CALIPHS OF BAGDAD. 



11 



twenty reigns are all that can be assigned as the 

 prosperous era of the Abbassides. In Arabia their 

 authority was nominally maintained by their vice-- 

 roys ; though the sheiks of the desert gradually re- 

 sumed their ancient independence, and regarded the 

 successors of Mohammed merely as the chiefs of 

 their religion. As their power commenced in blood, 

 so it will be found in the sequel to have terminated 

 its career in the most dreadful scenes of cruelty and 

 carnage. The middle of the thirteenth century 

 brought the tragic history of their fallen race to a 

 close, when the proud capital of Islam fell into the 

 hands of the Tartars. 



Of the earlier princes of this dynasty, several 

 were not more distinguished for their warlike prow- 

 ess than for their love and encouragement of science. 

 The reigns of Saffah and his successor were chiefly 

 occupied in extirpating the race of Ommiah, whose 

 hapless adherents were persecuted with unsparing 

 vengeance. Almansor had established his court at 



