Al-Musta'li

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Aḥmad al-Musta‘lī (Arabic: أحمد المستعلى‎) (died 1101) was the nineteenth Fatimid Caliph, and believed by the Mustaali Ismaili sect to be the 19th imam. 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. Supporters of Musta'li's imamate became known as the Mustaali sect.

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. He was succeeded by his son al-Amīr (1101–1130), after whose reigh the Mustaali sect again split into the Hafizi and Taiyabi sects.

Table of Imams along with Caliphate

Details of all Ismaili imams are available in article List of Ismaili Imams.

See also

Preceded by
Abū Tamīm Ma‘add al-Mustanṣir bil-Lāh
Fatimid Caliph
1094–1101
Succeeded by
al-Amir bi'Aḥkāmi l-Lah



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