Qaratis

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This article is about the mother of Abbasid caliph Al-Wathiq. For Greek mythology, see Kratos (mythology).
Qaratis
أم هارون
Umm walad of the Abbasid caliph
SuccessorShuja (mother of Jafar)
BornAnatolia, (Caliphate and Byzantine border area)
DiedAugust 16, 842
al-Hirah, Abbasid Caliphate
Burial
Kufa
Spouseal-Mu'tasim
ChildrenHarun al-Wathiq
Names
Qaratis Umm Harun al-Wathiq
Era name and dates
Abbasid Era: 812–842
ReligionIslam

Qaratis also known as Umm Harun (Arabic: أم هارون) or Umm al-Wathiq (Arabic: أم الواثق) was the Umm walad of eighth Abbasid caliph al-Mu'tasim and mother of Al-Wathiq.

Qaratis was a Byzantine Greek woman.[1][2] She entered the Harem probably in 811. She was raised in the Abbasid household before being given as a concubine to the young Abbasid prince Abu Ishaq Muhammad ibn Harun. It is unknown was she already a Muslim or she convert to Islam before entering harem. Qaratis was slightly younger than Abu Ishaq Muhammad.

Qaratis gave birth to two sons, Abu Ja'far[3] Harun (future Al-Wathiq) and Muhammad. Al-Wathiq was the son of al-Mu'tasim by Qaratis. He was born on 17 April 812 (various sources give slightly earlier or later dates in 811–813), on the road to Mecca.[4][5] He was named Harun after his grandfather Harun al-Rashid (r. 786–809).[6] Her other son was Muhammad ibn al-Mu'tasim.

The elder son of Qaratis was nominated Heir by al-Mu'tasim. After the death of al-Mu'tasim in 5 January 842. Her son ascended smoothly to the throne without any opposition by his brothers. Qaratis also became the head of the Abbasid Harem. Shortly after al-Wathiq's succession, Qaratis decided to go to hajj.

Qaratis accompanied al-Wathiq's brother Ja'far (the future caliph al-Mutawakkil) on the Pilgrimage in 842, but she died on the way at al-Hirah, on 16 August 842 (A.H 227). She was buried in Kufa.[7] She died just sixth months after al-Mu'tasim's death.

Sources[]

  • Turner, John P. (2013). "The Enigmatic Reign of al-Wāthiq (r. 227/842-232/847)". In Bernards, Monique (ed.). Abbasid Studies IV. Occasional Papers of the School of Abbasid Studies. Gibb Memorial Trust. pp. 218–231. ISBN 9780906094983.
  • Kraemer, Joel L., ed. (1989). The History of al-Ṭabarī, Volume XXXIV: Incipient Decline: The Caliphates of al-Wāthiq, al-Mutawakkil and al-Muntaṣir, A.D. 841–863/A.H. 227–248. SUNY Series in Near Eastern Studies. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press. ISBN 978-0-88706-874-4.
  • Zetterstéen, K. V.; Bosworth, C. E. & van Donzel, E. (2002). "al-Wāt̲h̲iḳ Bi 'llāh". In Bearman, P. J.; Bianquis, Th.; Bosworth, C. E.; van Donzel, E. & Heinrichs, W. P. (eds.). The Encyclopaedia of Islam, New Edition, Volume XI: W–Z. Leiden: E. J. Brill. p. 178. ISBN 978-90-04-12756-2.

References[]

  1. ^ Clot, André (2014) [1986]. "5. Harun and the Outside World". Harun al-Rashid: and the World of the Thousand and One Nights. Saqi Books. ISBN 978-0-86356-558-8. Many caliphs had mothers of Greek origin: Qaratis, mother of Harun al-Rashid's grandson Watiq; ...
  2. ^ Al-Masudi (2010) [1989]. "The Caliphate of Wathiq". Meadows Of Gold. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-136-14530-8. Wathiq, whose name was Harun ibn Muhammad ibn Harun al-Wathiq, was known as Abu Ja'far. His mother was a Greek slave named Qaratis.
  3. ^ Kraemer 1989, p. 53.
  4. ^ Turner 2013, p. 219.
  5. ^ Kraemer 1989, pp. 52–53.
  6. ^ Zetterstéen, Bosworth & van Donzel 2002, p. 178.
  7. ^ Kraemer 1989, p. 4.
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