Zanj abandonment of al-Ahwaz Al-Ahwaz Theater (Zanj Rebellion)

the approximate movements of al-muwaffaq during advance through al-ahwaz.

on january 7, 881, al-muwaffaq set out wasit , advanced upon al-ahwaz, taking road al-sus. rebels position in iraq becoming increasingly precarious, , al-muwaffaq bearing down on ali ibn aban s position, zanj leader decided recall ali , have him return al-mukhtarah. therefore wrote ali, ordering him abandon provisions , equipment , return iraq.

ali, meanwhile, had learned of al-muwaffaq s advance; upon receiving zanj leader s letter, appointed lieutenant in place , departed suq al-ahwaz. similar order reached bahbudh, governed villages between al-ahwaz , fars; promptly withdrew , abandoned supplies well. rebels made journey al-mukhtarah, plundering villages encountered along way despite fact had made peace zanj. many of ali s men failed join him , deserted, deciding remain in province while ali returned al-mukhtarah.

al-muwaffaq arrived @ al-sus, joined masrur al-balkhi, governor of province. while @ al-sus, ordered supplies left behind zanj seized, , set opening dams rebels had put on rivers , repairing local roads. after 3 days left al-sus junday sabur, ordered men search fodder. after 3 days continued on tustar, , upon arriving there sent officers throughout district of al-ahwaz collect taxes, , arranged payment of masrur s troops. sent representative muhammad ibn ubaydallah, still in province, negotiate settlement him.

al-muwaffaq departed tustar , proceeded askar mukram, , there made way suq al-ahwaz. while there, discovered zanj had mined nearby bridge prevented supplies reaching city, ordered men restore crossing. once done, remained in city several days in order strengthen forces. during time, zanj had deserted ali wrote him requesting pardon; al-muwaffaq granted this, , 1 thousand of ali s men integrated army.

having reestablished abbasid government s authority in al-ahwaz, al-muwaffaq departed suq al-ahwaz , made way south. , abu al- abbas reached al-mukhtarah in mid-february 881 , began besieging it, thereby initiating final phase of rebellion.