tored to the
Ka'ba.

In 317 (929) a conspiracy was formed to dethrone Moqtadir, to which
Munis, the chief commander of the army, at first assented, irritated by
false reports. Very soon he withdrew, and though he could not prevent
the plundering of the palace, and the proclamation as caliph of another
son of Motadid with the title _al-Qahir billah_ ("the victorious through
God"), he rescued Moqtadir and his mother, and at the same time his
imprisoned friend Ali b. 'Isa, and brought them to his own house. A few
days later, a counter-revolution took place; the leaders of the revolt
were killed, and Moqtadir, against his wish, was replaced on the throne.
In 320 (A.D. 932) Munis, discovering a court intrigue against him, set
out for Mosul, expecting that the Hamdanids, who owed to him their
power, would join him. Instead of doing this, they opposed him with a
numerous army, but were defeated. Munis took Mosul, and having received
reinforcements from all parts, marched against Bagdad. The caliph, who
wished nothing more than to be reconciled to his old faithful servant,
was forced to take arms against him, and fell in battle Shawwal 320
(October 932), at the age of 38 years. His reign, which lasted almost
twenty-five years, was in all respects injurious to the empire.

19. _Reign of Qahir_.--After the victory Munis acted with great
moderation and proclaimed a general amnesty. His own wish was to call
Abu Ahmad, a son of Moktafi, or a son of Moqtadir, to the Caliphate, but
the majority of generals preferring Qahir because he was an adult man
and had no mother at his side, he acquiesced, although he had a personal
dislike for him, knowing his selfish and cruel character. Qahir was a
drunkard, and derived the money for his excesses from promiscuous
confiscation. He ill-treated the sons of Moqtadir and Abu Ahmad, and
ultimately assassinated his patrons Munis and Yalbak, whose guardianship
he resented. In Jomada I. 322 (April 934) he was dethroned and blinded,
and died in poverty seven years later.

During the last years of Moqtadir and the reign of Qahir a new dynasty
rose. Buya, the chief of a clan of the Dailam, a warlike people who
inhabit the mountainous country south-west of the Caspian Sea, had
served under the Samanids, and found a footing in the south of Media
(Jabal), whence his three sons--well known under the titles they assumed
at a later period: 'Imad addaula ("prop of the dynasty"), Rokn addaula
("pillar of the