| No. | Reign | Regnal Name | Personal Name | Parents | Notable Events |
| 1 | 750 – 8 June 754 | al-Saffāḥ | Abū’l-ʿAbbās ʿAbd Allāh |
| Descendant of al-Abbas, Muhammad's uncle. Founder of the Abbasid dynasty. Battle of Talas secures Muslim predominance in Central Asia. |
| 2 | 10 June 754 – 775 | al-Manṣūr | Abū Jaʿfar ʿAbd Allāh | Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Abdullah Sallamah, | Nominated heir by his brother caliph Al-Saffah in 754. Al-Mansur was proclaimed Caliph on his way to Mecca in the year 753 CE and was inaugurated the following year. Founder of Baghdad. He was one of the famous Abbasid caliphs. During his reign, a Fugitive Umayyad prince Abd al-Rahman I founds the Emirate of Córdoba in al-Andalus. |
| 3 | 775 – 4 August 785 | al-Mahdī bi-'llāh | Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad | Al-Mansur Umm Musa Arwa bint Mansur al-Himyari | Nominated heir by his father After the death of his father, he succeeded him. Al-Mahdi commenced his rule by releasing several political prisoners, expanding and decorating the holy places of Mecca and Medina, and building fountains and lofts for Hajj pilgrims. He expanded the mail service, increased his secret service, fortified cities, and increased judicial appointments. His charitable giving was also impressive. |
| 4 | August 785 – 14 September 786 | al-Hādī | Abū Muḥammad Mūsā | Al-Mahdi Al-Khayzuran bint 'Attia | Nominated first heir by his father Al-Mahdi after the death of his father, he succeeded him |
| 5 | 14 September 786 – 24 March 809 | al-Rashīd | Hārūn | Al-Mahdi Al-Khayzuran bint 'Atta | Nominated second heir by his father al-Mahdi, after the death of his brother Caliph al-Hadi, he succeeded him in 786. |
| 6 | March 809 – 24/25 September 813 | al-Amīn | Abū Mūsā Muḥammad | Harun al-Rashid Umm Ja'far Zubaidah bint Ja'far ibn al-Mansur | Nominated first heir by his father Harun al-Rashid, after the death of his father in 809, he succeeded him. He tried to remove his half-brother Abdallah al-Ma'mun from line of succession. In 811, a Civil war of the Fourth Fitna began. Al-Amin was deposed and killed at the Siege of Baghdad. |
| 7 | September 813 – 9 August 833 | al-Maʾmūn | Abū'l-ʿAbbās ʿAbd Allāh | Harun al-Rashid Umm Abdallah Marajil | Nominated second heir by his father. His half-brother al-Amin tried to remove him as heir. He overthrow al-Amin and succeeded his half-brother al-Amin after a civil war in 813. Victor of the civil war. Launch of the Translation Movement, major revamp of the House of Wisdom, and systematic support of scholars for the gathering and translation of knowledge from various civilizations. During his reign, Caliphate expanded its rule in Mediterranean Islands especially with Establishment of the Emirate of Crete and Start of the Muslim conquest of Sicily By the end of al-Ma'mun's reign in 833, Ibn Abi Du'ad had become a close associate of the caliph, and on his deathbed al-Ma'mun recommended to his brother and successor al-Mu'tasim that he admit Ibn Abi Du'ad to his circle of advisors. |
| 8 | 9 August 833 – 5 January 842 | al-Muʿtaṣim bi-’llāh | Abū Isḥāq Muḥammad | Harun al-Rashid Maridah bint Shabib, probably from Sughd Region | His brother, Al-Ma'mun had made no official provisions for his succession. According to the account of al-Tabari, on his deathbed al-Ma'mun dictated a letter nominating his brother, rather than his son al-Abbas, as his successor. Establishment of the Turkish ghilman in positions of power. Militarization and centralization of the administration. The start of official support for Mu'tazilism, institution of the mihna from in 833. under Abbasid official Ahmad ibn Abi Du'ad. Founder of Samarra city. He moved the capital to Samarra in 836. |
