ʿAbbāsid-Carolingian Diplomacy in Early Medieval Arabic Apocalypse
Sam Ottewill‐Soulsby
Abstract Study of the diplomacy between Carolingians and ʿAbbāsids has been hampered by absence any sources from Caliphate commenting on their relationship. This paper identifies two variants Arabic Tiburtine Sibyl, apocalyptic prophecies composed Syriac Christians in early ninth century, that provide contemporary references to contact Charlemagne Hārūn al-Rashīd. In doing so, they shed new light this diplomatic activity indicating it was considerably more important for Caliph than normally appreciated. Combined with other Franks period, evidence these Sibyls suggests al-Rashīd accrued considerable prestige his reception Charlemagne’s envoys gifts brought them.
Millennium