History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c10.159.2

c10.159.2

Al-Must'asim was brutally murdered in the Mughal fashion and the 'Abassid dynasty came to an end.¹⁰⁰ A new Khalifah had to be elected and the Mamluk ruler, Baybars (1260—77 A.D.) invited an uncle of the last 'Abbasid Khalifah who had escaped from Baghdad during its siege by Halāgu to come to Cairo. He was installed in June 1261 and when his 'Abbasid descent had been examined by the jurists and attested by the Qazi, Baybars and his officers paid homage to him. The Khalifah who assumed the title of Mustansir conferred upon the Mamluk ruler a robe of honour with a patent of investiture. This diploma of which an English version is given by Arnold in his 'Caliphate' gives us some idea of the importance which was attached to such a document in the middle ages.¹⁰¹ As Arnold rightly observes the power and authority which the Khalifah claims in this document is entirely disproportionate to his real position which he occupied at Cairo.¹⁰² Perhaps Baybars regretted his adhesion to the Khalifah and heaved a sigh of relief when he was killed in an attack by the Mongol governor of Baghdad.¹⁰³ Another prince of the 'Abbasid line Abul 'Abbas Ahmad was installed with the title of Hakīm, but this time the Mamluk Sultan was careful enough to keep him as a puppet in his hands. The ceremony of investiture was gone through as before, and the descendants of Hakīm occupied the exalted office for two centuries and a half.