Under Harun al-Rashid the Abbasid caliphate reached the height of its power and his court at Baghdad was famous for its splendour. His empire extended from the Mediterranean to India. He gave control of state affairs to Yahya, his Grand Vizier.

Harun was a patron of the arts and of learning. He often traveled about his city at night in disguise. He is known especially as the leading character in the tales of the 'Arabian Nights'

From 'Arabian Nights'