r proclaimed himself amir of that
province in the year 860, and was soon after confirmed in this dignity
by the caliph.

In 858 Motawakkil, hoping to escape from the arrogant patronage of
Wasif, who had taken the place of Itakh as head of the Turkish guard,
transferred his residence to Damascus. But the place did not agree with
him, and he returned to Samarra, where he caused a magnificent quarter
to be built 3 m. from the city, which he called after his own name
Ja'fariya, and on which he spent more than two millions of dinars (about
L900,000). He found the means by following the example of his
predecessor in depriving many officials of their ill-gotten gains. He
contrived to enrol in his service nearly 12,000 men, for the greater
part Arabs, in order to crush the Turks. In the year of his elevation to
the Caliphate, he had regulated the succession to the empire in his own
family by designating as future caliphs his three sons, _al-Montasir
billah_ ("he who seeks help in God"), _al-Mo'tazz billah_ ("he whose
strength is of God"), and _al-Mowayyad billah_ ("he who is assisted by
God"). By and by he conceived an aversion to his eldest son, and wished
to supplant him by Motazz, the son of his favourite wife Qabiha. The day
had been fixed on which Montasir, Wasif and several other Turkish
generals were to be assassinated. But Wasif and Montasir had been
informed, and resolved to anticipate him. In the night before, Shawwal
A.H. 247 (December 861), Motawakkil, after one of his wonted orgies, was
murdered, together with his confidant, Fath b. Khaqan. The official
report, promulgated by his successor, was that Fath b. Khaqan had
murdered his master and had been punished for it by death. For the
administrative system in this reign see MAHOMMEDAN INSTITUTIONS.

11. _Reign of Montasir._--On the very night of his father's
assassination Montasir had himself proclaimed caliph. He was a man of
very feeble character, and a mere puppet in the hands of his vizier
Ahmad b. Khasib and the Turkish generals. He was compelled to send
Wasif, the personal enemy of Ibn Khasib, to the frontier for a term of
four years, and then to deprive his two brothers Motazz and Mowayyad,
who were not agreeable to them, of their right of succession. He died
six months after, by poison, it is said.

12. _Reign of Mosta'in._--The Turkish soldiery, now the chief power in
the state, chose, by the advice of Ibn Khasib, in succession to
Montasir, his cousin Ah