Vasīf al-Turkī, one of the great governors and commanders of the Samarra period, was born in the Daylam region. Vasīf, who spent his childhood in this region, was captured and taken to Qazvīn at around the age of ten. There, he received an education under the guidance of a knowledgeable and well-educated elderly man who purchased him. Later, he found an opportunity and escaped to Khorasan. Having experienced various adventures on his way from Khorasan to Baghdad, Vasīf was recruited into the army by al-Muʿtaṣim due to his military character. Vasīf, who came to Samarra with al-Muʿtaṣim, undertook important duties under the command of the caliph. With his views on who would succeed Caliph al-Wāthiq, Vasīf became the most influential commander. During the reign of al-Mutawakkil, Vasīf was appointed to important governorships and amassed great power and wealth. Due to the caliph's growing policies against him, he played an active role in his assassination. For this reason, he became one of the two most influential figures guiding the state during the reigns of the next two caliphs. In this study, the life of Vasīf al-Turkī, who rose from slavery to the position of governor and played a significant role in politics, will be examined with an analytical approach.
Islamic History, ʿAbbāsids, Samarra, Vasīf al-Turkī.