During the 9 year Anarchy at Samarra, the Caliphate reached its lowest level. 5 Caliphs murdered, numerous independent dynasties popping up in the provinces. An enormous and devastating rebellion in the marshes of southern Iraq, and in 870 the Saffarids came close to taking Baghdad itself.
Despite the rock bottom situation they found themselves in, alMuwaffaq, alMutadid and alMuktafi had managed to restore a significant portion of the Caliphate by 908. After 14 years defeating the formidable Zanj, driving back the Saffarids and restoring Abbasid rule in Egypt from the Tulunids.
But then ended on alMuktafi's death. A 13 year old, was chosen by the bureaucracy and military so that they could manipulate and control him, to get the most they could for themselves out of the Caliphate.
Even when the Caliph grew up, he spent most of his time with the concubines, singing girls and musicians of the Harem - which had become a political force itself and draining staggering quantities from the treasury, despite the state being near bankruptcy. Truly the quintessence of decadence.
Meanwhile, the Qaramita had emerged and humiliated the Caliphate in their brutal massacre of Hajj and stealing of the Black stone. All while the military fought with the bureaucracy for domination of the dwindling remnants of the Caliphate. Muqtadir was killed after by the leading military figure Mu'nis, until he too was killed by the next Caliph he had appointed alQahir. Without Mu'nis, the military fractured with factions fighting one another. In 937 during a campaign against a rival ibn Ra'iq breeched the Nahrawan canal, the largest irrigation canal in Iraq, built centuries prior, providing water and fertility to vast tracts of land. It's destruction was a major loss to the agriculture of mesopotamia. Meanwhile, in 934 the Zoroastrian revivalist ibn Mardavij had taken nearby Ahwaz, intent on taking Baghdad and reforming the Sassanian empire, though his grand dreams were shattered by his murder by his own slaves... A few years later some former soldiers of his established their own dynasty, that of the Buyids, who in 945 entered Baghdad, making their powerlessness official.
ITTL a 13 yr old, chosen for his ease of manipulation doesn't become Caliph. Instead someone more suitable, such as Abdullah ibn alMutazz, one of the candidates OTL, who was supported by some factions of the court. He was 47 years old, an intellectual, a literary and poetry critic and composer, authoring a book called Kitab alBadi on forms of poetry. He spent time in the courts of Mutadid, thereby having made contacts with state secretaries, viziers and military officials. Making him a good candidate.
The main drawback is that he isn't from the children of Mutadid, who the army had immense respect for. This means the loyalties of the army are in question. His age and intellectual life probably means he won't be going on campaign with them, preventing an avenue to increase the armies loyalty. So the army could potentially otherthrow ibn alMutazz, if he isn't following their interests.
There are many other sons of Mutawakkil who could be potential candidates, such as Muhammad ibn alMutamid. But not much is known about them or their abilities...
Regardless who becomes Caliph, he would have a lot of work cut out for him. The irrigation of the Sawad (Abbasid breadbasket, richest region of the Caliphate with 4x the revenues of Egypt) was damaged significantly during the Zanj revolt, requiring huge sums to repair the bankroller of the Caliphate. Muktafi had left large surpluses in the treasury which could be used for this exact purpose.
And the Abbasids still had significant enemies. Primarily the Qaraamita and to a lesser extent the resurging Byzantines and emerging Fatimids.
Abbasid naval expansion would help greatly with all 3:
The Qaramita were centred at AlHasa, close to the sea, otherwise requiring a long trek through the desert, which Qaramiti bedouin dominated.
So a navy would take the island of Bahrain then the nearby port of Qatif. Using that to disembark tens of thousands of land troops, who would besiege alAhsa, taking their capital. (OTL in 1067 a declined alAhsa needed 7 years siege from the Uyunid Bedouin and Seljuk reinforcements. ITTL the Qaramita are still in their prime, so a lengthy siege is likely, though the navy might mitigate this)
Other Bedouin groups do still pose a threat. The Abbasids would need to greater integrate them into the state/army, as Umayyad tribal armies had done. Perhaps sending them to the frontiers, where their energies can be used for expansion...?
At the PoD, they control the majority of western Ifriqiyah, until march 909 when they take the Aghlabid capital, which is too early for the Abbasids to do anything, except increase the garrison and fortifications of Egypt (particularly Alexandria) and Cyrenaica.
