Comparing the policies of the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mu'tasim Billah and Sultan Al-Salih Najm al-Din Ayyub regarding the recruitment and reliance on Turks.

Abstract

The Turkish, however, were not the original inhabitants of these Islamic countries, the volatile political and military conditions necessitated the invitation of the Turkic ethnic group into the Islamic state during two distinct periods. The first instance dates back to the reign of Caliph al-Mu'tasim Billah (218-227 AH / 833-841 CE), who sought refuge in and began acquiring and importing Turks. Prominent reasons for al-Mu'tasim Billah's reliance on and recruitment of Turks included the Caliph's own Turkic lineage through his mother. Furthermore, Turks were renowned as brave, fearless, and strong warriors, capable of enduring and persevering in difficult circumstances. Their integration also served to resolve internal and external issues afflicting the Caliphate, such as suppressing the Khurramite movement led by Babak and countering the threats posed by the Byzantine Empire, culminating in his victory over Theophilos, son of Michael, in the Battle of Ammuriya. Similarly, the Kurdish Ayyubids, who established a powerful military state governing Egypt and Syria, during the era of Sultan al-Salih Najm al-Din Ayyub (637-647 AH / 1240-1249 CE), began acquiring, importing, and relying on Turkic Mamluks. This reliance was attributed to their strength, prowess, resilience, loyalty, and devotion, which al-Salih Najm al-Din Ayyub leveraged to achieve his objectives. The Mamluks consequently became a crucial and influential force in resolving internal issues within the Ayyubid state and in repelling external threats, most notably confronting the Crusaders. During the Seventh Crusade, the Turks were instrumental in safeguarding the Ayyubid state from collapse, inflicting a decisive defeat upon the Crusaders, and even capturing Louis IX, the King of France, who led the assault on the Islamic world.