During the Akitu Festival, the King is stripped off of his crown and insignia. The King then kneels in front of the Bel and ask forgiveness of to the gods and promises to do better in the new year. This practice reminds the king of his imperfections and the feeling of being a commoner. Without his crown, he is powerless. This traditioned teaches the king to be humble and trust on their gods.
The Abbasids established the new position of vizier to delegate central authority, and delegated even greater authority to local emirs. The Abbasid dynasty ruled as caliphs from their capital in Baghdad, in modern Iraq, after taking over authority of the Muslim empire from the Umayyads in 750 CE.
