The origin of the Tulunid state.

The great nation, which some historians call Turk and others Tater, and which includes the peoples of the Terman, the Mongols, and the Tater, occupies a quarter of the earth. The Tater are spread from the river Jihun to the borders of China, and are bordered by three oceans. Given the vast distances, mountains, valleys, and deserts between them and the Arabian Peninsula, which are difficult to cross, they were safe from Arab invasions and conquests, and did not need their alliances or anything else that would necessitate their connection. However, the Turkic peoples, since the time of the Rashidun Caliphs, began to invade the lands of the Tater, which led to their expansion into their lands. The Arabs also did the same, conquering lands beyond Turkestan and beyond, which led to the two nations clashing and disputing, resulting in long wars between them in various places.

The two sides exchanged prisoners, with the Arabs sending Turkic prisoners to the lands of the Caliphate, where they were employed in the palaces of the Caliphs and the homes of the Emirs, and were called Mamluks. The Mamluks who were in the Caliphs' courts were often distinguished by their physical and intellectual strength, and they gradually drew closer to their masters until they were employed in their palaces.

In the beginning, the Mamluks were from the people of the steppes and were far from virtue and religious practices, and they did not know how to read. However, they became civilized and enlightened through their adoption of the Islamic religion, and gradually trained in state affairs, excelling in politics, administration, and management. Their prestige grew in the eyes of the Caliphs. When the governors of the provinces became numerous, the Caliphs began to entrust them with the governorship of the provinces, and many people from the land came to their aid when needed. The Caliphs did not have many supporters, so they relied on them. However, they spent large sums of money to buy them, selecting the most distinguished among them in appearance, strength, and intelligence, to enter their personal service.

This is what Caliph Al-Mu'tasim did. He wished to strengthen his retinue, so he bought thousands of these Mamluks in addition to those he already had, and trained them in the use of weapons and integrated them into the army, so that he could choose from them as he pleased to accompany his entourage. Their pride grew, and they began to act outrageously towards those around them, and complaints against them increased, and chaos spread in Baghdad until Al-Mu'tasim was forced to build the city of Samarra to reside with them.

Al-Mu'tasim also had a Mamluk leader named "Tulun" from the Qayli tribe.