A navy would be absolutely vital to defeating the Fatimids. Thus a huge amount of the Caliphates wealth would be poured into the shipyards of the Levant/Cilicia and Egypt/Cyrenaica, as well as even the Emirate of Crete. Giving the Abbasids a navy to rival or surpass their Umayyad forebears, and become the largest in the Mediterranean.
A direct assault on Ifriqiyah would be very difficult. However, OTL Sicily only came under Fatimid control in 911, subsequently the Sunni Sicilians ousted the Fatimid governor in 912, and pledged fealty to the Abbasids. In 914 going as far as ravaging the Fatimid Ifriqiyan coast. Until in 917 the Fatimids besieged and conquered Palermo, disarming the Sicilians.
ITTL, the Abbasids would use their navy to land in 912 on Sicily and assist Ibn Qurhub (whom the Sicilians elected after Fatimid ousting) Bringing with them tens of thousands of Eastern troops to strengthen the Island, as well as developing it's shipyards, preparing campaigns for Ifriqiyah.
Whilst also inciting the Maliki Sunni majority of Ifriqiyah to revolt against their new extreme Shia overlords. Adding to the revolts already occuring in Tahert, Kabylia, Qayrawan and Tripoli.
The revolt of Tripoli was only put down sometime in 913 OTL, so the first Sicilian-Abbasid attack would be the conquest of Tripoli, before the Fatimids can put down the revolt.
The city would give a land connection between Cyrenaica and Ifriqiyah, allowing tens of thousands of reinforcements to arrive from Egypt and the east.
In 914 a ravaging similar to that of Ibn Qurhub OTL would occur. Except far greater in magnitude and coupled with mass Sunni revolts. Taking the primary Aghlabid port of Tunis, largely denying the Fatimids of their navy. By 916 gaining total control of the Ifriqiyan coast.
Using coastal footholds to begin the push into the interior, taking the closeby Ifriqiyan capital of Qayrawan by 917.
Pushing the Fatimids west into mountains of Kabylia. However, this was the Kutama heartland, as well as difficult terrain, and so would be very difficult to defeat. Instead a sort of defensive frontier would be created around the Kabyle mountains, to prevent them from attacking the lowlands. Subduing the Fatimid threat.
Beyond that, the navy has the possibility of pushing further west than Ifriqiyah deeper into the Maghreb to regions never before under Abbasid control. Founding Bejaia, Algiers, Oran and Nador. Since these places didn't have ports or navies, so building ports could happen unchallenged.
Using these coastal outposts to extend influence to the interior. Mainly the Rustamid remnants, who had been defeated in 909 by the Fatimids, the Idrisids further west in Morocco were more formidable, OTL taking decades to finally extinguish with both Umayyad and Fatimid intervention.
ITTL, the distant Abbasids don't have the loyalty of the Berber tribes which the Fatimids did, and cannot afford to waste valuable troops on such a distant frontier. So Morocco would largely be annexed by the Umayyads of Cordoba.
As for the Byzantines:
During the anarchy at Samarra, they defeated Umar al Aqta, greatly weakening Melitene, and then invaded Muslim Armenia. Suddenly gaining the major upperhand in Anatolia, for the first time ever. But it wouldn't be until 930s that they take Melitene, Armenia, and Cilicia, fighting against individual borderlords, since the Caliphate has collapsed.
ITTL, a strong Caliph would be able to revitalise Melitene, Theodosiopolis, Armenia, Cilicia and other regions on the frontier. Though this would become largely defensive, building hundreds of strategically placed castles. With offensive raids as per pre-863 largely coming to a halt, until the Abbasids secure all other frontiers.
Offensives would still continue on the sea. Once the Fatimids are defeated, the Abbasids can coordinate joint campaigns with their new Maghrebi/Sicilian navy and the Levantine/Egyptian and Cretan navies to attack Byzantine Italy, Balkans, Aegean and Anatolia all around the same time, so that the Byzantine navy cannot cope.
