Bahram al-Da'i (Arabic: بهرام الداعي, "Bahram the da'i [missionary]") or Bahram of Astarabad was a 12th-century PersianNizari Ismaili who was the Chief Da'i and leader of the Assassins in Syria from after 1113 through 1128. Although his attempt to establish a Nizari base in Damascus was unsuccessful, he had an important role in organizing Nizari presence in Northern and Southern Syria.[1]
Bahram was a nephew of a Nizari Isma'ili leader named Abu Ibrahim Asadabadi who was executed in Baghdad in midst of the massacres ordered by Seljuk sultan Barkiyaruq in 1101.[2][3][4] Asadabadi had been an envoy of Barkiyaruq's.[4]
After the execution of his predecessor Abu Tahir al-Sa'igh and the uprooting of the Nizaris in Aleppo, Bahram was sent by Alamut Castle in an attempt to expand the Nizari base in Syria.[1]
According to Ibn al-Qalanisi, the main source of Isma'ili presence in Damascus, Bahram started his career as a propagandist throughout of Syria, living in secrecy.[5]
Nizari power in Aleppo began to decline as the Artuqid prince Belek Ghazi captured the city in 1123, who expelled the sect from the city in 1124.[1]
Bahram turned to Southern Syria as recommended by his supporter Ilghazi, the Artukid prince of Mardin. Bahram tried to establish a base in Damascus which was then under the rule of the Burid ruler Toghtekin. At this time in 1125, Damascus was under threats of the Frankish Crusaders under Baldwin II of Jerusalem, and Isma'ilis from Homs and elsewhere had joined Toghtekin's troops in the Battle of Marj al-Saffar against the Franks in 1126.[5] Toghtekin thus welcomed Bahram. Abu Ali Tahir ibn Sa'id al-Mazadaqani (المزدقاني), the chief vizier of Toghtekin, was partial to the Nizaris, and persuaded Toghtekin to give a Mission House (dar al-da'wah) in Damascus and the frontier stronghold of Banias to Bahram, who refortified the stronghold and made it his base, performing extensive raids from there and possibly capturing more places. By 1128, their activities had become so formidable that "nobody dared to say a word about it openly", as described by Ibn al-Qalanisi.[5] Toghtekin thus became anxious about his relations with Bahram. According to Ibn al-Qalanisi, al-Mazdaqani was to blame, while Ibn al-Athir[6] claims Toghtekin was responsible for the situation.[7][1]
DeathEdit
Bahram was killed in action in Wadi al-Taym on the western slopes of Mount Hermon while fighting local tribes in 1128.[3][5] Isma'ili presence in Damascus began to decline after his death. He was succeeded by Isma'il al-Ajami, another Persianda'i.[1]
ReferencesEdit
^ abcdeMirza, Nasseh Ahmad (1997). Syrian Ismailism: The Ever Living Line of the Imamate, AD 1100-1260. Psychology Press. pp. 10–12. ISBN9780700705054.
^Lewis, Bernard (1967), The Assassins, Perseus Books, New York, pp. 52-53, 104-106
^ abSetton, Kenneth Meyer; Baldwin, Marshall W. (1969). A History of the Crusades. Univ of Wisconsin Press. pp. 111–120. ISBN978-0-299-04834-1.
^ abRichards, D. S., Editor (2010), The Chronicle of Ibn al-Athir for the Crusading Period from al-Kamil fi’l-Ta’rikh. Part 1, 1097-1146., Ashgate Publishing, Farnham, UK, pp. 40-47
^ abcdGibb, N. A. R., Editor (1932),The Damascus Chronicle of the Crusades. Extracted and translated from the Chronicle of ibn al-Qalānisi, Luzac & Company, London, pp.174-177, 179-180, 187-191
^Richards, D. S., Editor (2010), The Chronicle of Ibn al-Athir for the Crusading Period from al-Kamil fi’l-Ta’rikh. Part 1, 1097-1146., Ashgate Publishing, Farnham, UK, pp. 260-261
^Wasserman, James (2001). The Templars and the Assassins: The Militia of Heaven. Simon and Schuster. p. 117. ISBN9781594778735.
