# Babak Khorramdin Revolt (816–837)

The Babak Khorramdin Revolt (816–837) (Persian: شورش بابک خرمدين) was a series of uprisings by Babak Khorramdin who led the Khurramite movement between the years of 816CE–837CE after Javidhan. It was one of the largest Persian uprisings against the Abbasid Caliphate. It occurred during the reigns of Al-Ma'mun and Al-Mu'tasim, lasting for 20 years. The movement was known for its strong organization, skilled leadership, and political connections with groups like the Kurds and Armenians. The Khurramites embraced radical beliefs, including Reincarnation and claiming divinity, with Babak, even with him proclaiming himself a God. The uprising however ended with an Abbasid victory and the capture and execution of Babak.
The Khurramites seized control of Azerbaijan and other regions, seeking to restore the faith to Zoroastrianism.

## Background

The term "Bābakīya" (Persian: بابکیا) (Khorramdinism) refers to the followers of Babak Khorramdin, who was considered a Batinist. He was allegedly born as the result of an illicit affair in the mountainous regions of Azerbaijan in 202 AH (818 CE). His teachings gained many followers, and his influence grew to the point where he was able to challenge the Abbasid authority, leading his followers to transgress societal taboos. Babak emerged during the reign of Al-Ma'mun. He spread chaos and corruption across the land, seizing control of many regions. Khorramdin sought to revive the religion of the "Magi" (Zoroastrianism). His mother, who was described as a "blind woman " (known as "Rumīya the Blind Woman"), became pregnant after an affair. One source recounts a story from Ali ibn Marr about a beggar, who claimed that he had once had relations with Khorramdin's mother, only for her to spread the word that the child was his. When confronted, the beggar threatened to kill her if she spoke of it further. Many historians claim that Khorramdin followed the teachings of Manichaeism and Mazdakism, and adhered to Batinism. He believed in reincarnation and condoned incestuous relationships, including between daughters, mothers, and sisters. However, some argue that his origins are unclear and that he lacked any notable ancestry., and al-Tabari records that Khorramdin claimed he possessed Javadan's spirit and that Khorramdin became active in 816–817. Khorramdin took refuge during his revolt against the Abbasid Caliphate in a mountainous region between Azerbaijan and Aran, also known as Badhan between the years 201 AH (816 CE) and 223 AH (838 CE).

## Abbasid campaigns against the Khurramite movement
### Harun Al-Rashid's Campaigns against the Khurramite Movement (Before Khorramdin's leadership)

Around the year of 192 AH (807–808CE, before Khorramdin's Rebellion) the Khurramite movement moved towards Azerbaijan, and Harun al-Rashid sent the Abbasid commander, Abdullah ibn Mālik, with ten thousand cavalry to confront them. He captured and enslaved many of them and then met with Qarmasīn. Harun ordered the execution of the prisoners and the sale of the captives, with the campaign ending with an Abbasid victory.

### Al-Ma'mun's Campaigns

In response to the revolt, Al-Ma'mun sent an army led by Muhammad ibn Humayd al-Tusi [ar] in 214 AH (829 CE) to crush it. However, Khorramdin defeated the army, killed Muhammad ibn Humayd and scattered his forces.

### Al-Mu'tasim’s first campaign

Babak's influence continued to grow until the reign of al-Mu'tasim, during which the Khurramites gained strength. Many people from Hamadan, Isfahan, and Masabadhan, among other regions, adopted their beliefs. They gathered and established camps in the Hamadan region, prompting al-Mu'tasim to launch a series of military campaigns to crush the movement. He prepared multiple armies and forces lead by Ishaq ibn Ibrahim [ar], the governor of Baghdad, who was given command over the mountainous regions. He dealt a decisive blow to the Khurramites, killing 60,000 to 100,000 Khurramites. The remaining survivors ran to the arms of the Byzantine territories. The battle took place in Hamadan, with the campaign ending with a successful Abbasid victory.

### Al-Mu'tasim’s second campaign and the downfall of Babak Khorramdin

During this period, al-Mu'tasim appointed Al-Afshin to lead the campaign against Babak and oversee the region of al-Jibal (the mountains). Al-Mu'tasim also dispatched Abu Sa'id Muhammad ibn Yusuf to Ardabil to rebuild the fortresses that Babak had destroyed. Meanwhile, Muhammad ibn al-Ba'ith, who ruled the fortress of Shahi and the citadel of Tabriz in Azerbaijan, was a friend of Babak. He sent his commander, Isma, to visit. Muhammad ibn al-Ba'ith welcomed him with generous hospitality, offering him food and wine. However, after gaining his trust, Isma captured ibn al-Ba'ith, killed many of his leading officers and caused his army to scatter.
Later, Muhammad ibn al-Ba'ith pledged his allegiance to al-Mu'tasim and revealed the weak points of Khorramdin’s territories. This led to a major battle between Khorramdin and Al-Afshin, in which Khorramdin’s forces were decisively defeated, losing around a thousand men that were brutally killed. Khorramdin fled to "Mugan" (Mugan Steppe) and eventually retreated to his city, "al-Badh" modern Kaleybar. Al-Afshin sent the heads of the slain and prisoners back to Baghdad as a sign of victory.
In 220 AH (835 CE), Al-Mu'tasim appointed Al-Afshin, a seasoned Abbasid general, to lead the campaign against Khorramdin. Al-Afshin relentlessly pursued the Khurramites, engaging them in multiple battles. In 222 AH (837 CE), after fierce confrontation, Babak's forces were decisively defeated at a location known as Babak Fort, modern Kaleybar, which fell after a grueling siege, during the month of Ramadan. His close circle, including family members, were taken as prisoners, after which Babak escaped through a familiar mountain path, eventually reaching the Armenian mountains. Al-Mu'tasim sent him a letter of amnesty, that stated "It is far nobler to reign for a single day than to endure forty years in servitude and disgrace", but Babak burned the letter and cursed him..