The east was dominated by the largely independent Samanids, who were quite friendly with the Abbasids. The Saffarids were previously a large threat, but in 901, the Samanids defeated them, greatly weakening them. In 908, the Saffarids had a civil war, in which their western governor Sebük-eri defected to the Abbasids, giving them control over Fars and Kerman. While the Samanids their home province of sistan in 911, which broke the last remnants of Saffarid power, save for a few holdings in southern Afghanistan. Though in 914, the Abbasid governor of Kirman, Abu Yazid Khalid, managed to take Sistan off the Samanids, but he rebelled against the Abbasids in 917, from which Sistan became largely independent once more.
ITTL, the Abbasids use their control of the Persian and Baluchistan coast to better control Sistan. Sending a significant army with Sebük-eri in 910 as OTL, but pushing all the way to Sistan due to better supplies and logistics from the coast. Preempting the Samanid invasion in 911. Taking the last remnants of the Saffarids in Afghanistan in 914.
Thereafter invading Habbari Sindh with the Gulf navy going up the Indus, while the land army attacks from Sistan.
Restoring Abbasid suzerainty. Though the Habbari dynasty may be kept as governors, as they seem to have proved able, particularly in their restoration of the Indus irrigation systems after it's shifting of course in 700 and the subsequent Umayyad and Abbasid neglect.
Finally reasserting control over Multan from the Banu Munnabih.
A joint Abbasid-Samanid invasion of Kabul would occur, retaking the city from the Hindu Shahi, then invading Peshawar.
Allowing the Invasion of the Gangetic plain Via Peshawar and Multan/Sindh. Whilst also settling/deporting unruly Bedouin to the That desert, using there energies to raid Rajasthan and the rest of India.
The same would go for the Turks. As they begin to convert to Islam, many would be sent to the lucrative Indian frontier, instead of raiding Muslim Transoxiana/Khurasan.
Providing Ghaznavid, Ghurid and Delhi Sultanate style armies.
This would become the main ghazi frontier, as the Byzantine one changes to a more maritime one. Thus tens of thousands of volunteers from around the Islamic world would come here, instead of Anatolian border cities, for a chance of the riches of India.
Indian campaigns bringing in huge quantities of wealth the Abbasids would use to improve the bureaucracy, irrigation, trade infrastructure (Roads, Caravanserais, wells etc), fortifications, trade and war fleets, army equipment etc
Fully revitalising the Caliphate.
Other regions:
The north was dominated by Yusuf ibn Abi'l-Saj. Muktafi sent an army against him in 908, but died. Then OTL Muqtadir sent an army and extracted tribute from him.
ITTL troops can't be spared on the north, until more pressing threats are dealt with. So he would be acknowledged as governor of the north.
With the Qaramita, Fatimids, Byzantines and Saffarids dealt with, Abbasid attentions would return northwards once more. Now with a much stronger Abbasid state.
He would probably be removed. Unless he proved to be an able governor.
From there, a significant Caspian navy would be built at the new port of Baku, to put an end to Rus/Viking raids on the region.
But more importantly, using this Capsian navy to advance along the Iranian Caspian coast. Founding a Gilani Coastal capital at the mouth of the Sefid-Rud, due to its equal distance between the cities of Rasht and Lahijan, as well as potential use of the Sefid-Rud for navigation.
Using it as an unassailable (without a navy) centre to establish control over the Gilani lowlands. Spreading Sunni Islam to the Zoroastrian Daylamites, instead of Shi'ism.
Then pushing further into Zaydi/Alid Tabaristan, which only recently in 914 ousted the Samanids. Founding modern day Babolsar as capital, due to its equal distance between Amol and Sari, whilst being on the potentially Navigable Babol river.
Finally using the port of Abaskun as the capital of Gorgan. The city had been ravaged by Rus raids, first in the last 800s, more recently and on much larger scales in 909 and 913. The Abbasid Caspian navy would prevent that from happening again. Whilst also using the city to dominate the province of Gorgan.
Gaining control over the whole Capsian coast. Developing rice and silk production in the region.
The Capsian mountains would be near impossible to take. Instead using strategic castles to reduce their forays into the lowlands. And Sunni duaat to prevent them becoming Shia.
Then using the Caspian navy to take the rest of the Caspian coast. Strengthening the fortifications at Derbent through via a fortified port and taking/founding nearby Makhachkala. Preventing steppe incursions into Azerbaijan.
Founding Atyrau at the mouth of the Ural river, as well as further upstream at Uralsk or potentially Orenburg depending on its navigability. Using these to influence the steppe, as well as trade with Finno-Ugrics. Potentially for mining in the Ural mountains?
