The Emergence of Dar al-Khilafa in East Baghdad and Palaces Built There (279-334/892-945)

Abstract

al-Mansur (136-158/754-775), the second caliph of the Abbasids (132-656/750-1258), had the palace of caliphate built in the middle of the city of Baghdad, which was established as the center of the state. Later caliphs preferred various palaces built in the west and east of Baghdad as the palace of the caliphate. The city of Baghdad continued to be a center of caliphate for about ninety years until the Abbasid administration moved to Samarra' in 221 (836), although the palaces inhabited were different. On the way back from Samarra' to Baghdad, the asani Palace in East Baghdad was built as a caliphate palace. Caliph al-Mu'tadid (279-289/892-902) and his sons had five palaces and different structures built around this palace. This new settlement, called Dar al-Khilafa, became a permanent center where the caliphs lived until the collapse of the state. In this study, the palaces built by al-Mu'tadid and his sons within the borders of Dar al-Khilafa were examined. The issue of who was the first caliph who moved the state center from Samarra' to Baghdad and used the Hasani Palace as the palace of caliphate, which caused a difference of opinion among historians, was addressed first, as it constitutes an important point of this study.