The Zanj Rebellion was a revolt against the Abbasid Caliphate which started in the early 860s before escalating into a full-scale rebellion from 869 to 883. Led by the former Abbasid official Ali ibn Muhammad, the rebellion sought to liberate the caliphate's enslaved population[1] and initially only involved the Zanj, a Bantu population from Southeast Africa who were brought into the caliphate as slaves. It went on to include various Arab tribes and slaves.[2]
During the early years of the revolt, Ali and the rebels were aided by the Hidden Ones of Alamut, who sought to eliminate the Order of the Ancients that held power in the Abbasid court.[3]
Hidden One involvement[]
Initial alliance[]
Since at least 861, the Zanj rebels were secretly supported by the Hidden Ones of Alamut. As the brotherhood lacked permanent agents in Baghdad, they relied on Ali and his rebels to act as their eyes and ears and report on the activities of the Order of the Ancients. In exchange, the Hidden Ones lent their aid to the rebels wherever they could.[4] However, this alliance was an uneasy one, as Ali's methods often went against the brotherhood's Creed.[5]
In late 861, Ali's men learned about a chest containing an artifact sought by the Hidden Ones, which was to be delivered to the Caliph al-Mutawakkil. The rebel leader relayed this information to Rayhan, but after not hearing back from him, he sent the Hidden One Mentor a letter asking for assurance that the artifact would pose no threat to the rebellion.[4]
Ali's capture and rescue[]
Basim talking to Beshi and the rebels at the Upper Harbor
In 862, after the Hidden Ones intercepted a group of mercenaries trying to find Alamut, they sent one of their agents, Nur, to Baghdad to seek assistance from Ali and his rebels.[4] Together, Ali and Nur investigated the perpetrators behind the would-be attack on Alamut, until the Order of the Ancients took notice of their activities and ordered their capture. While Nur barely managed to escape, Ali was captured along with his rebels at the Upper Harbor.[6]
In Ali's absence, his right-hand man Beshi assumed command of the rebellion and sought to rescue the captive rebels held at the Upper Harbor. The Hidden One Basim Ibn Ishaq, who had been sent to continue Nur's investigation, assisted Beshi with his mission in exchange for information on "Al-Ghul", an Order member who oversaw several dig sites in the desert around Baghdad.[7]
Beshi subsequently went undercover among Al-Ghul's workers to learn more about the Ancient,[7] while Basim discovered that Ali was held at the Damascus Gate Prison and rescued him. During their escape, Basim and Ali managed to retrieve a book containing information on Al-Ghul's dealings with the prison guards, who supplied him with prisoners for his dig sites.[8]
Beshi reporting his findings on Mas'ood to Ali, Basim and Roshan
After their escape from the Damascus Gate Prison, Basim and Ali regrouped with the former's mentor Roshan and the Zanj rebels at a watermill north of Baghdad. There, Ali and the Hidden Ones discussed their leads on Al-Ghul's identity, ultimately deducing that the Ancient was the soap mill owner Mas'ood Al-Ya'qoob. Shortly after, Beshi arrived, having learned that Mas'ood operated out of a nearby caravanserai. With this information, Basim and Roshan left to assassinate the Ancient[9] and were ultimately successful.[10]
Fighting the Turkic Army[]
- Fuladh: "Many have grown tired of the injustice, and want change. In the beginning it was mostly slaves, but now tradesmen, the wealthy, and even some nobles support Ali's cause."
- Basim: "And Ali intends to lead them in overthrowing the Abbasid Caliphate?"
- Fuladh: "Ali believes the most qualified should rule, not just the wealthy or highborn. Ironically, he considers himself the most qualified, and claims descent from the Prophet's own family to support it."
