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Samarra

Type Object Region Western Asia Time 836–892

Samarra, on the middle Tigris in Iraq, was made the new Abbasid capital by Caliph al-Mu'tasim in 836 CE with grand palaces, barracks, and mosques;…

Timeline

  1. 836–842Samarra · IraqTo escape pressure from Baghdad's citizens and old aristocracy, Caliph al-Mu'tasim moved the court and the Turkic guard to Samarra, launching large-scale palace and barracks construction along the Tigris's north bank.
  2. 848–852Great Mosque of Samarra · SamarraCaliph al-Mutawakkil ordered construction of the Great Mosque, whose spiral minaret (the Malwiya) rises about 52 meters, becoming one of the most recognizable landmarks of Abbasid architecture and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  3. 852–861Samarra palace district · IraqAs the empire's administrative and military center Samarra reached its peak; palaces, baths, and racetracks stretching dozens of kilometers along the Tigris formed one of the grandest palace complexes in the world at the time.
  4. 892Samarra · IraqCaliph al-Mu'tadid moved the court back to Baghdad; Samarra lost its capital status, many palaces were abandoned, and the city entered long decline, though its ruins survive today as an important site for studying Abbasid architecture.

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