Abu'-Fatḥ Nāṣir (or Amīr) al-Juyūsh Sayf al-Islām Sharaf al-Islām Yānis al-Rūmī al-Armanī al-Ḥāfiẓī, commonly simply known by his given name Yānis (i.e., John), was an Armenianmilitary slave who served as vizier of the Fatimid Caliphate for nine months in 1131–1132.
Lifeedit
A Christian of Armenian origin, he became a military slave (mamlūk) of al-Afdal Shahanshah,[1][2] the vizier (and de facto ruler) of the Fatimid Caliphate from 1094 to 1121.[3] In 1122/3, Yanis was promoted to head of the ṣibyān al-khāṣṣ—a special corps of young men being trained for military service[4]—and then to head of the treasury (ṣāḥib bayt al-mal) by the vizier al-Ma'mun al-Bata'ihi.[1] He rose further to head chamberlain (ṣāḥib al-bāb or ṣāḥib al-majlis), a rank almost equal to the vizierate,[5] and commander-in-chief of the army.[1]
Following the death of Caliph al-Amir bi-Ahkam Allah on 17 October 1130, the army raised al-Afdal's son Kutayfat to the vizierate. He soon imprisoned the regent Abd al-Majid, deposed the Fatimid dynasty and Isma'ilism and imposed a Twelver Shi'a regime instead. This aroused the reaction of the old Fatimid elites, and members of al-Amir's ṣibyān al-khāṣṣ murdered Kutayfat on 8 December 1131. Abd al-Majid was released and reinstated, initially as regent, but in February 1132 he was raised to the caliphate as al-Hafiz li-Din Allah.[6][7][8] Yanis emerged as the new strong man, and was named vizier.[5] This has been seen by some modern historians as a reward for assisting in the murder of Kutayfat and the restoration of the dynasty.[9] On the other hand, among his first moves was the elimination of about 300 of the approximately 500 ṣibyān, exactly the same corps that had been responsible for Kutayfat's murder.[5]
This severity was a hallmark of Yanis, a strong personality and disciplinarian who tried to discipline the unruly army by tough measures.[2][10] At the same time, he relied on a privately raised regiment of military slaves, which was known after him as Yānisiyya.[10] Yanis' efforts to impose control over the state extended to the administration as well, leading to the imprisonment of several prominent officials.[10] His growing power alarmed al-Hafiz, and after nine months in power, he had the vizier's ablution water poisoned.[10] After Yanis' death, the Caliph did not appoint another vizier, and for a time took governance into his own hands. It was not until 1134 that a new vizier was appointed, in the person of al-Hafiz's son and designated heir Sulayman.[5]
During his tenure, Yanis began constructing two mosques, the Masjid al-Fath and the Masjid Yanis, which were completed by his two sons, whom al-Hafiz took under his protection.[10]
al-Imad, Leila S. (1990). The Fatimid Vizierate (979-1172). Berlin: Klaus Schwarz Verlag. ISBN3-922968-82-1.
Dedoyan, Seta B. (1997). The Fatimid Armenians: Cultural and Political Interaction in the Near East. Leiden, New York, and Köln: Brill. ISBN90-04-10816-5.
Halm, Heinz (2014). Kalifen und Assassinen: Ägypten und der vordere Orient zur Zeit der ersten Kreuzzüge, 1074–1171 [Caliphs and Assassins: Egypt and the Near East at the Time of the First Crusades, 1074–1171] (in German). Munich: C.H. Beck. ISBN978-3-406-66163-1.
