WI: Abu Muslim Wins Power Struggle With Abbasids

What if Abu Muslim Wins Power Struggle With Abbasids

Abu Muslim led the revolt that deposed the Umayyad Dynasty and installed the Abbasids. Within a few years of taking power the Abbasids had Abu Muslim murdered fearing his power.

My question is what if Abu Muslim was able to maintain a dominate position over the Abbasids. A scenario where the Abbasids are reduced to puppets and the Caliphate is ruled from Abu Muslim's powerbase at Merv. What would be the implications? Would Iranian revolts such as Babak Khorramdin's be avoided? Effects of Merv serving as capital instead of Baghdad?

A couple side notes, whenever Abu Muslim dies the Barmakids family, also from Merv, could maybe replace him as the puppeteers. Also if the Abbasids ever prove too difficult to control they could always be replaced by a Shia dynasty.;)

Interested in everyones thoughts on this.:)
 
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