# Babak Khorramdin Begins the Khurramite Revolt (816–837 CE)

URL: https://allhistories.com/azerbaijan/timeline/816-babak-khorramdin-begins-the-khurramite-revolt
Location: Badd and Azerbaijan (historic Adharbayjan)
Themes: Khurramites, Revolt, Babak

In 816–817, in the reign of al-Ma'mun, Babak Khorramdin began a revolt of the Khurram-Dinan, 'those of the joyous religion', against the Abbasid caliphate. He succeeded Javidhan as leader of the Khurramites of Azerbaijan, and in the following years defeated several caliphal commanders: in 819–820 Yahya ibn Mu'adh failed to defeat him, and in 824–825 he captured the general Ahmad ibn al-Junayd. Babak was born in 795 or 798 in the Ardabil area; his father's identity is disputed, and so is his religion, though Wikipedia says he respected his Zoroastrian heritage. The movement drew on peasants and landlords of mountainous Azerbaijan who were hostile to Abbasid taxation and Arab rule. The revolt is dated by some to 816–838. The rebellion became the greatest challenge to the Abbasids in the region, and drew the attention of two caliphs. Babak is remembered in Azerbaijani and Iranian popular memory as a symbol of resistance. His struggle ended with the fall of his fortress at Badd in 837 and his execution at Samarra. Some later writers saw the Qizilbash as spiritual descendants of the Khurramites. At this point in the timeline (816 CE), the lands of Azerbaijan formed part of the Caliphate, ruled by al-Ma'mun, Abbasid caliph (813 – 833 CE). In Caucasian Albania, local power lay with the local Mihranid rulers under Arab governors (705 – 822 CE). The main location of this event lies outside the present-day Republic of Azerbaijan.

## Why it matters
It was the longest and most dangerous revolt against the Abbasids in the Caucasus region and made Babak a lasting symbol of resistance.

Ruler at the Time: [al-Ma'mun](https://allhistories.com/azerbaijan/rulers/al-mamun)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Babak Khorramdin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babak_Khorramdin)
- [Wikipedia — Khurramites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khurramites)