Institution

Caliphate

Also known as caliph, caliphal

A caliphate is an Islamic state ruled by a caliph, the successor to the Prophet Muhammad as leader of the Muslim community. The principal historical caliphates were the Rashidun, Umayyad, Abbasid and Fatimid, alongside the Almohad Caliphate in the Maghreb. The authority of the caliph was also invoked by many other states, such as the Seljuk, Mamluk and Delhi sultanates, while the Ottomans and the Sokoto Caliphate claimed the title themselves.

Mentioned in 45 profiles

Abbasid CaliphateFoundation, Socioeconomy, Military, Governance, Impact, Decline, SummaryAlmohad CaliphateFoundation, Socioeconomy, Military, Governance, Impact, Decline, SummaryAlmoravid EmpireGovernanceAyyubid EmpireFoundationCarolingian EmpireImpactDelhi SultanateFoundationFatimid CaliphateFoundation, Socioeconomy, Military, Governance, Impact, Decline, SummaryIlkhanateFoundationKhazar KhaganateFoundation, Military, Governance, Impact, SummaryKhwarazmian EmpireImpactMamluk SultanateFoundation, GovernanceMongol EmpireImpactOttoman EmpireFoundation, Governance, DeclineOyo EmpireDeclineRashidun CaliphateFoundation, Socioeconomy, Governance, Impact, Decline, SummarySasanian EmpireGovernance, Impact, Decline, SummarySeljuk EmpireFoundation, GovernanceSokoto CaliphateFoundation, Socioeconomy, Military, Governance, Impact, Decline, SummarySonghai EmpireFoundationUmayyad CaliphateFoundation, Socioeconomy, Military, Impact, Decline, SummaryGhurid SultanateFoundation, GovernanceGhaznavid EmpireFoundation, Socioeconomy, Governance, SummaryRoman EgyptDecline, SummaryMakuriaGovernance, SummaryHafsid SultanateFoundation, Governance, SummarySaadi SultanateGovernanceVolga BulgariaGovernanceEmirate of CórdobaFoundation, Governance, Impact, Decline, SummaryKingdom of NavarreMilitary, SummaryKingdom of LeónMilitaryCaliphate of CórdobaFoundation, Socioeconomy, Military, Governance, Impact, Decline, SummaryKingdom of SwedenFoundationEmirate of GranadaSummaryCrimean KhanateDeclineCaucasian AlbaniaDeclineShirvanshah StateFoundation, Governance, SummaryBuyid dynastyFoundation, Governance, Impact, Decline, SummaryKingdom of JerusalemFoundation, SummaryRashtrakuta dynastyImpactBengal SultanateGovernanceHausa kingdomsImpact, Decline, SummaryArabicSpeakers, SummaryIslamOrigins, Texts, Spread, Community, Legacy, SummaryManichaeismSpreadKingdom of KanoDecline, Summary

Mentioned in 73 state histories

PersarmeniaQarinvand dynastyPrincipality of IberiaUstrushanaMihranid Principality of AlbaniaPrincipality of ArmeniaTurk ShahisCaliphate of Ibn al-ZubayrNajdiyyaArab-Byzantine Condominium of CyprusVolga BulgariaEmirate of Córdobaand 61 more

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Caliphate. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/caliphate
MLA
“Caliphate.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/caliphate. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Caliphate.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/caliphate.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Caliphate’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/caliphate (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