Banafsha bint Abdullah al-Rumiyyah (Arabic: بنفشة بنت عبد الله الرمية) (died 1201) was a slave consort of the Abbasid caliph Al-Mustadi (r. 1170–1180).[1]
Banafsha bint Abdullah al-Rumiyyah بانفشة بنت عبد الله الرمية
The founder of the Hanbali Banafsha School in Baghdad (1174).
She built a bridge between the Karkh and Al-Rusafa disctrics in Baghdad.
Her origin is termed to have been "Roman" or Rumiyya, that is to say of Greek origin from the Byzantine Empire of Constantinople. She was reportedly the daughter of Abdullah, a Greek.[2] She was a slave bought to the Harem of the Caliph. As was the custom she was compelled to convert to Islam and was given a new name.
She became Al-Mustadi's favourite concubine.[2] The Caliph manumitted her and married her. He had a palace built for her personal use in Baghdad.
Banafsha are described as loving and merciful. She did not give birth to a son, but she successfully supported her stepson Al-Nasir to the succession before his brother prince Hashem. Because of this, she was favored by Al-Nasir when he became Caliph in 1180.
It was impossible for her to leave the harem, but she became known for her donations and charitable projects, which was a common method for the secluded harem wives of the Caliphs to create a public name for themselves.[3] She died on 27 December 1201 and was buried in the mausoleum of Zumurrud Khatun in Sheikh Maarouf Cemetery.[2]
She is known as the founder of the Hanbali Banafsha School in Baghdad (1174). She also built a bridge between the Karkh and Al-Rusafa districts in Baghdad.
ReferencesEdit
^El-Hibri, T. (2021). The Abbasid Caliphate: A History. Cambridge University Press. p. 231. ISBN978-1-107-18324-7.
^ abcal-Sāʿī, Ibn; Toorawa, Shawkat M.; Bray, Julia (2017). كتاب جهات الأئمة الخلفاء من الحرائر والإماء المسمى نساء الخلفاء: Women and the Court of Baghdad. Library of Arabic Literature. NYU Press. pp. 66–68. ISBN978-1-4798-6679-3.
^Ibn al-Sāʽī, Consorts of the Caliphs: Women and the Court of Baghdad, ed. by Shawkat M. Toorawa, trans. by the Editors of the Library of Arabic Literature (New York: New York University Press, 2015)
banafsha, bint, abdullah, rumiyyah, arabic, بنفشة, بنت, عبد, الله, الرمية, died, 1201, slave, consort, abbasid, caliph, mustadi, 1170, 1180, بانفشة, بنت, عبد, الله, الرميةumm, walad, abbasid, caliphperiod1170, 1180died1201baghdad, abbasid, caliphateburialsheik. Banafsha bint Abdullah al Rumiyyah Arabic بنفشة بنت عبد الله الرمية died 1201 was a slave consort of the Abbasid caliph Al Mustadi r 1170 1180 1 Banafsha bint Abdullah al Rumiyyah بانفشة بنت عبد الله الرميةUmm walad of the Abbasid caliphPeriod1170 1180Died1201Baghdad Abbasid CaliphateBurialSheikh Maarouf Cemetery BaghdadSpouseAl MustadiRelativesOne daughter Al Nasir step son NamesSayyida Banafsha bint Abdullah al RumiyyahFatherAbdullah al RumiReligionSunni IslamOccupationThe founder of the Hanbali Banafsha School in Baghdad 1174 She built a bridge between the Karkh and Al Rusafa disctrics in Baghdad Her origin is termed to have been Roman or Rumiyya that is to say of Greek origin from the Byzantine Empire of Constantinople She was reportedly the daughter of Abdullah a Greek 2 She was a slave bought to the Harem of the Caliph As was the custom she was compelled to convert to Islam and was given a new name She became Al Mustadi s favourite concubine 2 The Caliph manumitted her and married her He had a palace built for her personal use in Baghdad Banafsha are described as loving and merciful She did not give birth to a son but she successfully supported her stepson Al Nasir to the succession before his brother prince Hashem Because of this she was favored by Al Nasir when he became Caliph in 1180 It was impossible for her to leave the harem but she became known for her donations and charitable projects which was a common method for the secluded harem wives of the Caliphs to create a public name for themselves 3 She died on 27 December 1201 and was buried in the mausoleum of Zumurrud Khatun in Sheikh Maarouf Cemetery 2 She is known as the founder of the Hanbali Banafsha School in Baghdad 1174 She also built a bridge between the Karkh and Al Rusafa districts in Baghdad References Edit El Hibri T 2021 The Abbasid Caliphate A History Cambridge University Press p 231 ISBN 978 1 107 18324 7 a b c al Saʿi Ibn Toorawa Shawkat M Bray Julia 2017 كتاب جهات الأئمة الخلفاء من الحرائر والإماء المسمى نساء الخلفاء Women and the Court of Baghdad Library of Arabic Literature NYU Press pp 66 68 ISBN 978 1 4798 6679 3 Ibn al Saʽi Consorts of the Caliphs Women and the Court of Baghdad ed by Shawkat M Toorawa trans by the Editors of the Library of Arabic Literature New York New York University Press 2015 Banafsha bint Abdullah al RumiyyahBorn 1150s Died 27 December 1201Preceded bySharaf Khatun Deputy head of Harem1170s 27 December 1201 Succeeded byZumurrud Khatun Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Banafsha bint Abdullah al Rumiyyah amp oldid 1171407231, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