| 9 | 5 January 842 – 10 August 847 | al-Wāthiq bi-'llāh | Abū Jaʿfar Hārūn | Al-Mu'tasim Qaratis, Greek concubine | When his father, al-Mu'tasim took care for his son and heir to acquire experience in governance. Nominated heir by his father. Al-Wathiq succeeded his father and ruled as Caliph for six years. Al-Wathiq died as the result of dropsy, while being seated in an oven in an attempt to cure it. |
| 10 | 10 August 847 – 11 December 861 | al-Mutawakkil ʿalā 'llāh | Jaʿfar | Al-Mu'tasim Umm Ja'far Shuja | As a young prince, he was appointed as Amir al-hajj by his brother Al-Wathiq in 842 and he remained a Courtier under his brother's reign. End of official support for Mu'tazilism, abolition of the miḥnah. Return to traditional orthodoxy. Al-Mutawakkil was the last great Abbasid caliph; after his death the dynasty would fall into a decline. He was Assassinated by his guards with support of his son al-Muntasir. |
| 11 | 861 – 7 or 8 June 862 | al-Muntaṣir bi-'llāh | Abū Jaʿfar Muḥammad | Al-Mutawakkil Hubshiya, Greek concubine | Reigned during the Anarchy at Samarra Caliph al-Mutawakkil had created a plan of succession that would allow his sons to inherit the caliphate after his death; he would be succeeded first by his eldest son, al-Muntasir, then by al-Mu'tazz and third by al-Mu'ayyad. However, Al-Muntasir tried to change it and he almost succeeded in it. Decline of the Abbasid Caliphate Just like most Abbasid caliphs, He provided endowments to his kins Banu Hashim. |
| 12 | 862–866 | al-Mustaʿīn bi-ʾllāh | Aḥmad | Muhammad ibn al-Mu'tasim, Abbasid prince Makhariq, concubine from Sicily | Reigned during the Anarchy at Samarra. Fled to Baghdad in 865, beginning of the Fifth Fitna . Abbasid Caliphate civil war. The war between Al-Musta'in and Al-Mu'tazz. It ended when Al-Mu'tazz became Caliph in 866. |
| 13 | 866–869 | al-Muʿtazz bi-ʾllāh | Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad | Al-Mutawakkil Sabiha, Greek concubine | Reigned during the Anarchy at Samarra. Al-Mu'tazz's reign marks the apogee of the decline of the Caliphate's central authority, and the climax of centrifugal tendencies, expressed through the emergence of the autonomous dynasties. Deposed by the Turkic military officers. |
| 14 | 869 – 21 June 870 | al-Muhtadī bi-'llāh | Abū Isḥāq Muḥammad | Al-Wathiq Qurb, Greek concubine | Reigned during the Anarchy at Samarra. As a ruler, al-Muhtadi sought to emulate the Umayyad caliph Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, widely considered a model Islamic ruler. Assassinated by the Turkish military. End of Anarchy at Samarra. |
| 15 | 21 June 870 – 15 October 892 | al-Muʿtamid ʿalā ’llāh | Abū'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad | Al-Mutawakkil Fityan, Greek concubine from Kufa | Al-Mu'tamid's reign marks the end of the "Anarchy at Samarra" and the start of the Abbasid restoration. His brother was Commander-in-chief al-Muwaffaq, who held the loyalty of the military and had great influence over him. Start of the "Abbasid revival". Repulse of the Saffarids rebellion and subjugation of the Zanj Revolt. Establishment of the autonomous Tulunid dynasty in Egypt, Gradual decline of Abbasid rule in Transoxiana, Persia, Sind and Punjab, North Africa, Middle East and Arabia. |
