'Izz al-Daula
Encyclopedia
'Izz al-Daula was the Buyid amir of Iraq
(967–978). He was born Bakhtiyar, and was the son of Mu'izz al-Daula
.
In the spring of 955, Mu'izz al-Daula became very ill and decided to name his son as his successor. Five years later, the caliph officially recognized this by granting Bakhtiyar the title of "'Izz al-Daula". During his father's military expeditions, 'Izz al-Daula ruled in Baghdad
. Mu'izz al-Daula died in 967, leaving behind several pieces of advice for his son. He recommended keeping the services of the Turkish commander Sebük-Tegin, respecting the wishes of the Turks, recognizing his uncle Rukn al-Daula
, who ruled northern Persia
, as senior amir, and respecting his cousin 'Adud al-Daula
, who ruled from Fars. He also gave a strategy for dealing with the Hamdanids of Mosul
.
'Izz al-Daula continued his father's policy of fighting the Shahinids who ruled the Iraqi marshlands, but he was unable to overcome them. At the same time, he ignored the border with the Byzantine Empire
, considering this to be a matter for the caliph
to handle. When the Byzantines under John I Tzimisces overran much of northern Mesopotamia
in 971, he did not even return to Baghdad. The person who took it upon himself to defend Iraq was Sebük-Tegin, who felt himself to be increasingly alienated from the Buyid.
'Izz al-Daula also had financial problems; in 973 he invaded the Amirate of Mosul, against the advice his father had left him. The campaign was a disaster; the Hamdanids marched on Baghdad, while Sebük-Tegin was probably secretly supporting them. The Buyid amir then tried to solve his financial difficulties by seizing the Turkish fiefs, most of which were in Khuzestan. At the same time, he dismissed Sebük-Tegin from his post. The Turk revolted, forcing 'Izz al-Daula to entrench himself in Wasit
. He rejected Sebük-Tegin's offer to relinquish Baghdad in exchange of southern Iraq. The Turk then marched on Wasit, and laid siege to the city.
At this point, Rukn al-Daula ordered 'Adud al-Daula to march on Wasit and relieve 'Izz al-Daula. The choice of 'Adud al-Daula was somewhat curious; he had earlier advocated the removal of 'Izz al-Daula due to the latter's perceived incompetence, and had granted asylum to a brother of the Iraqi amir that had launched a failed rebellion in Basra
. Despite this, 'Adud al-Daula complied with the order, although he traveled as slow as possible in order to give Sebük-Tegin the chance to overpower Wasit.
'Izz al-Daula, however, managed to hold out, and Sebük-Tegin died during the siege. 'Adud al-Daula therefore eventually decided to restore him in Baghdad. Shortly afterwards however, a revolt launched by 'Izz al-Daula's Dailamite mercenaries gave 'Adud al-Daula the opportunity to overthrow his cousin. Having done so, he would have ruled Iraq directly, but Rukn al-Daula vehemently opposed this. 'Izz al-Daula was therefore made 'Adud al-Daula's viceroy to Iraq. The latter's departure for Shiraz prompted 'Izz al-Daula to immediately revoke his subservience.
Rukn al-Daula's death in 976 threw the Buyid empire into chaos. 'Izz al-Daula refused to recognize 'Adud al-Daula's succession to the position of senior amir. He took new titles for himself, and married one of the caliph's daughters, signifying the caliph's assent to his policy. 'Adud al-Daula then prepared to invade Iraq. Despite having prepared his army and his allies, 'Izz al-Daula was defeated in Khuzestan in 977 and was forced to retreat to Wasit
. There he raised a new army, but the two cousins then entered into negotiations. After a long while, 'Izz al-Daula was granted freedom of passage to Syria
, in exchange for a promise not to ally with the Hamdanids. When he broke that agreement, hostilities were resumed. Both 'Izz al-Daula and the Hamdanids were defeated in Samarra
in the spring of 978, and the Buyid was captured. He was put to death soon after with 'Adud al-Daula's consent.
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
(967–978). He was born Bakhtiyar, and was the son of Mu'izz al-Daula
Mu'izz al-Daula
Ahmad was the first of the Buwayhid emirs of Iraq, ruling from 945 until his death. He was the son of Buya.During the Buwayhid conquest of Fars, Ahmad distinguished himself in battle. In 935 or 936, Ahmad's oldest brother 'Ali sent Ahmad to Kerman with the task of conquering that province from the...
