In response Response , al-Ma'mun sought Hold the support Supporting of the provincial élites of Khurasan and made moves to assert Statement his own autonomy .

In addition , the pro-Khurasani policies followed by al-Ma'mun 's powerful chief minister , al-Fadl ibn Sahl , and al-Ma'mun 's espousal of an Alid succession in the person of Ali al-Ridha , alienated Influence the traditional Baghdad élites , who saw themselves increasingly marginalized Cause_change_of_position_on_a_scale .