MUQTAFI, AL-

born April 1096, Iraq died 1160, Iraq 'Abbasid caliph during the later years of Seljuq influence in Iraq. Al-Muqtafi became caliph in 1136 and soon embarked upon a policy of strengthening his political authority vis--vis the Seljuqs, whose princes at the time were feuding among themselves. Consequently, he was able to annex one district in Iraq after another. In 1156 he recognized the Seljuq prince Sulaymanshah as sultan, provided that the latter would respect al-Muqtafi's autonomy in Iraq. Al-Muqtafi even supported him in some military campaigns, but, when Sulaymanshah was defeated by his rival Muhammad, al-Muqtafi himself was besieged in Baghdad by Muhammad's forces. The siege was lifted after several months, and al-Muqtafi thereafter was able to control military and political affairs in Iraq and the surrounding regions.