Banafsha bint Abdullah al-Rumiyyah بانفشة بنت عبد الله الرمية | |||||
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Umm walad of the Abbasid caliph | |||||
Period | 1170 – 1180 | ||||
Died | 1201 Baghdad, Abbasid Caliphate | ||||
Burial | Sheikh Maarouf Cemetery, Baghdad | ||||
Spouse | Al-Mustadi | ||||
Relatives | One daughter Al-Nasir (step-son) | ||||
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Father | Abdullah al-Rumi | ||||
Religion | Sunni Islam | ||||
Occupation |
Banafsha bint Abdullah al-Rumiyyah (Arabic: بنفشة بنت عبد الله الرمية) (died 1201) was a slave consort of the Abbasid caliph Al-Mustadi (r. 1170–1180).[1][2]
Her origin is termed to have been "Roman" or Rumiyya, that is to say of Greek origin from the Byzantine Empire of Constantinople. She was reportedly the daughter of Abdullah, a Greek.[3] She was a slave brought to the Harem of the Caliph. As was the custom she was compelled to convert to Islam and was given a new name.
She became Al-Mustadi's favourite concubine.[3] The Caliph manumitted her and married her. He had a palace built for her personal use in Baghdad.
Banafsha is described as loving and merciful. She did not give birth to a son, but she successfully supported her stepson Al-Nasir to the succession before his brother prince Hashem. Because of this, she was favored by Al-Nasir when he became Caliph in 1180.
It was impossible for her to leave the harem, but she became known for her donations and charitable projects, which was a common method for the secluded harem wives of the Caliphs to create a public name for themselves.[4] She was considered a powerful woman in her court and kingdom.[5] She died on 27 December 1201 and was buried in the mausoleum of Zumurrud Khatun in Sheikh Maarouf Cemetery.[3]
She is known as the founder of the Hanbali Banafsha School in Baghdad (1174).[6] She also built a bridge between the Karkh and Al-Rusafa districts in Baghdad.