A Background of the Assassination of Abu 'Abd Allah al-Shi'i by the First Fatimid Caliph al-Mahdi

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  • ファーティマ朝カリフ=マフディーによるアブー・アブドッラーの粛清
  • ファーティマチョウ カリフ マフディー ニ ヨル アブー アブドッラー ノ シ

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Abstract

Abu 'Abd Allah al-Shi'i is the virtual founder of the Fatimid state in North Africa, who propageted Isma'ilism among the Kutama Berbers, organized them, and overthrew the Sunni Aghlabids. After having established his power over Ifriqiyya, he marched towards Sijilmasa and liberated his master al-Mahdi, who had been confined to his house by the ruler there. Then Abu 'Abd Allah handed over the leadership to al-Mahdi and the latter proclaimed himself as Caliph. However al-Mahdi made Abu 'Abd Allah murdered soon after his accession to the throne. According to al-Nu'man's Iftitah al-Da'wa, the reason for this assassination was his intrigue against the Caliph. Yet the actual facts of this incident are obscure, because it is difficult to accept all the explanation given by al-Nu'man as true, since he wrote his book for the Fatimid dynasty.<br>Here I have considered a background of the assassination from a viewpoint of the organization of the al-Mahdi administration: al-Mahdi had already been surrounded by his own followers before he met Abu 'Abd Allah at Sijilmasa. And after his accession, al-Mahdi took many former officials of the Aghlabids into his service. Therefore, from the beginning of his administration, he had his own manpower independent of Abu 'Abd Allah. In order to establish his dictatorship, al-Mahdi had to kill his powerful servant, regardless of whether he had actually plotted a rebellion or not.

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