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In Rajab 256 AH the caliph al-Muhtadi was deposed after the people of al-Karkh and the quarters moved to demand their stipends, and he died in the same month. ¹ Musa ibn Bugha and Mufallih entered Samarra after his death. ²

Al-Suyuti says that Musa ibn Bugha came from al-Rayy to kill Salih ibn Wasif for the blood of al-Mu'tazz. He attacked al-Muhtadi in the Dar al-Adl, then restored him after he swore not to side with Salih. Some slave soldiers brought Salih's head, which was paraded around. Then al-Muhtadi wrote to Bakbak to kill Musa and Mufallih, and Bakbak showed Musa the letter, and they agreed to fight him. The Maghariba, the Faraghna and the Ashrusaniyya fought for him until his army was routed, and he was seized and died in Rajab 256 AH. Al-Suyuti says that his caliphate lasted a year less fifteen days. ³

Al-Mas'udi says that Bayakayal met al-Muhtadi at the bridge of Samarra in a great battle, then an ambush came out led by Yarjuj the Turk. Al-Muhtadi hid in the house of Ibn Ju'ayna, and they attacked him and carried him to the house of Yarjuj. The accounts differ on how he was killed: with daggers, by squeezing, by ropes between two boards, by strangling, or with rugs and cushions. Al-Mas'udi dates it to Tuesday, fourteen days before the end of Rajab 255 AH, which differs from the dates in al-Tabari and al-Suyuti. ⁴

The difference between 255 and 256 AH among the sources needs an additional source to decide.