fath, yanis, fatḥ, nāṣir, amīr, juyūsh, sayf, islām, sharaf, islām, yānis, rūmī, armanī, Ḥāfiẓī, commonly, simply, known, given, name, yānis, john, armenian, military, slave, served, vizier, fatimid, caliphate, nine, months, 1131, 1132, life, edita, christian,. Abu Fatḥ Naṣir or Amir al Juyush Sayf al Islam Sharaf al Islam Yanis al Rumi al Armani al Ḥafiẓi commonly simply known by his given name Yanis i e John was an Armenian military slave who served as vizier of the Fatimid Caliphate for nine months in 1131 1132 Life editA Christian of Armenian origin he became a military slave mamluk of al Afdal Shahanshah 1 2 the vizier and de facto ruler of the Fatimid Caliphate from 1094 to 1121 3 In 1122 3 Yanis was promoted to head of the ṣibyan al khaṣṣ a special corps of young men being trained for military service 4 and then to head of the treasury ṣaḥib bayt al mal by the vizier al Ma mun al Bata ihi 1 He rose further to head chamberlain ṣaḥib al bab or ṣaḥib al majlis a rank almost equal to the vizierate 5 and commander in chief of the army 1 Following the death of Caliph al Amir bi Ahkam Allah on 17 October 1130 the army raised al Afdal s son Kutayfat to the vizierate He soon imprisoned the regent Abd al Majid deposed the Fatimid dynasty and Isma ilism and imposed a Twelver Shi a regime instead This aroused the reaction of the old Fatimid elites and members of al Amir s ṣibyan al khaṣṣ murdered Kutayfat on 8 December 1131 Abd al Majid was released and reinstated initially as regent but in February 1132 he was raised to the caliphate as al Hafiz li Din Allah 6 7 8 Yanis emerged as the new strong man and was named vizier 5 This has been seen by some modern historians as a reward for assisting in the murder of Kutayfat and the restoration of the dynasty 9 On the other hand among his first moves was the elimination of about 300 of the approximately 500 ṣibyan exactly the same corps that had been responsible for Kutayfat s murder 5 This severity was a hallmark of Yanis a strong personality and disciplinarian who tried to discipline the unruly army by tough measures 2 10 At the same time he relied on a privately raised regiment of military slaves which was known after him as Yanisiyya 10 Yanis efforts to impose control over the state extended to the administration as well leading to the imprisonment of several prominent officials 10 His growing power alarmed al Hafiz and after nine months in power he had the vizier s ablution water poisoned 10 After Yanis death the Caliph did not appoint another vizier and for a time took governance into his own hands It was not until 1134 that a new vizier was appointed in the person of al Hafiz s son and designated heir Sulayman 5 During his tenure Yanis began constructing two mosques the Masjid al Fath and the Masjid Yanis which were completed by his two sons whom al Hafiz took under his protection 10 References edit a b c Dedoyan 2002 p 281 a b al Imad 1990 p 192 al Imad 1990 pp 190 191 Dedoyan 1997 p 136 a b c d Halm 2014 p 186 Stern 1960 p 216 Dedoyan 1997 pp 142 143 Halm 2014 p 181 Dedoyan 2002 pp 281 282 a b c d e Dedoyan 2002 p 282 Sources edit nbsp Fatimid Caliphate portalal Imad Leila S 1990 The Fatimid Vizierate 979 1172 Berlin Klaus Schwarz Verlag ISBN 3 922968 82 1 Dedoyan Seta B 1997 The Fatimid Armenians Cultural and Political Interaction in the Near East Leiden New York and Koln Brill ISBN 90 04 10816 5 Dedoyan Seta B 2002 Yanis In Bearman P J Bianquis Th Bosworth C E van Donzel E amp Heinrichs W P eds Encyclopaedia of Islam Volume XI W Z 2nd ed Leiden E J Brill pp 281 282 doi 10 1163 1573 3912 islam SIM 7980 ISBN 978 90 04 12756 2 Halm Heinz 2014 Kalifen und Assassinen Agypten und der vordere Orient zur Zeit der ersten Kreuzzuge 1074 1171 Caliphs and Assassins Egypt and the Near East at the Time of the First Crusades 1074 1171 in German Munich C H Beck ISBN 978 3 406 66163 1 Stern S M 1960 al Afḍal Abu ʿAli Aḥmad surnamed Kutayfat In Gibb H A R Kramers J H Levi Provencal E Schacht J Lewis B amp Pellat Ch eds Encyclopaedia of Islam Volume I A B 2nd ed Leiden E J Brill p 216 doi 10 1163 1573 3912 islam SIM 0339 OCLC 495469456 Preceded byKutayfat Vizier of the Fatimid Caliphate1131 1132 VacantTitle next held bySulayman ibn al Hafiz Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Abu 27l Fath Yanis amp oldid 1142486095, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