But the most important use of the Caspian Navy would be to go up the Volga River. Trading directly with and influencing the Khazars, Volga Bulgars and Rus. Particularly in preventing further Rus incursions into the Caspian.
The Abbasid Caspian replacing the Samanid and Khwarezmian land routes which previously dominated northeastern European trade.
In 921, the envoy to the Volga Bulgars wouldn't be sent by land, but rather by the Caspian navy.
And due to a much more powerful and richer Caliphate than OTL, it would be a truly immense envoy. Replete with Islamic scholars of various madhabs, doctors, artisans, architects, scientists etc. To develop Bolghar into one of the greatest cities in all Europe, and a centre of Islamic and scientific learning.
From there, a Joint Bolghar-Abbasid campaign could occur against the declining Khazars due to their support of the Rus invasions. Preempting a Rus invasions.
The Abbasids sending a naval fleet to their capital of Atil, accompanied by a land force from Azerbaijan, following the Caspian coast.
While the Bulgars attack Sarkel from the north.
Ideally the Muslim Khwarezmian Guard of the Khazars could be made to defect. Or the significant Muslim population of the cities support the Abbasids.
With the conquest of Atil, the Khazars would effectively end, the Volga Bulgars integrating their remnants into their state.
The Abbasids retaining control of Atil, the Bulgars receiving the rest of the Khazar state.
Ideally a Volga-Don Canal would be feasible to be made. If so, a city located at the canal (close to modern Volgograd) would become the capital due to its control over both the Volga and Don.
With this, Islamic influence over the Kievan Rus would be much much larger, due to a direct Abbasid presence in the region. With many more Muslim merchants throughout eastern Europe, as well as Abbasid duaat sent to proselytize the Rus.
As for the Samanids, they would be kept for now, as a buffer between the Turks.
Abbasid Tabaristan would mean the Daylamite dynasties never emerge, preventing the Samanids having to deal with rivals challenging them. Instead focusing their energies against the Turks.
If Nasr still converts to Ismailism in 938 (apparently the Duaat weren't affiliated with the Fatimids, so their destruction might not prevent this), this would be seen as an affront to the Abbasid state. Who would then invade, permanently confiscating Khurasan from their realm. Leaving them only with their Transoxianan heartland and Khwarezm.
Since the Karakhanid converted in 934, the Samanids main role would be preventing them from taking Transoxiana. Primarily pushing them east against the Uyghur states of the Tarim Basin and Gansu.
Meanwhile in Yemen:
The Ziyadid dynasty of Yemen, originally under Abbasid suzerainty, were now semi-vassals of the Zaydi Shia of the Yemeni Highlands, who had sacked their capital Zabid multiple times.
After finishing off the Fatimids, the Pharaoh's canal would be redredged after alMansur closed it in 767. Allowing the war and trade fleets of the Mediterranean to enter the red sea.
These would take the Yemeni coast, creating a new Yemeni capital directly west of Zabid on the coast, since the maritime replenishment would prevent seiges to the city by highlanders.
Doing away with the defeated Ziyadid dynasty, in place of direct Abbasid control.
The rest of the coastal lowlands would easily come under control. The rugged highlands would be far more difficult...
With the fall of the Qaramita, the Abbasids would be able to regain control over Arabia.
Yamama, would become the central Arabian capital (near Riyadh) due to it's central location allowing power projection throughout the rest of the peninsula. Building large stone walls around the city, making it almost impossible for Bedouin to take it.
This city would be used to establish control throughout the rest of Arabia.
In the case for Yemen, it would take the nearby Hadramawt valley, which seems to have been dominated by Khawarij, and Najran.
Surrounding the Yemeni Highlands via Zabid in the west, Aden in the south, Najran to the north and Hadramawt to the east.
Gaining control over Sana'a and other Highland cities.
A stronger red sea navy due to the Pharaohs canal and larger Persian gulf navy would allow greater abbasid influence in the Indian Ocean.
Making ties to the Sultanate of Shewa in Ethiopia and the emerging city states of the Swahili coast. Sending naval embassies to the states of the Indian coasts.
Making contact with the Muslim settlements of Peurleulak and Samudra-Pasai in Aceh, to replace anti abbasid Shi'ism with sunnism.
