Aliyah bint al-Mansur

Aliyah bint al-Mansur (Arabic: علية بنت المنصور) was the 8th century Abbasid princess, only daughter of second Abbasid caliph al-Mansur and half-sister of third Abbasid caliph al-Mahdi. Aliyah was the only Abbasid princess in the Caliphate's history who had relation by birth with both Caliphal dynasties; cadet branch of Umayyads and ruling dynasty of Abbasids.

Life

Aliyah was the daughter of al-Mansur. She was Al-Masnur's only daughter. She was born to an Umayyad woman named Aliyah al-Umayya. Her mother belonged to junior cadet branch of Umayyads (non ruling branch). She was named after her mother by his parents. Aliyah was the youngest child of al-Mansur. She was very young when her father died. Her elder half-brothers took care of her.

Her husband, Ishaq was a member of a collateral branch of the Abbasid dynasty, being a first cousin of the first two Abbasid caliphs al-Saffah (r. 750–754) and al-Mansur (r. 754–775). He was also connected to the ruling line by his marriage to Aliyah bint al-Mansur. Due to his close relation with caliphs, her husband and children remained important officials of Caliphate.

Aliyah was contemporary to several Abbasid caliphs; her brother al-Mahdi, her two nephews Musa al-Hadi and Harun al-Rashid.

Siblings

Aliyah was related to Abbasid house both by birth and through marriage like most other Abbasid princess. She was contemporary and related to several Abbasid caliphs, princes and princesses.