Mardavij

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Mardavij
مرداویج
Gilan
DiedJanuary 935
Isfahan
FatherZiyar
MotherSister of Harusindan
ReligionZoroastrianism

Mardavij (Gilaki/Persian: مرداویج, meaning "man assailant") was an Iranian prince, who established the Ziyarid dynasty, ruling from 930 to 935.

Born to a

Gilan, Mardavij sought to establish a native Iranian Zoroastrian empire akin to the Sasanian Empire that had been conquered in the 7th century by the Rashidun Caliphate and subsequently ruled by Muslims.[1] He first started his career by joining the army of his kinsman Asfar ibn Shiruya. Mardavij, however, later betrayed and killed him, conquering much of Jibal. He then set out to conquer Hamadan, Dinavar and Isfahan from the Abbasid Caliphate, and thereafter declared himself king of Iran
, making Isfahan his capital.

He then defeated the Daylamite military leader Makan ibn Kaki, and conquered Tabaristan in 932. By 934, his authority was acknowledged as far as Shiraz[2] and Ahvaz.[3] However, his goal of recreating the Iranian Empire was ruined when he was murdered by his own Turkish slaves in 935.

Background

Map of northern Iran

Mardavij was born ca. 890 in

Gilan, and Daylam.[5]

Rise to power

Around 913, Mardavij joined the army of

Anushirvan" at his court.[8]

Reign

Iran in the mid-10th century

In the same year, Makan managed to defeat Mardavij, and briefly recover Tabaristan. Makan then extended his rule over most of Gurgan and even took possession of

Samanid ruler Nasr II.[6][4] In 931, Mardavij sent an army against Makan, but the latter defeated Mardavij's forces in a first engagement in 931. Eventually, after Makan's return to Tabaristan from Nishapur, Mardavij personally launched an attack that conquered Tabaristan.[6][4]

Mardavij then aggressively began expanding his domains, by attacking Asfar, who was now residing in Hamadan after his disastrous defeat. In 931, Mardavij managed to defeat and kill Asfar. He then began quickly capturing the

Isfahan,[4] which became his capital. He then appointed his brother Vushmgir as the governor of Amol. Mardavij planned to conquer Baghdad, remove the caliphate, be crowned in Ctesiphon and restore the Iranian empire.[2]

Just after Mardavij's victory,

al-'Amid that Mardavij was planning to eliminate him. Hurriedly leaving Ray, he arrived at and took over Karaj.[9] In 933, Mardavij made peace with the Samanid ruler Nasr II; Mardavij agreed to cede Gurgan to the Samanids and pay tribute for his possession of Ray.[2] Mardavij then began to focus on western Iran, where his troops managed to conquer as far as Ahvaz, and forced Ali, who was now in Shiraz, to once again acknowledge his authority.[2] Mardavij then had a golden throne with jewels, a tunic, and a golden crown made. His crown was reportedly the same shape of the crown of the Sasanian king Khosrow I. He also had a few silver thrones made for his best generals.[citation needed
]

Death

In January 935, shortly before

Rey, south of Tehran.[citation needed
]

Legacy

Mardavij was one of the most notable figures in northern Iran known for preserving and advocating pre-Islamic Iranian customs.[10] During the Pahlavi era, where interest in pre-Islamic Iran was high, Mardavij appeared as the hero in stories and comic strips of children's magazines in the 1960s.[10]

References

  1. ISBN 9781316184301
    . Later on, Mardavij made threats against Baghdad and the caliphate, declaring his intention to restore the Iranian monarchy and the Zoroastrian religion.
  2. ^ a b c d e Madelung 1975, p. 213.
  3. ^ Bosworth 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d e Madelung 1975, p. 212.
  5. ^ a b Madelung 1969, p. 88.
  6. ^ a b c d Nazim 1987, p. 164.
  7. ^ Madelung 1975, p. 211.
  8. ^ Busse 1975, p. 273.
  9. ^ a b Busse 1975, p. 254.
  10. ^ a b Bromberger 2011.

Sources

External links

Preceded by
None
 Ziyarid king
930–935 		Succeeded by
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