The Madrasa al-Mustansiriyya in Baghdad and the thinking that inspired it

This paper will examine the role played by the ‘Abbasid caliph al-Mustansir (623-640/1226-1242) as a patron of Islamic architecture, above all his establishment of the famous madrasa, the Mustansiriyya, in Baghdad. The opening ceremony of this building on 5 Rajab 631/April 7 1234 will be described. Mention will be made of the caliph’s opening of a magnificent library to which he endowed books on fiqh, science and literature and the strategy he adopted to enhance its fame by inviting prestigious scholars to come and work there.  It is interesting to emphasise that the Mustansiriyya was in fact the first madrasa to be established by a caliph. The discussion will then turn to the very important new nature of this madrasa, namely that it was intended to be devoted not to one special Sunni madhhab but to all four of them. It is evident by this move that the caliph was aiming at a more than usually grandiose function for this building.  He also wished to declare publicly his own role in establishing it and to advertise this very proudly on its river front in the inscription which names him specifically. It was the largest and longest madrasa inscription known up to that time; its propagandistic purpose was clear. The scale, lavish decoration and aspirational vaulting of this madrasa justifies its claim to be the supreme masterpiece of later ‘Abbasid architecture.