BASASIRI, ARSLAN AL-MUZAFFAR AL-

died Jan. 15, 1060, Saqy al-Furat, near Kufah, Iraq Islamic military leader. Al-Basasiri was born a Turkish slave, and his activities were first mentioned about 1025. At the time, the weakened 'Abbasid caliphs at Baghdad, who represented Sunnite Islam, were under continuous pressure from the Fatimid caliphs of Egypt, representing the Shi'ite sect, and the insurgent Turks commanded by Toghrl Beg. Al-Basasiri, a veteran of many battles in these struggles, joined with Arab tribesmen in 105859 to attempt to defeat the 'Abbasid caliph al-Qa'im in favour of the Fatimids. He was unsuccessful and was killed by the Turks in 1060. Toghrl Beg seized Baghdad and reestablished under his control the supremacy of the 'Abb asids, and thereby favoured Sunnite over Shi'ite Islam.