Azjur al-Turki (Arabic: أزجور التركي) or Arkhuz ibn Ulugh Tarkhan al-Turki (أرخوز بن أولوغ طرخان التركي) was a Turkic military officer in the service of the Abbasid Caliphate. He was briefly the governor of Egypt in 868, and was the last individual to hold that office prior to the Tulunid takeover of Egypt that same year.
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According to the fifteenth century chronicler Ibn Taghribirdi, Azjur/Arkhuz was born in Baghdad to Ulugh Tarkhan, a Turkic man of likely high status, as evidenced by the use of the title tarkhan. Azjur himself eventually became one of the senior amirs of the Abbasid state,[1] and in 867 he was appointed as chief of security (shurtah) of Egypt by the governor Muzahim ibn Khaqan.[2]
During Muzahim's governorship, Azjur assisted in quelling the revolt of Jabir ibn al-Walid, and fought a battle against him in the area of Giza in June 867. He soon made himself unpopular, however, when he introduced a number of new ritual practices in place of those traditionally used in Egypt. Muzahim eventually dismissed him from the shurtah in November 867, but Azjur remained an influential figure, and after Muzahim's death in January 868 he was again appointed as the head of security for Muzahim's son and successor Ahmad.[3]
In April 868, Azjur himself became governor of Egypt following the death of Ahmad. During his administration he sent the rebel Jabir, who had been imprisoned in al-Fustat by Muzahim, to Iraq, and also defeated an 'Alid rebellion that broke out in Upper Egypt. He remained governor until August or September 868, after which he was replaced by Ahmad ibn Tulun.[4] Ibn Taghribirdi claims that he then returned to Iraq, where he was received by the caliph and became one of his officers (quwwad);[5]al-Kindi, on the other hand, reports that he left Egypt to go on the Hajj.[6]
Gordon, Matthew S. (2001). The Breaking of a Thousand Swords: A History of the Turkish Military of Samarra (A.H. 200–275/815–889 C.E.). Albany, New York: State University of New York Press. ISBN0-7914-4795-2.
Kennedy, Hugh (1998). "Egypt as a province in the Islamic caliphate, 641-868". In Petry, Carl F. (ed.). Cambridge History of Egypt, Volume One: Islamic Egypt, 640–1517. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 62–85. ISBN0-521-47137-0.
Al-Kindi, Muhammad ibn Yusuf (1912). Guest, Rhuvon (ed.). The Governors and Judges of Egypt (in Arabic). Leyden and London: E. J. Brill.
azjur, turki, arabic, أزجور, التركي, arkhuz, ulugh, tarkhan, turki, أرخوز, بن, أولوغ, طرخان, التركي, turkic, military, officer, service, abbasid, caliphate, briefly, governor, egypt, last, individual, hold, that, office, prior, tulunid, takeover, egypt, that, . Azjur al Turki Arabic أزجور التركي or Arkhuz ibn Ulugh Tarkhan al Turki أرخوز بن أولوغ طرخان التركي was a Turkic military officer in the service of the Abbasid Caliphate He was briefly the governor of Egypt in 868 and was the last individual to hold that office prior to the Tulunid takeover of Egypt that same year Career editAccording to the fifteenth century chronicler Ibn Taghribirdi Azjur Arkhuz was born in Baghdad to Ulugh Tarkhan a Turkic man of likely high status as evidenced by the use of the title tarkhan Azjur himself eventually became one of the senior amirs of the Abbasid state 1 and in 867 he was appointed as chief of security shurtah of Egypt by the governor Muzahim ibn Khaqan 2 During Muzahim s governorship Azjur assisted in quelling the revolt of Jabir ibn al Walid and fought a battle against him in the area of Giza in June 867 He soon made himself unpopular however when he introduced a number of new ritual practices in place of those traditionally used in Egypt Muzahim eventually dismissed him from the shurtah in November 867 but Azjur remained an influential figure and after Muzahim s death in January 868 he was again appointed as the head of security for Muzahim s son and successor Ahmad 3 In April 868 Azjur himself became governor of Egypt following the death of Ahmad During his administration he sent the rebel Jabir who had been imprisoned in al Fustat by Muzahim to Iraq and also defeated an Alid rebellion that broke out in Upper Egypt He remained governor until August or September 868 after which he was replaced by Ahmad ibn Tulun 4 Ibn Taghribirdi claims that he then returned to Iraq where he was received by the caliph and became one of his officers quwwad 5 al Kindi on the other hand reports that he left Egypt to go on the Hajj 6 Notes edit Gordon 2001 p 158 Ibn Taghribirdi 1930 p 341 Al Kindi 1912 p 208 Al Kindi 1912 pp 209 11 Kennedy 1998 p 85 Al Kindi 1912 pp 210 211 12 Ibn Taghribirdi 1930 p 342 Al Kindi 1912 p 212 References editGordon Matthew S 2001 The Breaking of a Thousand Swords A History of the Turkish Military of Samarra A H 200 275 815 889 C E Albany New York State University of New York Press ISBN 0 7914 4795 2 Ibn Taghribirdi Jamal al Din Abu al Mahasin Yusuf 1930 Nujum al zahira fi muluk Misr wa l Qahira Volume II Cairo Dar al Kutub al Misriyya Kennedy Hugh 1998 Egypt as a province in the Islamic caliphate 641 868 In Petry Carl F ed Cambridge History of Egypt Volume One Islamic Egypt 640 1517 Cambridge Cambridge University Press pp 62 85 ISBN 0 521 47137 0 Al Kindi Muhammad ibn Yusuf 1912 Guest Rhuvon ed The Governors and Judges of Egypt in Arabic Leyden and London E J Brill Preceded byAhmad ibn Muzahim ibn Khaqan Governor of Egypt868 Succeeded byAhmad ibn Tulun Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Azjur al Turki amp oldid 1171433012, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