With that, the Abbasids have restored unity to the Muslim world, and strength to the Caliphate. And has expanded in all directions.
Despite the rock bottom situation they found themselves in, alMuwaffaq, alMutadid and alMuktafi had managed to restore a significant portion of the Caliphate by 908. After 14 years defeating the formidable Zanj, driving back the Saffarids and restoring Abbasid rule in Egypt from the Tulunids.
But then ended on alMuktafi's death. A 13 year old, was chosen by the bureaucracy and military so that they could manipulate and control him, to get the most they could for themselves out of the Caliphate.
Even when the Caliph grew up, he spent most of his time with the concubines, singing girls and musicians of the Harem - which had become a political force itself and draining staggering quantities from the treasury, despite the state being near bankruptcy. Truly the quintessence of decadence.
Meanwhile, the Qaramita had emerged and humiliated the Caliphate in their brutal massacre of Hajj and stealing of the Black stone. All while the military fought with the bureaucracy for domination of the dwindling remnants of the Caliphate. Muqtadir was killed after by the leading military figure Mu'nis, until he too was killed by the next Caliph he had appointed alQahir. Without Mu'nis, the military fractured with factions fighting one another. In 937 during a campaign against a rival ibn Ra'iq breeched the Nahrawan canal, the largest irrigation canal in Iraq, built centuries prior, providing water and fertility to vast tracts of land. It's destruction was a major loss to the agriculture of mesopotamia. Meanwhile, in 934 the Zoroastrian revivalist ibn Mardavij had taken nearby Ahwaz, intent on taking Baghdad and reforming the Sassanian empire, though his grand dreams were shattered by his murder by his own slaves... A few years later some former soldiers of his established their own dynasty, that of the Buyids, who in 945 entered Baghdad, making their powerlessness official.
ITTL a 13 yr old, chosen for his ease of manipulation doesn't become Caliph. Instead someone more suitable, such as Abdullah ibn alMutazz, one of the candidates OTL, who was supported by some factions of the court. He was 47 years old, an intellectual, a literary and poetry critic and composer, authoring a book called Kitab alBadi on forms of poetry. He spent time in the courts of Mutadid, thereby having made contacts with state secretaries, viziers and military officials. Making him a good candidate.
The main drawback is that he isn't from the children of Mutadid, who the army had immense respect for. This means the loyalties of the army are in question. His age and intellectual life probably means he won't be going on campaign with them, preventing an avenue to increase the armies loyalty. So the army could potentially otherthrow ibn alMutazz, if he isn't following their interests.
There are many other sons of Mutawakkil who could be potential candidates, such as Muhammad ibn alMutamid. But not much is known about them or their abilities...
Regardless who becomes Caliph, he would have a lot of work cut out for him. The irrigation of the Sawad (Abbasid breadbasket, richest region of the Caliphate with 4x the revenues of Egypt) was damaged significantly during the Zanj revolt, requiring huge sums to repair the bankroller of the Caliphate. Muktafi had left large surpluses in the treasury which could be used for this exact purpose.
And the Abbasids still had significant enemies. Primarily the Qaraamita and to a lesser extent the resurging Byzantines and emerging Fatimids.
Abbasid naval expansion would help greatly with all 3:
The Qaramita were centred at AlHasa, close to the sea, otherwise requiring a long trek through the desert, which Qaramiti bedouin dominated.
So a navy would take the island of Bahrain then the nearby port of Qatif. Using that to disembark tens of thousands of land troops, who would besiege alAhsa, taking their capital. (OTL in 1067 a declined alAhsa needed 7 years siege from the Uyunid Bedouin and Seljuk reinforcements. ITTL the Qaramita are still in their prime, so a lengthy siege is likely, though the navy might mitigate this)
Other Bedouin groups do still pose a threat. The Abbasids would need to greater integrate them into the state/army, as Umayyad tribal armies had done. Perhaps sending them to the frontiers, where their energies can be used for expansion...?
The Fatimids:
At the PoD, they control the majority of western Ifriqiyah, until march 909 when they take the Aghlabid capital, which is too early for the Abbasids to do anything, except increase the garrison and fortifications of Egypt (particularly Alexandria) and Cyrenaica.
