194 Origins
quence
occurred.
(1)
Muslim
subjects
intheFertileCrescentand
Iranhadwithdrawnfrom
public
affairs
by
theendofthe
2d/8th
century,
a
consequence
oftheir
disappointment
withAbbasid
rule
(andpossibly
becauseMuslims
had
become
a
largeportion
ofthepopulation).(2) Someormany
oftheAbbasid
military
supporters
fromKhurasanwere
marginal
area
soldiers.
(3)
The
descendantsofthesesoldiershadgrown
unreliable
by
the190/
810s,asisshownbythe
poor
showthey
madein
fighting
foral-
Amin
against
al-Ma’mfin.A1-Ma’mfin needednewsourcesof
marginal
areasoldiersanda
way
tocontrolthem.
(4)Military
slavery
fulfilledboththeseneeds.
Oncetheinstitutionofmilitaryslavery
hadbeen
established,
it
acquired
amomentumofitsownandbecameavailabletorulers
and
dynasties
withdiverseneeds.
Mainly
it
spread
because
Mus-
limrulers,undertherestrictionofunattainableIslamicideals,
neededsome
way
to
acquire
andcontrol
outsidersoldiersfrom
marginal
areas.
Militaryslaverydevelopedearly
andremaineda
basicinstitutionof
premodern
Islamicate
public
life.
Itdid
not
ariseasaresultofaccidental
featuresofAbbasid
history;
much
lesswas
it
theresultof
al-Ma’mfin’s
personal
decision.Rather,it
cameintoexistenceandtookholdin
response
tofundamental
factsofIslamicatelife.
Militaryslavery
wasaninstitution
implicit
intheIslamicateorder;theAbbasids(andprobablytheSpanish
Umayyadsaswell),
withtheMarwanidmodelbeforethem,re-
sortedtoit
naturally.