16 moments

1. Birth at Ray

   0763-01-01 · Ray, Tehran Province, Iran

   

   Harun was born at Ray in Jibal, then within the Abbasid Caliphate. His precise birth year is disputed between 763 and 766. The year is disputed in the source; 763 is one of two reported dates.

2. Campaign at Chrysopolis

   0782-01-01 · Chrysopolis (modern Üsküdar), Istanbul, Türkiye

   Harun personally advanced with the main Abbasid army to Chrysopolis, opposite Constantinople, during the 782 campaign. The campaign lasted from spring to summer 782; the source does not provide a more precise date for his arrival at Chrysopolis.

3. Departure for Byzantine campaign

   0782-02-09 · Baghdad, Iraq

   

   As Abbasid heir-apparent, Harun left Baghdad to lead the major 782 expedition into Byzantine Asia Minor. Coordinates represent central Baghdad; the departure site is not specified.

4. Accession prayers at Baghdad’s Great Mosque

   0786-09-14 · Great Mosque of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq

   

   After succeeding his brother al-Hadi, Harun publicly led Friday prayers and received allegiance in Baghdad. The mosque no longer survives at a securely locatable site; coordinates represent central historic Baghdad. The accession date is given by Encyclopaedia Iranica as 14 September 786.

5. Pilgrimage to Mecca

   0793-01-01 · Mecca, Saudi Arabia

   

   Harun was physically present in Mecca during one of the repeatedly documented pilgrimages he made by camel from Iraq. The source supports the year but not a more precise date or pilgrimage location within Mecca.

6. Pilgrimage to Mecca

   0795-01-01 · Mecca, Saudi Arabia

   Harun made another documented pilgrimage to Mecca, reflecting his personal participation in the annual hajj. The source supports the year but not a more precise date or pilgrimage location within Mecca.

7. Court transferred to Raqqa

   0796-01-01 · Raqqa, Syria

   

   Harun relocated the Abbasid court from Baghdad to Raqqa, which became the principal base of his government for most of the remainder of his reign. Coordinates represent Raqqa; the precise court complex is not identified in the source.

8. Pilgrimage to Mecca

   0797-01-01 · Mecca, Saudi Arabia

   Harun returned to Mecca on a further documented pilgrimage. The source supports the year but not a more precise date or pilgrimage location within Mecca.

9. Pilgrimage and Meccan succession settlement

   0802-01-01 · Mecca, Saudi Arabia

   

   Harun was in Mecca on pilgrimage in the year in which he instituted the succession settlement later known as the Meccan Protocols. Encyclopaedia Iranica dates the Meccan Protocols to 802; this source directly establishes the pilgrimage presence.

10. Final documented pilgrimage to Mecca

    0803-01-01 · Mecca, Saudi Arabia

    

    Harun made his last documented pilgrimage to Mecca before the final eastern campaign of his reign. The source identifies 803 as his last pilgrimage but gives no more precise date.

11. Court stay at al-Rayy

    0804-01-01 · Ray, Tehran Province, Iran

    

    Harun and his entourage were at al-Rayy in 804; he reportedly visited the ailing philologist al-Kisa'i there daily. The court’s relocation to al-Rayy is not dated more precisely; 804 is supported by the deaths occurring during this stay.

12. Base at Tyana during the Byzantine campaign

    0806-01-01 · Tyana (near Kemerhisar), Niğde Province, Türkiye

    

    After crossing into Cappadocia, Harun marched to Tyana and established it as his operational base during the invasion. The source supports the year but not a more precise arrival date. Coordinates represent the archaeological site of Tyana.

13. Siege and capture of Herakleia

    0806-01-01 · Herakleia Cybistra (modern Ereğli), Konya Province, Türkiye

    Harun personally led the western half of his forces in the siege and capture of the fortified Byzantine city of Herakleia. The source dates the capture to August or September 806; only year precision is permitted by the required date format.

14. Departure from Raqqa for the 806 invasion

    0806-06-11 · Raqqa, Syria

    Harun personally headed the exceptionally large Abbasid invasion force that departed his residence at Raqqa for Byzantine territory. Coordinates represent Raqqa rather than the unidentified residence site.

15. Arrival at Jorjan on eastern campaign

    0808-11-01 · Gorgan (historic Jorjan), Golestan Province, Iran

    

    Traveling personally toward Khorasan to confront the eastern crisis, Harun reached Jorjan and took possession of property confiscated from Ali ibn Isa. The source gives a November–December 808 range; date is recorded at month precision.

16. Final stay and death at Tus

    0809-03-24 · Tus, Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran

    

    After moving on from Jorjan, Harun reached Tus during his eastern expedition, where he died and was buried near the city. Encyclopaedia Iranica identifies his death in the vicinity of Tus as 24 March 809. Coordinates represent the historic Tus area; the exact death and burial site was at nearby Sanabad.