A navy would be absolutely vital to defeating the Fatimids. Thus a huge amount of the Caliphates wealth would be poured into the shipyards of the Levant/Cilicia and Egypt/Cyrenaica, as well as even the Emirate of Crete. Giving the Abbasids a navy to rival or surpass their Umayyad forebears, and become the largest in the Mediterranean.
A direct assault on Ifriqiyah would be very difficult. However, OTL Sicily only came under Fatimid control in 911, subsequently the Sunni Sicilians ousted the Fatimid governor in 912, and pledged fealty to the Abbasids. In 914 going as far as ravaging the Fatimid Ifriqiyan coast. Until in 917 the Fatimids besieged and conquered Palermo, disarming the Sicilians.
ITTL, the Abbasids would use their navy to land in 912 on Sicily and assist Ibn Qurhub (whom the Sicilians elected after Fatimid ousting) Bringing with them tens of thousands of Eastern troops to strengthen the Island, as well as developing it's shipyards, preparing campaigns for Ifriqiyah.
Whilst also inciting the Maliki Sunni majority of Ifriqiyah to revolt against their new extreme Shia overlords. Adding to the revolts already occuring in Tahert, Kabylia, Qayrawan and Tripoli.
The revolt of Tripoli was only put down sometime in 913 OTL, so the first Sicilian-Abbasid attack would be the conquest of Tripoli, before the Fatimids can put down the revolt.
The city would give a land connection between Cyrenaica and Ifriqiyah, allowing tens of thousands of reinforcements to arrive from Egypt and the east.
In 914 a ravaging similar to that of Ibn Qurhub OTL would occur. Except far greater in magnitude and coupled with mass Sunni revolts. Taking the primary Aghlabid port of Tunis, largely denying the Fatimids of their navy. By 916 gaining total control of the Ifriqiyan coast.
Using coastal footholds to begin the push into the interior, taking the closeby Ifriqiyan capital of Qayrawan by 917.
Pushing the Fatimids west into mountains of Kabylia. However, this was the Kutama heartland, as well as difficult terrain, and so would be very difficult to defeat. Instead a sort of defensive frontier would be created around the Kabyle mountains, to prevent them from attacking the lowlands. Subduing the Fatimid threat.
Beyond that, the navy has the possibility of pushing further west than Ifriqiyah deeper into the Maghreb to regions never before under Abbasid control. Founding Bejaia, Algiers, Oran and Nador. Since these places didn't have ports or navies, so building ports could happen unchallenged.
Using these coastal outposts to extend influence to the interior. Mainly the Rustamid remnants, who had been defeated in 909 by the Fatimids, the Idrisids further west in Morocco were more formidable, OTL taking decades to finally extinguish with both Umayyad and Fatimid intervention.
ITTL, the distant Abbasids don't have the loyalty of the Berber tribes which the Fatimids did, and cannot afford to waste valuable troops on such a distant frontier. So Morocco would largely be annexed by the Umayyads of Cordoba.
As for the Byzantines:
During the anarchy at Samarra, they defeated Umar al Aqta, greatly weakening Melitene, and then invaded Muslim Armenia. Suddenly gaining the major upperhand in Anatolia, for the first time ever. But it wouldn't be until 930s that they take Melitene, Armenia, and Cilicia, fighting against individual borderlords, since the Caliphate has collapsed.
ITTL, a strong Caliph would be able to revitalise Melitene, Theodosiopolis, Armenia, Cilicia and other regions on the frontier. Though this would become largely defensive, building hundreds of strategically placed castles. With offensive raids as per pre-863 largely coming to a halt, until the Abbasids secure all other frontiers.
Offensives would still continue on the sea. Once the Fatimids are defeated, the Abbasids can coordinate joint campaigns with their new Maghrebi/Sicilian navy and the Levantine/Egyptian and Cretan navies to attack Byzantine Italy, Balkans, Aegean and Anatolia all around the same time, so that the Byzantine navy cannot cope.
The east was dominated by the largely independent Samanids, who were quite friendly with the Abbasids. The Saffarids were previously a large threat, but in 901, the Samanids defeated them, greatly weakening them. In 908, the Saffarids had a civil war, in which their western governor Sebük-eri defected to the Abbasids, giving them control over Fars and Kerman. While the Samanids their home province of sistan in 911, which broke the last remnants of Saffarid power, save for a few holdings in southern Afghanistan. Though in 914, the Abbasid governor of Kirman, Abu Yazid Khalid, managed to take Sistan off the Samanids, but he rebelled against the Abbasids in 917, from which Sistan became largely independent once more.
