Ibn al-Alqami (d. 656/1258), The Last Vizier of Abbasid, and His Relationship with The Mongols

Abstract

The rule of the Abbasid that lasted for more than five centuries declined after Hulagu's destruction of Baghdad. This paper intends to scrutinize the administrative and political activities of Muayyad al-Din Ibn al-Alqami who served as the head of the dar al-tashrifat and became ustadar then vizier when the Mongolian threat to the Abbasids increased. The main concern of this study is the opinions put forward by Ibn al-Alqami about the measures which had to be taken against the Mongols, and criticisms raised against him regarding his ideas. That is why the subject to be initially addressed in this article is Ibn al-Alqami's apprenticeship as a clerk (katib) and then his appointment as the ustadar. Subsequently, this will be followed by his vizierate, his relationship with the Mongols and his death.