al-Hakim I.

Abu l - Abbas Ahmad al -Hakim bi- Amri llah (Arabic أبو العباس أحمد الحاكم بأمر الله, Abū al - ʿ Abbās DMG Aḥmad al -Hakim bi- Amri llāh; † January 19, 1302 ), short al -Hakim I., was the first Abbasid caliph, who served after the fall of his dynasty by the Mongols. At first he lived in Aleppo and later as a shadow caliph of the Mamluks in Cairo. In what precise familial relationship he to his relatives who resided in Baghdad was is unclear, apparently he was a descendant of al - Mustarschids.

Al -Hakim survived 1258 the massacre of the Abbasids, the Mongol ruler Hulagu had ordered after the conquest of Baghdad. In Syria, he joined the entourage of the Mamluk officer Aqqusch al - Burli, who had taken possession of the city of Aleppo in the summer of 1261 and from there, was opposed to Sultan Baybars I.. In June 1261 al -Hakim was proclaimed by Aqqusch caliph, in imitation of 1258 defunct caliphate of Baghdad. From this Baibars was therefore not recognized, so this another Abbasid al - Mustansir as II had proclaimed caliph in Cairo.

With the military support Aqquschs al- Hakim but could first hold in northern Syria. With an army he could draw up to 20 km from Baghdad, but had to abandon a conquest of the city. On his retreat to Aleppo his Bedouin cavalry went into the army of his rival al - Mustansir, who operated around the same time on the Euphrates. Al- Mustansir, however, was killed on November 27, 1261 in the Battle of al - Anbar by the Mongols, which al -Hakim was left as the only pretender. Aleppo was conquered by Sultan Baybars, meanwhile, and al -Hakim lost his protector, Aqqusch al - Burli, which was resumed the Sultan in honor.

In January 1262 al -Hakim traveled to Cairo to the court of Sultan Baybars, from which he hoped the recognition as caliph, but was initially blocked by him in a dungeon of the citadel of Cairo. On November 17, 1262 but he was taken from his cell and solemnly proclaimed by Baibars the only legitimate caliph. This act were made solely based propagandistic goals of the Sultan, who wanted to strengthen his alliance with the Golden Horde, whose Khan was prepared to recognize each Caliph appointed by him. It should also give the rule of former slaves Baibars legitimizing dignities. Actual power was, however, denied al -Hakim; Baibars was not prepared to tolerate any other potential power factor in Egypt next to him. Consequently, al -Hakim was further detained as a prisoner by the Sultan in a tower of the citadel, where he was allowed only a family life. His wife was a daughter of the Emir al-Nasir Dawud Kerak from the dynasty of the Ayyubids. On July 11, 1263 al -Hakim was inaugurated by Sultan Baybars in the futuwwa, whereby the Sultan his priority over the Caliph further substantiated.

As 40 years reigning caliph al-Hakim led a veritable shadow existence, a condition that should be characteristic of the Caliphate of Cairo. Only by Sultan Khalil (1290-1293) he was released from his imprisonment in 1291, on the occasion of the preparations for a campaign against the Armenians. On September 21, 1292 he was officially listed in the court of the sultan. Even a relatively modest estate in Cairo, he was assigned as the place of residence. 1296 him and his family from Sultan Ladschin ( 1296-1299 ) was permitted to carry out the traditional pilgrimage to Mecca ( hajj ). This Sultan also took back the formal consent of the caliph on the establishment of subsequent sultans in the protocol on which the Caliph official minimum was returned to ceremonial dignity. Contemporary reports characterized the Caliph family as vulgar and brutish, a consequence of lack of access to education, which was always denied them on the part of the sultans.

Caliph al -Hakim I. died on January 19, 1302 between 70 and 80 years of age. He was born in Cairo in the mausoleum of Sayyida Nafisa, a subsidiary of the Shiite Imam Husayn, buried ( Southern Necropolis ). The grave no longer exists. His son al - Mustakfi I followed him; from 1341 officiated as his grandson al -Hakim II