Muhammad ibn Bugha

Abu Nasr Muhammad ibn Bugha (Arabic: أبو نصر محمد بن بغا) was a ninth-century military officer in the service of the Abbasid Caliphate.

Muhammad ibn Bugha أبو نصر محمد بن بغا‎
Born	Abbasid Caliphate
Died	c. 870 Samārra, Abbasid Caliphate
Allegiance	Abbasid Caliphate
Service / branch	Abbasid Turkic regiment
Years of service	c. 864 – 870
Rank	Military officer
Battles / wars	Abbasid civil war (865–866)
Children	Nasr
Relations	Musa ibn Bugha al-Kabir (brother)

He was the son of Bugha al-Kabir, a Turkic slave soldier (ghulam) and prominent army general. He is first mentioned during the civil war of 865–866, when he was responsible for seizing and defending the town of al-Anbar on behalf of al-Mu'tazz.^[1][2] He later played a leading role in the deposition of al-Mu'tazz in 869, when he, Salih ibn Wasif, and Bayakbak headed the party that arrested the caliph. Following the arrival of his brother Musa ibn Bugha in Samarra that same year, Muhammad joined his side and was subsequently ranked as one of the senior commanders in his faction.^[3][4]

During the breakdown in relations between the caliph al-Muhtadi and the Turkish leadership in June 870, Muhammad and his brother were targeted by attempts to incite the residents of Samarra against them. Following accusations that he and Musa were guilty of expropriating revenues, Muhammad was seized and placed into prison, and was shortly afterwards put to death. His fate contributed to the decision by the Samarran regiments to overthrow al-Muhtadi later that month.^[5][6][7]

Notes

1. Gordon 2001, p. 223.
2. Al-Tabari 1985–2007, v. 35: pp. 76, 84, 93.
3. Gordon 2001, pp. 101–02.
4. Al-Tabari 1985–2007, v. 35: p. 164; v. 36: pp. 75, 80, 82, 85, 87.
5. Gordon 2001, pp. 103–04, 124.
6. Zetterstéen & Bosworth 1993, p. 477.
7. Al-Tabari 1985–2007, v. 36: pp. 91 ff..

References

• Gordon, Matthew S. (2001). The Breaking of a Thousand Swords: A History of the Turkish Military of Samarra (A.H. 200-275/815-889 C.E.). Albany, NY: State University of New York Press. ISBN 978-0-7914-4795-6.
• Al-Tabari, Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Jarir (1985–2007). Ehsan Yar-Shater (ed.). The History of Al-Ṭabarī. Vol. 40 vols. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
• Zetterstéen, K. V. & Bosworth, C. E. (1993). "al-Muhtadī". In Bosworth, C. E.; van Donzel, E.; Heinrichs, W. P. & Pellat, Ch. (eds.). The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Volume VII: Mif–Naz. Leiden: E. J. Brill. pp. 476–477. doi:10.1163/1573-3912_islam_SIM_5437. ISBN 978-90-04-09419-2.