| 16 | October 892 – 5 April 902 | al-Muʿtaḍid bi-'llāh | Abū'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad | Al-Muwaffaq, Abbasid prince and Commander-in-chief Dirar, Greek concubine | He was the nephew of Al-Mu'tamid, He added his name in line of succession and removed his cousin as heir. After his uncle death his succeeded him. Al-Mu'tadid had inherited his father's gifts as a ruler and was distinguished alike for his economy and his military ability, becoming "one of the greatest of the Abbasids in spite of his strictness. Height of the "Abbasid revival". Recovery of Jazira, Thughur, Jibal. Return of the capital to Baghdad and start of the Qarmatian missionary activity and raids. |
| 17 | 5 April 902 – 13 August 908 | al-Muktafī bi-'llāh | Abū Muḥammad ʿAlī | Al-Mu'tadid Jijak, Turkish concubine | Nominated heir by his father, Caliph Al-Mu'tadid. Al-Mu'tadid took care to prepare Ali al-Muktafi, his oldest son and heir, for the succession by appointing him as a provincial governor: first in Rayy, Qazvin, Qum and Hamadan. During his reign Abbasids completely recovered Egypt and Syria from the Tulunids. End of the "Abbasid revival". |
| 18 | 13 August 908 – 929 | al-Muqtadir bi-'llāh | Abū'l-Faḍl Jaʿfar | Al-Mu'tadid Shaghab, Greek concubine | He was nominated heir by his half-brother Al-Muktafi, however, Al-Muktafi died young and Al-Muqtadir came to the throne at the age of 13, the youngest Caliph in Abbasid history and Islamic History. Unsuccessful usurpation attempt in favour of Abdallah ibn al-Mu'tazz. Caliphal title also claimed by al-Mahdi Billah of the Fatimids from 909 and Abd al-Rahman III of Córdoba from 929. |
| 19 | 929 | al-Qāhir bi-'llāh | Abū al-Manṣūr Muḥammad | Al-Mu'tadid Fitnah, Berber concubine | First reign; installed by the commander-in-chief Mu'nis al-Muzaffar for a two days. |
| 929 – 31 October 932 | al-Muqtadir bi-'llāh | Abū'l-Faḍl Jaʿfar | Al-Mu'tadid Shaghab | Second reign Qarmatian sack of Mecca and Medina. Killed in battle before Baghdad against Mu'nis al-Muzaffar. |
| 31 October 932 – 934 | al-Qāhir bi-'llāh | Abū al-Manṣūr Muḥammad | Al-Mu'tadid Fitnah, Berber concubine | Second reign After his brother was killed, he succeeded him as Caliph. In 31 October 932 he was deposed. |
| 20 | 934 – 23 December 940 | al-Rāḍī bi-'llāh | Abū'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad/Muḥammad | Al-Muqtadir Thaloum, Berber concubine | Originally nominated heir by his father Al-Muqtadir. After the death of his uncle Al-Qahir he succeeded him. Al-Radi is commonly spoken of as the last of the real Caliphs: the last to deliver orations at the Friday service, to hold assemblies with philosophers to discuss the questions of the day, or to take counsel on the affairs of State; the last to distribute largess among the needy, or to interpose to temper the severity of cruel officers. |
| 21 | 940–944 | al-Muttaqī li-'llāh | Abū Isḥāq Ibrāhīm | Al-Muqtadir Khalub Zahrah, concubine | Beginning of the later Abbasid period. He was chosen by Military officers after the death of his brother Caliph Al-Radi. Overthrown and blinded by the amīr al-umarāʾ Tuzun. |
| 22 | September 944 – 29 January 946 | al-Mustakfī bi-ʾllāh | ʿAbd Allāh | Al-Muktafi Ghusn, concubine | Installed by the amīr al-umarāʾ Tuzun. Deposed and blinded after the Buyid takeover of Baghdad and Iraq. |
