Al-Musta'li

Aḥmad al-Musta‘lī ( d. 1101) was the ninth Fatimid Caliph . Al-Musta‘lī was made caliph by Regent al-Afdal Shahanshah (1094-1121) as the successor to al-Mustansir . By and large, al-Musta‘lī was subordinate to Malik al-Afdal. One complication of the selection of al-Musta‘lī was that his brother Nizar was considered the rightful heir to the throne. This led to a power struggle within the Fatimids, and although Nizār's revolt was unsuccessful (ending with his death in prison), the break from the rules of succession caused a schism amongst the Ismā‘ilī Shī‘a . In Saljūq Syria and Persia , the Nizārī sect developed, one branch of which is known to history as the Assassins . During al-Musta‘lī's reign, the First Crusade (1099) established the Kingdom of Jerusalem , the County of Tripoli and the Principality of Antioch , which further reduced Fatimid power in Syria and Palestine. Al-Musta‘lī was succeeded by his son al-Amīr (1101-1130).

Abū’l-Qāsim ʿAhmad al-Mustā‘lī b’il-Lāh (16 September 1074 – 12 December 1101), ( ) was the ninth Fatimid Caliph , and believed by the Mustaali Ismaili sect to be the 19th imam . Al-Musta‘li was made caliph by the vizier Malik al-Afdal Shahanshah as the successor to al-Mustansir . By and large, al-Musta‘li was subordinate to Malik al-Afdal. One complication with the selection of al-Musta‘li was that his older brother Nizar was considered by Nizar's supporters to be the rightful heir to the throne. This led to a power struggle within the Fatimids , and although Nizar's revolt was unsuccessful (ending with his death in prison in 1097), the break from the rules of succession caused a schism amongst the Ismaili Shia . In Seljuk Syria and Persia , the Nizari sect developed, one branch of which is known to history as the Hashshashin . Supporters of Musta'li's imamate became known as the Mustaali sect. During al-Musta‘li's reign, the First Crusade (1099) established the Kingdom of Jerusalem , the County of Tripoli and the Principality of Antioch , which further reduced Fatimid power in Syria and Palestine. He was succeeded by his son Al-Amir (r. 1101–1130), after whose reign the Mustaali sect again split into the Hafizi and Taiyabi sects.

Abu'l-Qasim Ahmad ibn al-Mustansir ( ; 16 September 1074 – 12 December 1101), better known by his regnal name al-Musta'li Billah ( ), was the ninth Fatimid caliph and the 19th imam of Musta'li Isma'ilism . His accession was engineered by his brother-in-law, the vizier al-Afdal Shahanshah , who was the de facto ruler of the state throughout his reign. Al-Musta'li's accession sidelined his oldest brother, Nizar , who in response rose in revolt, was defeated and executed. This caused a major split in the Isma'ili movement, with the Nizaris splitting off from the Fatimid-backed Musta'lis. During al-Musta'li's reign, the First Crusade arrived in the Levant , leading to the loss of Jerusalem and a major Fatimid defeat at the Battle of Ascalon .

Fatimid caliph and imam (1074–1101) Abū al-Qāsim Aḥmad ibn al-Mustanṣir ( ; 15/16 September 1074 – 12 December 1101), better known by his regnal name al-Mustaʿlī biʾllāh ( المستعلي بالله , lit. ' The One Raised Up by God ' ), was the ninth Fatimid caliph and the nineteenth imam of Musta'li Ismailism . Although not the eldest (and most likely the youngest) of the sons of Caliph al-Mustansir Billah , al-Musta'li became caliph through the machinations of his brother-in-law, the vizier al-Afdal Shahanshah . In response, his oldest brother and most likely candidate for their father's succession, Nizar , rose in revolt in Alexandria , but was defeated and executed. This caused a major split in the Isma'ili movement. Many communities, especially in Persia and Iraq , split off from the officially sponsored Isma'ili hierarchy and formed their own Nizari movement, holding Nizar and his descendants as the rightful imams. Throughout his reign, al-Musta'li remained subordinate to al-Afdal, who was the de facto ruler of the Fatimid Caliphate. The Caliphate's core territory in Egypt experienced a period of good government and prosperity, but the Fatimids suffered setbacks in Syria , where they were faced with the advance of the Sunni Seljuk Turks . Al-Afdal managed to recover the port city of Tyre , and even recapture Jerusalem in the turmoil caused by the arrival of the First Crusade in northern Syria. Despite Fatimid attempts to make common cause with the Crusaders against the Seljuks, the latter advanced south and captured Jerusalem in July 1099, sealing their success with a major victory over the Fatimid army led by a-Afdal at the Battle of Ascalon shortly after. Al-Musta'li died in 1101 and was succeeded by his five-year-old son, al-Amir . There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).