Asfar ibn Shiruya
Asfar ibn Shiruya (Gilaki/Persian: اسفار بن شیرویه: died 931) was an Iranian military leader of Gilaki origin, active in northern Iran (esp. Tabaristan and Jibal) in the early 10th century. He played a major role in the succession disputes of the Alids of Tabaristan, and managed to establish himself as the ruler of Tabaristan and northern Jibal briefly from 928 to 930.
Name
Asfār is a local Caspian form of Middle Persian aswār, which means "rider, cavalryman". The New Persian form of the word is savār.[1]
Biography
Background and early life
A native of
Rise to power
Asfar is first mentioned in 917, during the succession disputes for control in Tabaristan after the death of the Alid ruler
Reign and downfall
Asfar now expanded his domains over
In 930, Mardavij along with Asfar's brother, Shirzad, were ordered to capture Tarom, the capital of the Sallarid ruler Muhammad ibn Musafir. During the siege, Mardavij, on the urging of Makan and Muhammad, betrayed Asfar by revolting against him. With the aid of Muhammad and Makan, Mardavij defeated and killed Shirzad, including other members of the Varudavand clan. He then marched towards Qazvin, the residence of Asfar. However, Asfar managed to flee. Mardavij thus founded the Ziyarid dynasty, and became ruler of Asfar's former territories.[3]
Asfar was chased into Khorasan, being left no choice but to leave the treasure which he had assembled in the castle of Alamut in Daylam. When Asfar arrived at Bayhaq, however, he went back, aiming to recover his treasure at Alamut. But when he entered Talaqan, a town in Daylam near Qazvin,[4] he was overwhelmed and killed by Mardavij, most likely in 931.[1]
Notes
^ b: Also spelled Wardad Awendan and Vardad-Avandan.
References
- ^ a b c d e f Bosworth 1987, pp. 747–748.
- ^ a b Madelung 1969, p. 88.
- ^ Madelung 1975, p. 212.
- ^ Pellat & Cahen 2012.
Sources
- Bosworth, C. E. (1987). "ASFĀR B. ŠĪRŪYA". ASFĀR B. ŠĪRŪYA – Encyclopaedia Iranica. Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. II, Fasc. 7. pp. 747–748.
- Madelung, W. (1969). "The Assumption of the Title Shāhānshāh by the Būyids and "The Reign of the Daylam (Dawlat Al-Daylam)"". Journal of Near Eastern Studies. 28 (2): 84–108. S2CID 159540778.
- ISBN 978-0-521-20093-6.
- Pellat, Ch; Cahen, Cl (2012). "Ibn ʿAbbād". The Encyclopedia of Islam, Second Edition. BRILL. ISBN 9789004161214.