and by
mid-875, a number of government commanders are replaced.
876 The invasion
of Iraq by the Saffarid forced the Abbasid to withdraw troops from Wasit and
the Tigris districts presenting an opportunity to threaten the north. Sulayman
ibn Jami was instructed to proceed to al-Hawanit and Sulayman ibn Musa
to Batihah.
877 Caliph al-Muwafak comes
to terms with the Saffarid enabling him to take command of the campaign against
the Zanj. Joined by his son Abu al-Abbas their combined force cleared al-Ahwaz driving the
Zanj back to their capital of al-Mukhtaran south of Basrah. Elsewhere in the
region, an army led by Rumays al-Jubba’i was forced to retreat on Wasit.
The Zanj continue to plunder the region while evading pursuing government
forces.
Confronting this latest
threat, Zanj leaders Sulayman and al-Jubbai unite to meet government troops led
by Aghartmish and Khushaysh. Concealed among the reeds, the Zanj successfully
ambush the Abbasid traveling by water routing Aghartmish’s forces and killing
Khushaysh.
(map 1)
878 A
second government force led by Takin al-Bukhari was attacked by al Jubbai who feigning a retreat led al-Bukhari’s
pursuing troops into an ambush by Sulayman’s awaiting cavalry. Government
forces resumed their offensive attacking Zanj villages and are able to inflict
a defeat upon al-Jubbai. The Zanj retaliated and successively defeated several
government forces reaching al-Rusafa to the south of Wasit and plundered the
town.
879 Suleyman advances on al-Shadidiyyah and despite heavy
losses defeats Takin al-Bukhari. The governor of the region, Ahmad ibn Laythawayh marches
against Suleyman and in a two-day engagement is defeated opening Wasit to an
assault. Sweeping aside the garrison, Wasit is captured, plundered and burned.
Suleyman spends the next month in the district of Junbula, but a reconstituted
Abbasid army, led by Ahmad ibn Laythawayh forces Suleyman to retreat to Tahitha
where he remained for the rest of the year.
(map 2)
880 Renewing
the campaign against the Zanj, a well-equipped army led by Abu al-Abbas cleared
the Tigris districts of rebel troops. Successfully defeating the Zanj near
Wasit, he enters the town to establish himself and construct barges. In the months
following both sides attempt to provoke the other to attack, but gaining the
upper hand Abu al-Abbas forces Suleyman to retreat. Pursuing the Zanj, Abu
al-Abbas is ambushed barely evading capture.
Continuing the campaign,
al-Abbas attacked the Zanj stronghold of al-Mania. Baiting the enemy with some
barges, these were easily captured by the Zanj who found themselves surrounded.
In the ensuring battle, the Zanj flee losing their own vessels and leaving
al-Mania to be burned.
In September, Abu Ahmed al-Muwaffaq reinforced
the troops of Abu al-Abbas as reports arrived of a Zanj build up. Al-Muwaffaq
joined his son and together they moved south toward Sulayman’s stronghold of
al-Mania. Government forces advanced in two columns and Sulayman seeing the
full strength abandoned the city. Al-Muwaffaq pursued Sulayman while al-Abbas
captured the city freeing its captives.
Following the sack of
al-Mania, al-Muwaffaq sent al-Abbas to capture the rebel depot of al-Hawanit in
an engagement lasting until nightfall. Learning that Sulayman was at al-Mansura,
al-Muwaffaq proceeded with his cavalry. In a clash with rebel forces outside of
al-Mansura, the rebel commander al-Jubbai was mortally wounded. Al-Muwaffaq
orders his infantry, cavalry and watercraft to the assault of al-Mansura. Overcoming
its defences Sulayman flees abandoning a great number of stores.
881 With the
area of Tahitha secured, al-Muwaffaq restored government control over the
region. Further actions against the Zanj resulted in the seizure of thirty
galleys leaving many rebels to defect. By mid-February, al-Muwaffaq was ready
to attack the Zanj headquarters of al-Mukhtaran.
The siege of al-Mukhtarah
lasted two and half years with both sides attempting to dislodge the other by
stratagems. Battles took place inside and outside the city fortifications with
all the remaining Zanj commanders committed to its defence. Government troops
construct a new city to serve as a depot.
883 In the spring, the western side of al-Mukhtarah fell followed
by the eastern side in August. During this latter phase, Ali ibn Muhammad is
killed bringing the rebellion to a virtual end.
