Buwayhid

From Free net encyclopedia

The Buwayhids or Buyyids or Āl-i Buyeh, were a Shi'ite tribal confederation from Daylam, a region on the southern shore of the Caspian Sea.

In pre-Islamic times they had served as mercenaries for the Sasanian kings of Iran, but were independent from their rule. They were considered a formidable military force, especially because of their ability as foot soldiers. Succession of power was hereditary, with fathers dividing their land among their sons. During the time of Harun al-Rashid, the Alid people sought refuge among them.

The start of the Buwayhid confederation was led by Ali b. Buya and his two younger brothers, al-Hasan and Ahmad. After having secured a partnership with an important Persian landowner named Zayd b. Ali al-Nawbandajani, Ali was able to recruit an army to defeat a Turkish general from Baghdad named Yaqut_(General) in 934. After that they established power within the crumbling Abbasid empire in the form of a confederation rather than a new empire. They were known for the revival of Persian culture. Buwayhid leaders were known as Shâhanshâh (شاهنشاه), literally king of kings.

During the 900s, Buwayhid dynasties took power in Fars (southwestern Iran, 934-1062); Rayy (977-1029); Jibal (932-1028); Kerman (936-1048). From 945-1055, a Buwayhid dynasty ruled Baghdad and most of Iraq.

During the mid 1000s the Buwayhid dynasties all fell to the Seljuks or their allies.

1 Buwayhid amirs
- 1.1 Major amirs
- 1.2 Minor Rulers
2 See also
3 References and links

[edit]

Buwayhid amirs

[edit]

Major amirs

Generally, the three most powerful Buwayhid amirs at any given time were those in control of Fars, Jibal and Iraq. Sometimes a ruler would come to rule more than one region, but no Buwayhid amir ever gained control of all three regions.

Diylamids of Fars

To the Seljuks.

Diylamids of Rey

To the Ghaznavids.

Diylamids of Iraq

To the Seljuks.

[edit]

Minor Rulers

It was not uncommon for younger sons to found collateral lines, or for individual Buwayhid members to take control of a province and begin ruling there. Note: the following list is incomplete.

Buwayhids of Basra