Al-Khayzuran bint Atta (died 789) was the wife of caliph al-Mahdi and the mother to caliphs al-Hadi and Harun al-Rashid.
Originally an enslaved Yemeni concubine,[1] al-Khayzuran convinced al-Mahdi to free her upon his ascension to the throne,[2] being elevated to the status of a legal wife. She is known for her immense influence on state affairs, acting as the de facto ruler upon her husband's death,[1] and maintaining her influence during the reign of her sons.[2]
After ascending to the throne, al-Hadi attempted to curtail Khayzuran's power over the Abbasid court, believing that a woman's place was not in politics, leading to Khayzuran having him killed and replaced with his brother, who recognizes her as an important authority.[3] After al-Hadi's death, the military force in Baghdad, who had backed him, attempted to organize a rebellion against the new caliph, but Khayzuran paid off the guard and quelled the uprising.[4]
Appearances[]
- Echoes of History (first mentioned)
- Assassin's Creed: Mirage (mentioned in Database entry only)
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Database: Caliph's Mother
- ↑ 2.0 2.1
al-Khayzuran on Wikipedia
- ↑ Echoes of History: Baghdad Soundwalks – Episode 3: The Harem
- ↑ Echoes of History: Baghdad Soundwalks – Episode 4: The Bazaar