- —Basim and Fuladh Al Haami discussing the rebels' cause, 860s.[src]-[m]
Later, the Zanj Rebellion began facing heavy opposition from the Caliphate's Turkic Army, led by the warlord and Order member Wasif al-Turki,[11] who executed countless rebels and any individuals with tangential ties to them. Ali and Beshi sought the Hidden Ones' aid, and the Rafiq Fuladh Al Haami sent Basim to accompany them to Jarjaraya and find who was overseeing the executions of Zanj slaves in the town.[12]
Basim, Ali and the rebels attacking Dogan's villa
While Basim conducted his own investigation, Ali captured and interrogated an Abbasid soldier for information, despite both Basim and Beshi's protests against his methods. In the end, Ali and Basim were able to learn of a farm belonging to the Abbasid captain Dogan bin Arslan, where the captured Zanj rebels were taken to be killed. After Basim freed the rebels held at the farm, Ali rallied them to attack Dogan's villa and kill the captain to put an end to the executions.[13]
Following Dogan's death, Basim recovered a note from his body revealing that the captain answered to Jasoor ibn Basil and Nadir ibn Havid, two Turkic commanders and members of the Order. He subsequently returned to Baghdad to find and eliminate the Ancients while Ali remained in Jarjaraya to await the return of Beshi, who had gone to rendezvous with other rebels.[13]
When Beshi failed to show up, Ali deduced he had been captured and traveled to Baghdad to search for him. After Basim assassinated Jasoor and Nadir and learned that they served a third Order member, "Al-Mardikhwar",[14][15] he rendezvoused with Ali and Fuladh and together the three deduced Wasif al-Turki to be Al-Mardikhwar. Basim and Ali subsequently infiltrated the Great Garrison to find and eliminate Wasif, as well as rescue Beshi, who was imprisoned there.[11]
The Zanj rebels fighting Wasif's guards
During their infiltration, Basim and Ali witnessed Beshi's execution at Wasif's hands and freed the other Zanj rebels held inside the garrison, who fought Wasif's guards as a distraction to allow Basim to reach the warlord's quarters and assassinate him. After Ali made it appear like he had killed Wasif to keep the Hidden Ones' involvement secret,[16] he, Basim and the rebels fought their way out of the garrison and escaped to safety.[17]
Attack on the Caliphal Palace[]
Following Wasif's death, the Turkic Army's opposition to the Zanj Rebellion temporarily ceased as the Caliphate was thrown into disarray due to growing hostilities between the Caliph al-Musta'in and his cousin Abu 'Abdallah, who opposed his claim to the throne.[18] Meanwhile, Ali decided to stop working directly with the Hidden Ones,[17] though he maintained his alliance with them and continued to rely on their services to complete several assassination contracts.[19]
The Zanj rebels gathered in front of the palace's gate
Later, Ali decided to organize an attack on the Palace of the Green Dome in the heart of Baghdad's Round City, believing it was the perfect moment to strike due to the conflict between al-Musta'in and Abu 'Abdallah.[18] Although the assault was ultimately unsuccessful, Basim took advantage of the chaos to infiltrate the palace and find the royal concubine Qabiha, who was secretly the Ra's Al-Af'a of the Order of the Ancients.[20]
Behind the scenes[]
Despite being depicted as a focal conflict in Assassin's Creed: Mirage, the Zanj Rebellion did not start until after the period covered by the game and never reached as far north as Baghdad. The fighting did reach Jarjaraya, with the Zanj taking control of the city which is featured on the game map, but this was in 879 rather than the early 860s.
Appearances[]
- Assassin's Creed: Mirage (first appearance)
- Echoes of History (mentioned only)
References[]
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Database: Rebels
- ↑
Zanj Rebellion on Wikipedia
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Assassin's Creed: Mirage – A New Beginning
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Database: Ali ibn Muhammad
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Taking Flight
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Contact the Rebels
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Jailbreak
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – A Delicate Alliance
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – First Order
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Assassin's Creed: Mirage – The Chase
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Blood and Shadows
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Assassin's Creed: Mirage – The Hunter
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Bird Trap
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – To Catch a Demon
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Den of the Beast
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Assassin's Creed: Mirage – The Return
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Assassin's Creed: Mirage – The Head of the Snake
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Contracts
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – The Serpent's Nest
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