"The research traces how dozens of prized white falcons appeared at the court of the caliphs in Baghdad during the late 800s and early 900s. According to the authors, many of these birds were likely gyrfalcons captured in Scandinavia and Iceland before being transported thousands of kilometres south through Viking and Rus' trade routes."
"Over just a few decades, at least 172 falcons were presented to the caliphs by rival rulers eager to gain prestige and political favour. "Put simply," the authors write, "by the end of the ninth century, the skies of Baghdad were filled with falcons.""
"Falconry was already an important elite pastime in the Islamic world, but it became especially prestigious during the Abbāsid period. Hunting with falcons was closely tied to royal authority, imperial culture, and aristocratic identity. The caliphs spent enormous sums maintaining hunting animals and falconers."
"The article pieces together evidence from Arabic writers, archaeological finds, falconry manuals, genetics, and Viking-Age trade history to reconstruct what may have been one of the most extraordinary luxury trades of the early medieval world."
Large numbers of falcons were sent to Abbasid caliphs in Baghdad during the late ninth and early tenth centuries. In 893, Ismāʿīl b. Aḥmad of the Sāmānid dynasty sent thirty-two falcons, including eleven white ones, to Caliph al-Muʿtaḍid. Over a few decades, at least 172 falcons were presented by rival rulers seeking prestige and political favor. Falconry was a major elite pastime tied to royal authority and aristocratic identity, with caliphs spending vast sums on hunting animals and falconers. Evidence from Arabic writers, archaeology, falconry manuals, genetics, and Viking-Age trade history links many white birds to gyrfalcons captured in Scandinavia and Iceland and transported south through Viking and Rus' routes.
Read at Medievalists.net
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