Al-Muqtafi vs Zhu Zhanji

Upon becoming caliph, Al-Muqtafi began to reassert caliphal authority over Baghdad. He expelled Seljuk officials from the city and appointed his own viziers, marking a reversal of decades of Seljuk domination.

Al-Muqtafi reformed the caliphal army by recruiting new troops and reducing reliance on Seljuk mercenaries. He established a standing army loyal to the caliph, which enabled his military successes.

Al-Muqtafi successfully defended Baghdad against a Seljuk siege led by Sultan Mas'ud. The caliph's forces repelled the attack, solidifying his control over the city and demonstrating the caliphate's renewed military capability.

Al-Muqtafi expanded caliphal territory by conquering several towns in Iraq, including Wasit and Kufa. These conquests restored the caliphate's territorial base and increased its revenue and prestige.

Zhu Zhanji ascended the Ming throne as the Xuande Emperor after the sudden death of his father, the Hongxi Emperor. His reign continued the shift toward civilian governance and cultural patronage, marking a period of stability.

The Xuande Emperor personally led a campaign against his uncle, Zhu Gaoxu, who rebelled in Shandong. The rebellion was quickly crushed, and Zhu Gaoxu was executed, consolidating the emperor's authority and deterring future princely revolts.

The Xuande Emperor formalized the role of the Grand Secretariat, appointing scholar-officials like Yang Shiqi and Yang Rong as senior advisors. This institutionalized a cabinet system that improved administrative efficiency and reduced eunuch influence.

The Xuande Emperor became a renowned patron of painting, calligraphy, and ceramics. He personally oversaw the production of Xuande porcelain at Jingdezhen, which became highly prized for its quality and design, influencing Chinese art for centuries.

The Xuande Emperor maintained his father's policy of suspending Zheng He's treasure fleet voyages, though he authorized a final expedition in 1430-1433. This decision cemented the end of China's era of naval exploration and shifted focus to land borders.

The Xuande Emperor died at age 36, likely from illness, after a reign of ten years. He was succeeded by his young son Zhu Qizhen, whose minority led to a regency and later the Tumu Crisis, undoing much of Xuande's stability.