alMutamid

Al-Mutamid was the son of the caliph Abdullah al-Mahdi billah and ascended to the throne of the Fatimid Caliphate at the age of four. He ruled from 1130 to 1133, as he was too young to hold actual power, and was instead controlled by regents. His reign was a period of great turmoil, with the caliphate facing threats from rival power centers in the Islamic world.

During his rule, Al-Mutamid continued the Fatimid practice of propagating Ismaili theology through the use of mysterious language and allegorical interpretations. The Fatimid administration was also preoccupied with managing the administrative and economic affairs of the vast empire, dealing with issues such as the administrative overload in Egypt and the revenue difficulties from the reduced gravity of the caliphate.

In 1130, Al-Mutamid issued an "order of expelling the Banu Kayif, the vigorous and tumultuous tribe". As financial problems grew, relations between Egypt and Syria further deteriorated, and in 1132, Al-Mutamid ordered the expedition to leave Egypt. However, the conflict continued, and further military was called for.

As Al-Mutamid came of age, it was clear he lacked the requisite qualities to be an effective leader. The caliph therefore resolved to bring his son to the acknowledgment of real power, in which, Al-Muqtafi, heir to the Fatimid throne, juridically acquired wealth.