### Capture of Babak

After Al-Afshin delivered through two messengers. When they found Khorramdin in the forest, he killed one of the messengers and told the other, "Go to my son and tell him: If you were truly my son, you would have followed me to death." Babak then tore the letter of amnesty, left the forest, and escaped through a rugged mountain path he knew well. Al-Afshin, anticipating Babakts, stationed spies and scouts in the narrow mountain passes. Despite this, Babak avoided being captured and again fled to the Armenian mountains, where he sought refuge with the local Byzantine commander Sahl Smbatean. Pretending to offer protection, Sahl lured Babak into his fortress and secretly notified Al-Afshin of his whereabouts. Al-Afshin's soldiers surrounded the fortress, capturing Babak ather, and brought them to Baghdad. His aghdad was a historic event. He was paraded through the streets, mounted on an elephant, before being presented to al-Mu'tasim in Samarra..
Another source, taken from a person called Al-Sama'udi, stated
   Khorramdin fled in disguise with his brother, family, children, and a few loyal followers. They dressed as traveling merchants and descended into the Armenian lands, in the territory of Sahl Smbatean. They bought a sheep from a shepherd, who grew suspicious of them and reported to Sahl, saying, "This is undoubtedly Khorramdin." Al-Afshin had previously sent letters to Sahl, warning him not to let Khorramdin escape if he passed through the area. Sahl immediately gathered his troops, rode out, and greeted Khorramdin, addressing him as a king. Sahl said, "Come to your palace, and I will accompany you." Khorramdin went with Sahl, and feasts were prepared. As they sat to eat,Khorramdin, in his arrogance, scornfully said to Sahl, "Someone like you eats with me?". Sahl rose, apologized, and excused himself. But he soon returned with a blacksmith to chain Khorramdin. Khorramdin protested, "Is this treachery, Sahl?" Sahl replied, "You son of a vile woman — you are nothing more than a cattle herder." He bound Khorramdin and his companions and wrote to Al-Afshin. Al-Afshin sent 4,000 soldiers to collect Khorramdin, bringing Sahl along with them. Upon delivering Khorramdin, Al-Afshin honored Sahl, crowned him, and exempted his lands from taxes. A message of victory was sent to Al-Mu'tasim, and when the news reached Baghdad, the city erupted in shouts of "Allahu Akbar" and cheers of triumph.

## Execution and Aftermath

In the year 223 AH (838 CE), on Thursday, the third of Safar, Al-Afshin entered Samarra with Babak and his brother "Abdullah", in grand attird. Al-Mu'tasim had ordered his son, al-Wathiq, to receive Al-Afshin . The News of the capture had reached the caliph in one day, due to his intense concern over the matter. Two days before the arrival, the caliph rode to meet him incognito, observing him before turning back. On the day Babak entered, the caliph prepared himself, and the people stood in two rows. Babak was ordered to ride an elephant to publicize his fate, and he was dressed in a silk robe and a round squirrel fur cap. The elephant's limbs were dyed and it was adorned with silk and other fitting decorations. Some people said:
   "The elephant was dyed as was customary, Carrying the devil of Khorasan, And the elephant’s limbs are never dyed Except for one of great importance."
When Babak sas presented before the caliph, his hands and feet were ordered to be cut off, his head severed, and his belly sliced open. His head was sent to Khorasan, and his body was hung on a cross (crucified) in Samarra. Babak had drunk alcohol the night before he was executed, the night of Thursday, the 4th march, 838CE in that year. During his twenty years of rebellion, he had captured countless people, many of whom were rescued by Al-Afshin, including about seven thousand six hundred individuals. Among those he had captured were seventeen of his sons and twenty-three women, including the wives of his sons. Khorramdin, was the son of a lowly slave woman.
After the suppression of Khorramdin's rebellion, many inhabitants of Hamadan, Isfahan, and Masabadhan converted back to Islam. Later Mazyar rose to power in Tabaristan during which he also wanted to spread Zoroastrianism, however the Abbasids suppressed his rebellion and executed him, crucifying him next to Babak in 840CE.