| 23 | 29 January 946 – 974 | al-Muṭīʿ li-ʾllāh | Abū'l-Qāsim al-Faḍl | Al-Muqtadir Shaghla, concubine from Sicily | He succeeded his cousin Al-Mustakfi, during his reign Buyids influence grew. Installed by the Buyid Amir Mu'izz al-Dawla. During the last years of his reign, Abbasids completely lost Egypt, Palestine and Hejaz. Increasingly incapacitated by a partial paralysis that had begun following a stroke in 970, al-Muti was now induced to abdicate with his health as a pretext, and was replaced by his son Abd al-Karim, as al-Ta'i, on 5 August. |
| 24 | 974–991 | al-Ṭāʾiʿ li-amri ʿllāh | Abd al-Karīm | Al-Muti Utb al-Rumiyah | He was nominated heir by his father Al-Muti and his father Abdicated for his son became of partial paralysis that had begun following a stroke in 970. During his reign, Syria was torn by contending factions — Fatimid and Carmathian; while the Buyīds was split up into parties that were fighting among themselves. To top this all off, the Byzantine Emperor John Tzimisces stormed the east in a victorious campaign in 975 and took several Syiria cities. After holding the office for seventeen years, aṭ-Ṭaʼiʻ was deposed in 991. Deposed by the Buyid Amir Baha' al-Dawla. |
| 25 | 1 November 991 – 29 November 1031 | al-Qādir bi-'llāh | Aḥmad | Ishaq ibn al-Muqtadir, Abbasid prince Tumna, concubine | He succeeded his cousin, Caliph Al-Ta'i. Installed by the Buyid Amir Baha' al-Dawla. During his reign, he granted the title Sultan to Muslim rulers. The sultans were religious deputy of the all later Abbasid Caliphs. Upholding of Sunni orthodoxy; publication of the Baghdad Manifesto. |
| 26 | 29 November 1031 – 2 April 1075 | al-Qāʾim bi-amri 'llāh | Abu Ja'far Abdallah | Al-Qadir Badr al-Dija, Armenian concubine | End and disintegration of the Caliphate of Córdoba. Start of Seljuk influence of Baghdad by the Seljuk Turks under Tughril, end of Buyid influence. Al-Qa'im granted the title Sultan to Tughril, Alp Arslan, and Malik Shah I. The Almoravids recognize the Abbasid caliph's religious and nominal authority. |
| 27 | 2 April 1075 – February 1094 | al-Muqtadī bi-amri ’llāh | Abū'l-Qāsim ʿAbd Allāh | Muhammad ibn al-Qa'im, Abbasid prince Urjuwuan, Armenian concubine | He was born to Abbasid prince Muhammad Dhakirat and an Armenian Umm walad. He was honored by the Seljuk sultan Malik-Shah I, during whose reign the Caliphate was recognized throughout the extending range of Seljuk Sultanate. Hejaz, with the Holy Cities, now recovered from the Fatimids, acknowledged again the spiritual jurisdiction of the Abbasids. |
| 28 | February 1094 – 6 August 1118 | al-Mustaẓhir bi-'llāh | Abū l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad | Al-Muqtadi Taif Al-Afwah, Egyptian concubine | He succeeded his father as Caliph. He was the notable Caliph of the later Abbasid Era. The appearance of the First Crusade in Syria. He his known for contributing to Mawdud's struggling against crusades to reconquer Muslim lands of Levant coastline. |
| 29 | 6 August 1118 – 29 August 1135 | al-Mustarshid bi-'llāh | Abū'l-Manṣūr al-Faḍl | Al-Mustazhir Lubaba, Slavs concubine | He succeeded his father as Caliph. He was a notable Caliph of Later Abbasid Era and he was also an Arabic poet. Al-Mustarshid deposed and imprisoned his vizier Amid al-dawla Jalal al-Din Hasan ibn Ali. One year later he also deposed Ahmad ibn Nizam al-Mulk as his vizier. Foundation of the Almohad Empire in the Maghreb. The Almohads were anti-Abbasids. |
