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Banafsha bint Abdullah al-Rumiyyah

d. 1201

Consort of Abbasid Caliph Al-Mustadi

SlaveAl-RusafaIraq
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About Banafsha bint Abdullah al-Rumiyyah

Banafsha bint Abdullah al-Rumiyyah was an Arab slave, al-Rusafa, iraq, hanbali and karkh.

Banafsha bint Abdullah al-Rumiyyah (Arabic: بنفشة بنت عبد الله الرمية) (died 1201) was a slave consort of the Abbasid caliph Al-Mustadi (r. 1170–1180).

Her origin is termed to have been "Roman" or Rumiyya, that is to say of Greek origin from the Byzantine Empire of Constantinople. She was reportedly the daughter of a Greek, and called "bint Abdullah" ("daughter of Abdullah") The Caliph manumitted her and married her. He had a palace built for her personal use in Baghdad.

Banafsha is described as loving and merciful. She did not give birth to a son, but she successfully supported her stepson Al-Nasir to the succession before his brother prince Hashem. Because of this, she was favored by Al-Nasir when he became Caliph in 1180.

It was impossible for her to leave the harem, but she became known for her donations and charitable projects, which was a common method for the secluded harem wives of the Caliphs to create a public name for themselves. She was considered a powerful woman in her court and kingdom. She died on 27 December 1201 and was buried in the mausoleum of Zumurrud Khatun in Sheikh Maarouf Cemetery. She also built a bridge between the Karkh and Al-Rusafa districts in Baghdad.

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Important facts

Occupation
Slave, Al-Rusafa, Iraq, Hanbali, Karkh
Nationality

Family & relationships

Spouse
Al-Mustadi
Child
Al-Nasir

Frequently asked questions

Who was Banafsha bint Abdullah al-Rumiyyah?

consort of Abbasid Caliph Al-Mustadi

When did Banafsha bint Abdullah al-Rumiyyah die?

Banafsha bint Abdullah al-Rumiyyah died on 10 December 1201.

What was Banafsha bint Abdullah al-Rumiyyah's occupation?

Banafsha bint Abdullah al-Rumiyyah was a slave, al-Rusafa, iraq, hanbali and karkh.

What nationality was Banafsha bint Abdullah al-Rumiyyah?

Banafsha bint Abdullah al-Rumiyyah was Arab.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Banafsha bint Abdullah al-Rumiyyah

· Wikidata: Q54875265

· DBpedia: Banafsha bint Abdullah al-Rumiyyah

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Banafsha bint Abdullah al-Rumiyyah. https://biography.guide/banafsha-bint-abdullah-al-rumiyyah/

MLA: "Banafsha bint Abdullah al-Rumiyyah." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/banafsha-bint-abdullah-al-rumiyyah/.

Chicago: "Banafsha bint Abdullah al-Rumiyyah." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/banafsha-bint-abdullah-al-rumiyyah/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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