Caliph

The Nuttall Encyclopedia

The title adopted by the successors of Mahomet, as supreme in both civil and religious matters. The principal caliphates are: the Caliphate of the East, established by Abubekr at Mecca, transferred to Bagdad by the Abassides (632-1258); the Caliphate of Cordova, established at Cordova by Abderrahman (756-1031); the Caliphate of Egypt, established by the Fatimites (909-1171). It was at Bagdad that Moslem civilisation achieved its final development.