Editing Harun al-Rashid (section)

==Early life==
Hārūn was born in [[Rey, Iran|Rey]], then part of [[Jibal]] in the Abbasid Caliphate, in present-day [[Tehran Province]], [[Iran]]. He was the son of [[al-Mahdi]], the third Abbasid caliph (r. 775–785), and his wife [[al-Khayzuran]], who was a woman of strong and independent personality who greatly influenced affairs of state in the reigns of her husband and sons. Growing up Harun studied history, geography, rhetoric, music, poetry, and economics. However, most of his time was dedicated to mastering [[hadith]] and the Quran. In addition, he underwent advanced physical education as a future mujahid, and as a result, he practiced swordplay, archery, and learned the art of war.{{sfn|Bobrick|2012|p=38}} His birth date is debated, with various sources giving dates from 763 to 766.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Watt |first=William Montgomery |title=Hārūn al-Rashīd |publisher=Encyclopedia Britannica |date= 2022 |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Harun-al-Rashid |access-date=29 April 2022}}</ref>

Before becoming a caliph, in 780 and again in 782, Hārūn had already nominally led campaigns against the caliphate's traditional enemy, the [[Eastern Roman Empire]], ruled by [[Irene of Athens|Empress Irene]]. The [[Abbasid invasion of Asia Minor (782)|latter expedition]] was a huge undertaking, and even reached the Asian suburbs of [[Constantinople]]. According to the Muslim chronicler [[Al-Tabari]], the Byzantines lost tens of thousands of soldiers, and Harun employed 20,000 mules to carry the riches back. Upon his return to the Abbasid realm, the cost of a sword fell to one dirham and the price of a horse to a single gold Byzantine dinar.{{sfn|Bobrick|2012|p=25}}

Harun's raids against the Byzantines elevated his political image and once he returned, he was given the ''[[laqab]]'' "al-Rashid", meaning "the Rightly-Guided One". He was promoted to crown prince and given the responsibility of governing the empire's western territories, from [[Syria]] to [[Azerbaijan (Iran)|Azerbaijan]].{{sfn|Bobrick|2012|p=24}}

Upon the death of his father in 785, Harun's brother [[al-Hadi]] became caliph. However, al-Hadi's reign was brief: a year and two months. Al-Hadi clashed with their mother over her great influence in court. The historian [[Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari|al-Tabari]] notes varying accounts of al-Hadi's death, e.g. an abdominal ulcer or assassination prompted by his own mother.