September 09, 2023
bahram, arabic, بهرام, الداعي, bahram, missionary, bahram, astarabad, 12th, century, persian, nizari, ismaili, chief, leader, assassins, syria, from, after, 1113, through, 1128, although, attempt, establish, nizari, base, damascus, unsuccessful, important, rol. Bahram al Da i Arabic بهرام الداعي Bahram the da i missionary or Bahram of Astarabad was a 12th century Persian Nizari Ismaili who was the Chief Da i and leader of the Assassins in Syria from after 1113 through 1128 Although his attempt to establish a Nizari base in Damascus was unsuccessful he had an important role in organizing Nizari presence in Northern and Southern Syria 1 Bahram al Da iبهرام الداعيBornAstarabad PersiaCitizenshipNizari Ismaili stateEmirate of DamascusOccupation s Missionary military leaderPredecessorAbu Tahir al Sa ighSuccessorIsma il al AjamiCareer EditBahram was a nephew of a Nizari Isma ili leader named Abu Ibrahim Asadabadi who was executed in Baghdad in midst of the massacres ordered by Seljuk sultan Barkiyaruq in 1101 2 3 4 Asadabadi had been an envoy of Barkiyaruq s 4 After the execution of his predecessor Abu Tahir al Sa igh and the uprooting of the Nizaris in Aleppo Bahram was sent by Alamut Castle in an attempt to expand the Nizari base in Syria 1 According to Ibn al Qalanisi the main source of Isma ili presence in Damascus Bahram started his career as a propagandist throughout of Syria living in secrecy 5 Nizari power in Aleppo began to decline as the Artuqid prince Belek Ghazi captured the city in 1123 who expelled the sect from the city in 1124 1 Bahram turned to Southern Syria as recommended by his supporter Ilghazi the Artukid prince of Mardin Bahram tried to establish a base in Damascus which was then under the rule of the Burid ruler Toghtekin At this time in 1125 Damascus was under threats of the Frankish Crusaders under Baldwin II of Jerusalem and Isma ilis from Homs and elsewhere had joined Toghtekin s troops in the Battle of Marj al Saffar against the Franks in 1126 5 Toghtekin thus welcomed Bahram Abu Ali Tahir ibn Sa id al Mazadaqani المزدقاني the chief vizier of Toghtekin was partial to the Nizaris and persuaded Toghtekin to give a Mission House dar al da wah in Damascus and the frontier stronghold of Banias to Bahram who refortified the stronghold and made it his base performing extensive raids from there and possibly capturing more places By 1128 their activities had become so formidable that nobody dared to say a word about it openly as described by Ibn al Qalanisi 5 Toghtekin thus became anxious about his relations with Bahram According to Ibn al Qalanisi al Mazdaqani was to blame while Ibn al Athir 6 claims Toghtekin was responsible for the situation 7 1 Death Edit Bahram was killed in action in Wadi al Taym on the western slopes of Mount Hermon while fighting local tribes in 1128 3 5 Isma ili presence in Damascus began to decline after his death He was succeeded by Isma il al Ajami another Persian da i 1 References Edit a b c d e Mirza Nasseh Ahmad 1997 Syrian Ismailism The Ever Living Line of the Imamate AD 1100 1260 Psychology Press pp 10 12 ISBN 9780700705054 Lewis Bernard 1967 The Assassins Perseus Books New York pp 52 53 104 106 a b Setton Kenneth Meyer Baldwin Marshall W 1969 A History of the Crusades Univ of Wisconsin Press pp 111 120 ISBN 978 0 299 04834 1 a b Richards D S Editor 2010 The Chronicle of Ibn al Athir for the Crusading Period from al Kamil fi l Ta rikh Part 1 1097 1146 Ashgate Publishing Farnham UK pp 40 47 a b c d Gibb N A R Editor 1932 The Damascus Chronicle of the Crusades Extracted and translated from the Chronicle of ibn al Qalanisi Luzac amp Company London pp 174 177 179 180 187 191 Richards D S Editor 2010 The Chronicle of Ibn al Athir for the Crusading Period from al Kamil fi l Ta rikh Part 1 1097 1146 Ashgate Publishing Farnham UK pp 260 261 Wasserman James 2001 The Templars and the Assassins The Militia of Heaven Simon and Schuster p 117 ISBN 9781594778735 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bahram al Da 27i amp oldid 1147961957, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
