Mu’izz al-Dawla Ahmad, Buwayhid Amir in Iraq AH 334-356/AD 946-967

Treadwell Ms335b; A 1542.1, Extremely Fine

Madinat al-Salam (Baghdad) mint. ‘Abbasid-style legends, naming Mu’izz al-Dawla Abu’l-Hasan Buwayh; Reverse, names of the ‘Abbasid caliph al-Muti’ Lillah and Buwayhid overlord ‘Imad al-Dawla Abu’l-Hasan Buwayh.

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The Buwayhid amir Muizz-Al Dawla (AH 334-356/AD 946-967) deposed the ‘Abbasid caliph al-Mustakfi and replaced him with al-Muti’ (AH 334-363/ AD 946-974). Al-Muti’ was caliph only in name. The power of the ‘Abbasid Caliphate was at its lowest point and never fully recovered from the conquest of Baghdad by the Buwayhids. On their coins, the Buwyahids styled themselves “Shahanshah” (King of Kings), a title used by the former Sasanian emperors. Sebuk-Tegin, who was Mui’zz’s senior Turkish officer, was influential in creation of the Great Seljuq dynasty. Although the Buwayhids were Shi’ites, they maintained a degree of Islamic unity by recognizing the ‘Abbasid Caliph as the spiritual leader of the Muslim community although he no longer exercised temporal authority. A parallel can be observed with the role of the Roman Catholic Pope in modern Christianity.