ITTL, the Abbasids use their control of the Persian and Baluchistan coast to better control Sistan. Sending a significant army with Sebük-eri in 910 as OTL, but pushing all the way to Sistan due to better supplies and logistics from the coast. Preempting the Samanid invasion in 911. Taking the last remnants of the Saffarids in Afghanistan in 914.
Thereafter invading Habbari Sindh with the Gulf navy going up the Indus, while the land army attacks from Sistan.
Restoring Abbasid suzerainty. Though the Habbari dynasty may be kept as governors, as they seem to have proved able, particularly in their restoration of the Indus irrigation systems after it's shifting of course in 700 and the subsequent Umayyad and Abbasid neglect.
Finally reasserting control over Multan from the Banu Munnabih.
A joint Abbasid-Samanid invasion of Kabul would occur, retaking the city from the Hindu Shahi, then invading Peshawar.
Allowing the Invasion of the Gangetic plain Via Peshawar and Multan/Sindh. Whilst also settling/deporting unruly Bedouin to the That desert, using there energies to raid Rajasthan and the rest of India.
The same would go for the Turks. As they begin to convert to Islam, many would be sent to the lucrative Indian frontier, instead of raiding Muslim Transoxiana/Khurasan.
Providing Ghaznavid, Ghurid and Delhi Sultanate style armies.
This would become the main ghazi frontier, as the Byzantine one changes to a more maritime one. Thus tens of thousands of volunteers from around the Islamic world would come here, instead of Anatolian border cities, for a chance of the riches of India.
Indian campaigns bringing in huge quantities of wealth the Abbasids would use to improve the bureaucracy, irrigation, trade infrastructure (Roads, Caravanserais, wells etc), fortifications, trade and war fleets, army equipment etc
Fully revitalising the Caliphate.
Other regions:
The north was dominated by Yusuf ibn Abi'l-Saj. Muktafi sent an army against him in 908, but died. Then OTL Muqtadir sent an army and extracted tribute from him.
ITTL troops can't be spared on the north, until more pressing threats are dealt with. So he would be acknowledged as governor of the north.
With the Qaramita, Fatimids, Byzantines and Saffarids dealt with, Abbasid attentions would return northwards once more. Now with a much stronger Abbasid state.
He would probably be removed. Unless he proved to be an able governor.
From there, a significant Caspian navy would be built at the new port of Baku, to put an end to Rus/Viking raids on the region.
But more importantly, using this Capsian navy to advance along the Iranian Caspian coast. Founding a Gilani Coastal capital at the mouth of the Sefid-Rud, due to its equal distance between the cities of Rasht and Lahijan, as well as potential use of the Sefid-Rud for navigation.
Using it as an unassailable (without a navy) centre to establish control over the Gilani lowlands. Spreading Sunni Islam to the Zoroastrian Daylamites, instead of Shi'ism.
Then pushing further into Zaydi/Alid Tabaristan, which only recently in 914 ousted the Samanids. Founding modern day Babolsar as capital, due to its equal distance between Amol and Sari, whilst being on the potentially Navigable Babol river.
Finally using the port of Abaskun as the capital of Gorgan. The city had been ravaged by Rus raids, first in the last 800s, more recently and on much larger scales in 909 and 913. The Abbasid Caspian navy would prevent that from happening again. Whilst also using the city to dominate the province of Gorgan.
Gaining control over the whole Capsian coast. Developing rice and silk production in the region.
The Capsian mountains would be near impossible to take. Instead using strategic castles to reduce their forays into the lowlands. And Sunni duaat to prevent them becoming Shia.
Then using the Caspian navy to take the rest of the Caspian coast. Strengthening the fortifications at Derbent through via a fortified port and taking/founding nearby Makhachkala. Preventing steppe incursions into Azerbaijan.
Founding Atyrau at the mouth of the Ural river, as well as further upstream at Uralsk or potentially Orenburg depending on its navigability. Using these to influence the steppe, as well as trade with Finno-Ugrics. Potentially for mining in the Ural mountains?
