or to interpose to temper the severity of cruel officers. And yet, with all this he was the mere dependent of another. Beyond the Wasir's shadow, there was little left at home. And abroad, even less: the rich East was gone, Berber Africa and Egypt also, along with the greater part of Syria and Mesopotamia; Mosul was independent; peninsular Arabia was held by Carmathians and native chieftains; even Basra and Wasit rose in revolt. The advance of the 'Greeks' (Byzantine Empire) was stayed only by the brave Hamdanid prince who was deservedly styled Sayf al-Daula 'Sword of the Nation'. See also Abu Bakr bin Yahya al-Suli References Sources This text is adapted from William Muir's public domain, The Caliphate: Its Rise, Decline, and Fall. 909 births 940 deaths 10th-century Abbasid caliphs 10th-century rulers in Asia 10th-century rulers in Africa Arab people of Greek descent Sons of Abbasid caliphs