Barmec

or Barmek, the founder of the family, transmitted the honors conferred on him by the Caliph Abd-al- Malik to his son, Khalid, and from him they pa ed to his son, Yahia, who, becoming tutor to the famous Haroun-al-Raschid, acquired an influence over that Prince; which, with Haroun’s personal affection for the family, carried his sons, Fadl, or Faz], Giaffar, Mohammed, and Mousa, to the highest dignities of the Court. The virtues and munificence of the Bar me cides were, for a long period, displayed under favor of Haroun, as well as to the admiration of his subjects; but one of the brothers, Giaffar, having at last become an object of susp!- cion to the cruel and treacherous caliph, Yahia and his sons were suddenly seized, Giaffar beheaded, and the others condemned to perpetual imprisonment. The year 802 is a igned as the date of this tragedy.