But the most important use of the Caspian Navy would be to go up the Volga River. Trading directly with and influencing the Khazars, Volga Bulgars and Rus. Particularly in preventing further Rus incursions into the Caspian.
The Abbasid Caspian replacing the Samanid and Khwarezmian land routes which previously dominated northeastern European trade.
In 921, the envoy to the Volga Bulgars wouldn't be sent by land, but rather by the Caspian navy.
And due to a much more powerful and richer Caliphate than OTL, it would be a truly immense envoy. Replete with Islamic scholars of various madhabs, doctors, artisans, architects, scientists etc. To develop Bolghar into one of the greatest cities in all Europe, and a centre of Islamic and scientific learning.
From there, a Joint Bolghar-Abbasid campaign could occur against the declining Khazars due to their support of the Rus invasions. Preempting a Rus invasions.
The Abbasids sending a naval fleet to their capital of Atil, accompanied by a land force from Azerbaijan, following the Caspian coast.
While the Bulgars attack Sarkel from the north.
Ideally the Muslim Khwarezmian Guard of the Khazars could be made to defect. Or the significant Muslim population of the cities support the Abbasids.
With the conquest of Atil, the Khazars would effectively end, the Volga Bulgars integrating their remnants into their state.
The Abbasids retaining control of Atil, the Bulgars receiving the rest of the Khazar state.
Ideally a Volga-Don Canal would be feasible to be made. If so, a city located at the canal (close to modern Volgograd) would become the capital due to its control over both the Volga and Don.
With this, Islamic influence over the Kievan Rus would be much much larger, due to a direct Abbasid presence in the region. With many more Muslim merchants throughout eastern Europe, as well as Abbasid duaat sent to proselytize the Rus.
As for the Samanids, they would be kept for now, as a buffer between the Turks.
Abbasid Tabaristan would mean the Daylamite dynasties never emerge, preventing the Samanids having to deal with rivals challenging them. Instead focusing their energies against the Turks.
If Nasr still converts to Ismailism in 938 (apparently the Duaat weren't affiliated with the Fatimids, so their destruction might not prevent this), this would be seen as an affront to the Abbasid state. Who would then invade, permanently confiscating Khurasan from their realm. Leaving them only with their Transoxianan heartland and Khwarezm.
Since the Karakhanid converted in 934, the Samanids main role would be preventing them from taking Transoxiana. Primarily pushing them east against the Uyghur states of the Tarim Basin and Gansu.
Meanwhile in Yemen:
The Ziyadid dynasty of Yemen, originally under Abbasid suzerainty, were now semi-vassals of the Zaydi Shia of the Yemeni Highlands, who had sacked their capital Zabid multiple times.
After finishing off the Fatimids, the Pharaoh's canal would be redredged after alMansur closed it in 767. Allowing the war and trade fleets of the Mediterranean to enter the red sea.
These would take the Yemeni coast, creating a new Yemeni capital directly west of Zabid on the coast, since the maritime replenishment would prevent seiges to the city by highlanders.
Doing away with the defeated Ziyadid dynasty, in place of direct Abbasid control.
The rest of the coastal lowlands would easily come under control. The rugged highlands would be far more difficult...
With the fall of the Qaramita, the Abbasids would be able to regain control over Arabia.
Yamama, would become the central Arabian capital (near Riyadh) due to it's central location allowing power projection throughout the rest of the peninsula. Building large stone walls around the city, making it almost impossible for Bedouin to take it.
This city would be used to establish control throughout the rest of Arabia.
In the case for Yemen, it would take the nearby Hadramawt valley, which seems to have been dominated by Khawarij, and Najran.
Surrounding the Yemeni Highlands via Zabid in the west, Aden in the south, Najran to the north and Hadramawt to the east.
Gaining control over Sana'a and other Highland cities.
A stronger red sea navy due to the Pharaohs canal and larger Persian gulf navy would allow greater abbasid influence in the Indian Ocean.
Making ties to the Sultanate of Shewa in Ethiopia and the emerging city states of the Swahili coast. Sending naval embassies to the states of the Indian coasts.
Making contact with the Muslim settlements of Peurleulak and Samudra-Pasai in Aceh, to replace anti abbasid Shi'ism with sunnism.
With that, the Abbasids have restored unity to the Muslim world, and strength to the Caliphate. And has expanded in all directions.
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