Muzaffarids (Iran)
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (February 2008) |
Muzaffarids مظفریان | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1314–1393 | |||||||||||||
Capital | Kerman, Shiraz (after 1357) | ||||||||||||
Common languages | Arabic (poetry)[1][2] Persian | ||||||||||||
Religion | Sunni Islam | ||||||||||||
Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||||
Shah | |||||||||||||
• 1314–1358 | Mubariz al-Din (first) | ||||||||||||
• 1391-1393 | Shah Mansur (last) | ||||||||||||
History | |||||||||||||
• Established | 1314 | ||||||||||||
• Disestablished | 1393 | ||||||||||||
|
The Muzaffarid dynasty (Persian: مظفریان) was a Muslim dynasty which came to power in Iran following the breakup of the Ilkhanate in the 14th century. At their zenith, they ruled a kingdom comprising Iranian Azerbaijan, Central Persia, and Persian Iraq. The Muzaffarids were known for their support of Arabic literature. Shah Shoja was a poet and wrote in both Arabic and Persian and was said to be capable of memorizing eight verses of Arabic poetry after hearing them read once.[3] While the Muzaffarid ruler of Kirman, Shah Yahya, commissioned the scholar Junyad bin Mahmud Al-Umari to compile an anthology of Arabic poetry and prose for him[4]
Rise to power
The Muzaffarids were originally from
Sharaf al-Din's son,
In the wake of the loss of Il-Khan authority in central Iran following the death of
After the conquest of Kirman, Mubariz al-Din became a rival of the neighboring
With the destruction of Injuid authority, the Muzaffarids were the strongest power in central Iran, and Shiraz was made their capital. Mubariz al-Din's strength was such that when the khan of the
Mubariz al-Din was known as a cruel ruler, and soon afterwards 1358, his son Shah Shoja blinded and imprisoned him. A temporary reconciliation was reached, but it failed to last and he died, again in prison, in 1363.
Reign of Shah Shoja
Shah Shoja proved to be a less of a tyrannic figure, but he was constantly fighting with his brothers, causing a long period of instability. In 1363 he marched against his first brother Shah Mahmud, who had been given control of Isfahan, although a peace was soon brokered. In the following year however, Shah Mahmud, with the support of his father-in-law Shaikh Uvais of the Jalayirids, invaded Fars and captured Shiraz. Shah Shoja would not be able to reconquer his capital until 1366. Shah Mahmud would continue to play and influential role in Iranian politics, using his marriage alliance to claim Tabriz from the Jalayirids after Shaikh Uvais died in 1374. He occupied the city but soon gave up after he was struck by illness. He died the next year, allowing Shah Shoja to occupy Isfahan.
Shah Shoja then marched on Tabriz himself, but was forced to turn back when internal conditions in Fars deteriorated. His second brother Shah Muzaffar's son, Shah Yahya, rose in revolt in Isfahan. Having to make peace with the Jalayirids, Shah Shoja offered to marry his son Zain Al-Abidin to a sister of the Jalayirid ruler Husain. The Jalayirids refused the offer and invaded, although Shah Shoja managed to prevent them from getting any further than Sultaniyya. Before dying in 1384, he named his son Zain al-Abidin his successor and his third brother 'Imad ad-Din Ahmad as governor of Kirman. Not satisfied with the arrangement, Shah Yahya advanced against Shiraz, but was expelled from Isfahan by the city's populace and was forced to flee to Yazd. On his deathbed, Shah Shoja wrote a letter to Timur, who was then campaigning in Azerbaijan, in which he gave his sons' loyalty to the conqueror.
Muzaffarid decline
When Zain Al-Abidin succeeded his father, he quickly ignored the declaration of loyalty. Timur therefore marched into the Muzaffarid lands. He came to Isfahan, where the governor gave him control of the city, but a rebellion in the city killed any goodwill Timur had, resulting in a slaughter of the populace. Zain Al-Abidin fled from Shiraz in an attempt to make it to the Jalayirids in Baghdad, who were enemies of Timur. However, he encountered Shah Yahya's brother Shah Mansur, who imprisoned him. Shiraz soon fell to Timur. Shah Mansur and 'Imad ad-Din Ahmad, along with other Muzaffarid princes, went to Shiraz to declare their loyalty, whereupon Timur restored them to their positions. The conqueror soon after returned to Transoxiana; Shiraz was given to Shah Yahya.
Unfortunately, the Mozaffarids soon began to resume their local feuding. Shah Mansur began by expelling Shah Yahya from Shiraz, whereupon Shah Yahya again fled to Yazd. Shah Mansur then conquered
Timur, who while campaigning elsewhere took note of these events, decided in 1392 that a campaign against Shah Mansur was in order. Shah Mansur gained the Sarbadar Muluk as his ally; Muluk was sent to defend
Muzaffarid rulers
- Mubariz al-Din Muhammad (1314–1358)
- Shah Shoja (1358-1364)
- Shah Mahmud (at Isfahan) (1364–1366)
- Shah Shoja (1366-1384)
- Zain al-Abidin (1384–1387)
- Shah Yahya (in Shiraz, 1387–1391)
- Sultan Ahmad (in Kerman, 1387–1391)
- Sultan Abu Ishaq (in Sirajan, 1387–1391)
- Shah Mansur(1391-1393)
See also
History of Iran | |
---|---|
3200–2700 | |
Jiroft culture | c. 3100–2200 |
Lullubi Kingdom/Zamua | c. 3100-675 |
Elam | 2700–539 |
Marhaši | c. 2550-2020 |
Oxus Civilization | c. 2400–1700 |
Akkadian Empire | 2400–2150 |
Kassites | c. 1500–1155 |
Avestan period | c. 1500–500 |
Neo-Assyrian Empire | 911–609 |
Urartu | 860–590 |
Mannaea | 850–616 |
Zikirti | 750-521 |
Saparda | 720-670 |