Mutasim

   Abbasid caliph (qq.v.) from 833-842. Mutasim's war against the Khurramites resulted in the flight of Khurramites under Theophobos to Theophilos (qq.v.). Theophilos seemed to further strengthen his position against the caliph when, in 837, he sacked Zapetra, reportedly the birthplace of Mutasim's father, Harun al-Rashid (q.v.). But the following year Mustasim entered Asia Minor (q.v.) with a huge expeditionary force that captured Ankyra and Amorion (qq.v.). Among the captives he executed were the Forty-two Martyrs of Amorion (q.v.).