Caliph · c. 763 to 809
Harun al-Rashid
The best known Abbasid caliph, whose Baghdad is the setting of the Thousand and One Nights. His reign saw the city at its richest, and the rivalry of his sons led to civil war after his death.
At a glance
- Lived
- c. 763 to 809
- Role
- Caliph
- Dynasty
- Abbasid Caliphs
- Era
- The Abbasid golden age
- Chapter
- 3. The Abbasids, the Crusades and the Mongols
Battles
- 812 to 813Siege of Baghdad
Victory for al-Ma'mun. Two sons of Harun al-Rashid fought over the throne.
Harun al-Rashid's world
800: The Abbasid golden age
The Abbasids built a new capital at Baghdad in 762. Under Harun al-Rashid and al-Ma'mun, the House of Wisdom translated Greek, Persian and Indian science into Arabic, and al-Khwarizmi wrote the book that gave algebra its name. The four Sunni schools of law took shape in these years.
People of the same era
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