In the period of the el-Mu'tasım (833-847) that was
the brother and successor of the caliph el-Me'mun, the position of Turks in the Abbasi
army were strengthened much more. Moreover, the city of Samarra was founded in the year of
836 and the caliph moved the centre of his caliphate to this new city together with the
troops of guardsmen. Special places were allocated for the Turkish troops in Samarra. The
Caliph el-Mu'tasım entitled these troops of Turks composed of nearly 35.000 people with
some privileges. They were different from the other divisions of the army in respect of
their clothes that they wore and the salaries that they were paid. In the period of a
half-century that was called as "Samarra Period" in the Islam history, Turks had
attained great influence not only in the military fields, but also in the political and
administrative fields. The Turkish commanders selected even the caliphs and they could not
disobey their demands. Nevertheless, there was a continuous cruel competition between the
caliphs and the Turkish commanders.
The transfer of the centre of caliphate to Baghdad again in the year of 892 reduced the
influence of Turks in the state administration. But after a while, the Caliph El-Radi
appointed Ra'ik El-Hazari as "Emir-ü'l-ümera" (Emir of the Staff Officers)
with various authorities. Upon this assignation, the Turkish influence increased again.
This situation was also observed in the continuation of post of Emir of Staff Officers
pertaining to Beçkem and Tuzun. The name of Beçkem was engraved onto the coins. Turks
dominated the caliphate and they would assign or dismiss the caliphates for the power.
Afterwards, when Baghdad was invaded by the Shiite Büveyhi people, the caliphs lost their
political power (945). The Seljuks that was a Turkish dynasty saved the Abbasi Caliphs
from the domination of Büveyhi people.
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