Ahmad ibn Tulun

Ahmad ibn Tulun, born on September twentieth in the year eight hundred thirty-five, emerged as a formidable military leader and the founder of the Tulunid dynasty, which ruled over Egypt and Syria from eight hundred sixty-eight to nine hundred five. Originally an Arabized Turkic slave-soldier, he was appointed governor of Egypt by the Abbasid caliph in eight hundred sixty-eight. Within a mere four years, he established himself as an independent ruler, successfully ousting the caliphal fiscal agent, Ibn al-Mudabbir, and seizing control of Egypt's finances.

During a time of political instability within the Abbasid court, Ibn Tulun capitalized on the distractions faced by the regent al-Muwaffaq, who was embroiled in conflicts against the Persian Saffarids and the Zanj Rebellion. He built a large military force composed of native Egyptians loyal to him and implemented significant administrative reforms. His efforts included overhauling the tax system and repairing the irrigation infrastructure, which led to a remarkable increase in annual tax revenues. To symbolize his new regime, he constructed a new capital, al-Qata'i, situated north of the ancient capital, Fustat.

In the years following eight hundred seventy-five, Ibn Tulun found himself in open conflict with al-Muwaffaq, who sought to unseat him but failed. By eight hundred seventy-eight, with the backing of Caliph al-Mu'tamid, al-Muwaffaq's brother, Ibn Tulun expanded his governance to include Syria and the frontier districts adjacent to the Byzantine Empire. However, his control over Tarsus was precarious. During his absence in Syria, his eldest son Abbas attempted to seize power in Egypt, resulting in Abbas's imprisonment and the designation of Ibn Tulun's second son, Khumarawayh, as his successor.

The defection of a senior commander, Lu'lu', to al-Muwaffaq in eight hundred eighty-two, along with the loss of Tarsus, compelled Ibn Tulun to return to Syria. As al-Mu'tamid struggled against his brother's dominance, he sought refuge in Ibn Tulun's territories but was captured by al-Muwaffaq's agents. In a bid to assert his authority, Ibn Tulun convened a gathering of jurists in Damascus to denounce al-Muwaffaq as a usurper. However, his attempts to regain control over Tarsus in the autumn of eight hundred eighty-three were unsuccessful, and he fell ill. He returned to Egypt, where he passed away in May of eight hundred eighty-four, leaving behind a legacy that would be carried on by his son Khumarawayh.