the principality was annexed to the hammadid kingdom in 1128, before it recovered its independence in 1148. after a period of hammadid rule and a brief interregnum during which the people of tunis sought to elect a new leader, khurasanid rule was restored when abu bakr ibn ismail was smuggled over the city walls at night in a basket. seven months later he was drowned by his nephew abd allah ibn abd al-aziz, who succeeded him.