e found the people in great distress, their supply of
dates from Basra having been cut off by the Zott, and resolved to put
them down with all means. After seven months of vigorous resistance,
they at last yielded on condition of safety of life and property. In
January 835 the Zott in their national costume and with their own music
were conducted on a great number of boats through Bagdad. Thence they
were transported to Ainzarba (Anazarba) on the frontier of the Greek
empire. Twenty years later they entered Asia Minor, whence in a later
period they came into Europe, under the name of Athinganoi (Ziganes) and
Egyptians (gipsies).[35]

A far more difficult task lay before Motasim, the subjection of Babak
al-Khorrami in Azerbaijan. Though the name Khorrami is often employed by
the Moslem writers to designate such extravagant Moslem sectaries as
the Hashimiya, the real Khorrami were not Moslems, but Persian
Mazdaqites, or communists. The name Khorrami, or Khorramdini, "adherent
of the pleasant religion," seems to be a nickname. As they bore red
colours, they were also called Mohammira, or Redmakers. Their object was
to abolish Islam and to restore "the white religion." We find the first
mention of them in the year 808, when Harun al-Rashid sent an army
against them. During the civil war their power was steadily increasing,
and spread not only over Azerbaijan, but also over Media (Jabal) and
Khorasan. The numerous efforts of Mamun to put them down had been all in
vain, and they were now in alliance with the Byzantine emperor.
Therefore, in the year 835, Motasim made Afshin, a Turkish prince who
had distinguished himself already in the days of Mamun, governor of
Media, with orders to take the lead of the war against Babak. After
three years' fighting, Babak was taken prisoner. He was carried to
Samarra, led through the city on the back of an elephant, and then
delivered to the executioners, who cut off his arms and legs. His head
was sent to Khorasan, his body was crucified. For long afterwards the
place where this happened bore the name of "Babak's Cross."

In the hope of creating a diversion in Babak's favour, Theophilus in 837
fell upon and laid waste the frontier town of Zibatra. There and in
several other places he took a great number of prisoners, whom he
mutilated. The news arrived just after that of the capture of Babak, and
Motasim swore to take exemplary vengeance. He assembled a formidable
army, penetrated into As