| 30 | 29 August 1135 – 1136 | al-Rāshid bi-'llāh | Abu Jaʿfar al-Manṣūr | Al-Mustarshid Khushf, Iraqi concubine | Nominated heir by his father, After the assassination of his father he succeeded him. Deposed by the Seljuk Sultan Ghiyath ad-Din Mas'ud. Al-Rashid Billah was deposed by seljuks and he fled to Isfahan where he was assassinated by a team of four Shia Nizari Ismailis in June 1138. This was celebrated in Alamut for a week. |
| 31 | 1136 – 12 March 1160 | al-Muqtafī li-ʾamri ’llāh | Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad | Al-Mustazhir Ashin, Syrian concubine | He was the brother of caliph Al-Mustarshid and uncle of Al-Rashid Billah. Al-Muqtafi successfully established an army during the later Abbasid era. ] by the Seljuks fails. Restoration of the Caliph's political and military influence of Later Abbasids. |
| 32 | 12 March 1160 – 20 December 1170 | al-Mustanjid bi-'llāh | Abū'l-Muẓaffar Yūsuf | Al-Muqtafi Thawus, Turkish or Abyssinian concubine | He succeeded his father Al-Muqtafi. |
| 33 | 20 December 1170 – 30 March 1180 | al-Mustaḍīʾ bi-amri ʾllāh | al-Ḥasan | Al-Mustanjid Ghadha, Armenian concubine | Al-Mustadi succeeded his father Caliph Al-Mustanjid. He enjoys nothing but what he earns by the labor of his own hands, and therefore manufactures coverlets, which he stamps with his seal, and which his officers sell in the public market. His political and religious authority was recognized throughout Middle East especially by Saladin ruler of Egypt. Caliph Al-Mustadi granted Saladin the title Sultan. Also gave him authority over holy cities; Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. End of the Fatimid Caliphate in 1171, restoration of Abbasid authority in Egypt under Saladin. |
| 34 | 2 March 1180 – 4 October 1225 | al-Nāṣir li-Dīn Allāh | Abu'l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad | Al-Mustadi Sayyida Zumurrud | Siege of [Jerusalem |Recovery of Jerusalem] from the Crusaders by Saladin. Al-Nasir was the influential Caliph of the Later Abbasid era. According to historian Angelika Hartmann, Al-Nasir was the last effective Abbasid caliph of Later Abbasid Caliphate. His political and religious authority was recognized throughout Middle East especially in territory of Ayyubid dynasty of Saladin. |
| 35 | 5 October 1225 – 11 July 1226 | al-Ẓāhir bi-amri’llāh | Abu Nasr Muḥammad | Al-Nasir Asma | He was nominated as heir in 1189. He succeeded his father. In his short reign, he lowered the taxes, and built a strong army to resist invasions. He died on 10 July 1226, nine months after his accession. During his short reign he saw disastrous Mongol Invasion in parts of Eastern Islamic World. |
| 36 | 11 July 1226 – 2 December 1242 | al-Mustanṣir bi-'llāh | Abū Jaʿfar al-Manṣūr | Al-Zahir Zahra, Turkish concubine | He succeeded his father caliph Al-Zahir. Al-Mustansir was the penultimate Caliph of the later Abbasid era. During his reign Eastern Islamic World was invaded by Mongols. The great cities like Bukhara, Samarkand were destroyed and millions of Muslims were killed. |
| 37 | 2 December 1242 – 20 February 1258 | al-Mustaʿṣim bi-'llāh | ʿAbd Allāh | Al-Mustansir Hajer, Abyssinian concubine | Last Abbasid caliph of Later Abbasid Era End of the Abbasid dynasty. Al-Musta'sim was the last known recognised Muslim caliph. His death marked the complete end of the Caliphate as a political and religious entity in the Middle East. Executed after the Mongol sack of Baghdad, he ruled for a period of 15 years 2 months and 15 days. |