This Day in History: 0766-03-17

(17 March) The 5th Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid was born in Ray (now in Iran). He ascended the throne in September 786 at the age of 20. During his reign, the dynasty’s power and prosperity were at their peak. Harun was also a great patron of the arts and scholarship and inspired a great cultural renaissance.