.
In the spring of 955, Mu'izz al-Daula became very ill and decided to name his son as his successor. Five years later, the caliph officially recognized this by granting Bakhtiyar the title of "'Izz al-Daula". During his father's military expeditions, 'Izz al-Daula ruled in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
. Mu'izz al-Daula died in 967, leaving behind several pieces of advice for his son. He recommended keeping the services of the Turkish commander Sebük-Tegin, respecting the wishes of the Turks, recognizing his uncle Rukn al-Daula
Rukn al-Daula
Hasan , known as Rukn al-Dawla, was the first Buyid amir of northern and central Iran . He was the son of Buya.-Struggle for power:...
, who ruled northern Persia
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, as senior amir, and respecting his cousin 'Adud al-Daula
'Adud al-Daula
Aḍud al-Dawla or Azod od-Dowleh Panah Khusraw was an emir of the Buyid dynasty in Iran and Iraq...
, who ruled from Fars. He also gave a strategy for dealing with the Hamdanids of Mosul
Mosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
.
'Izz al-Daula continued his father's policy of fighting the Shahinids who ruled the Iraqi marshlands, but he was unable to overcome them. At the same time, he ignored the border with the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
, considering this to be a matter for the caliph
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
to handle. When the Byzantines under John I Tzimisces overran much of northern Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
in 971, he did not even return to Baghdad. The person who took it upon himself to defend Iraq was Sebük-Tegin, who felt himself to be increasingly alienated from the Buyid.
'Izz al-Daula also had financial problems; in 973 he invaded the Amirate of Mosul, against the advice his father had left him. The campaign was a disaster; the Hamdanids marched on Baghdad, while Sebük-Tegin was probably secretly supporting them. The Buyid amir then tried to solve his financial difficulties by seizing the Turkish fiefs, most of which were in Khuzestan. At the same time, he dismissed Sebük-Tegin from his post. The Turk revolted, forcing 'Izz al-Daula to entrench himself in Wasit
Wasit
Wasit is a place in Wasit Governorate, south east of Kut in eastern Iraq.-History:During Ottoman times, it was the head city of the sanjak of Wasit.To quote UNESCO:...
. He rejected Sebük-Tegin's offer to relinquish Baghdad in exchange of southern Iraq. The Turk then marched on Wasit, and laid siege to the city.
At this point, Rukn al-Daula ordered 'Adud al-Daula to march on Wasit and relieve 'Izz al-Daula. The choice of 'Adud al-Daula was somewhat curious; he had earlier advocated the removal of 'Izz al-Daula due to the latter's perceived incompetence, and had granted asylum to a brother of the Iraqi amir that had launched a failed rebellion in Basra
Basra
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
. Despite this, 'Adud al-Daula complied with the order, although he traveled as slow as possible in order to give Sebük-Tegin the chance to overpower Wasit.
'Izz al-Daula, however, managed to hold out, and Sebük-Tegin died during the siege. 'Adud al-Daula therefore eventually decided to restore him in Baghdad. Shortly afterwards however, a revolt launched by 'Izz al-Daula's Dailamite mercenaries gave 'Adud al-Daula the opportunity to overthrow his cousin. Having done so, he would have ruled Iraq directly, but Rukn al-Daula vehemently opposed this. 'Izz al-Daula was therefore made 'Adud al-Daula's viceroy to Iraq. The latter's departure for Shiraz prompted 'Izz al-Daula to immediately revoke his subservience.
Rukn al-Daula's death in 976 threw the Buyid empire into chaos. 'Izz al-Daula refused to recognize 'Adud al-Daula's succession to the position of senior amir. He took new titles for himself, and married one of the caliph's daughters, signifying the caliph's assent to his policy. 'Adud al-Daula then prepared to invade Iraq. Despite having prepared his army and his allies, 'Izz al-Daula was defeated in Khuzestan in 977 and was forced to retreat to Wasit
Wasit
Wasit is a place in Wasit Governorate, south east of Kut in eastern Iraq.-History:During Ottoman times, it was the head city of the sanjak of Wasit.To quote UNESCO:...
. There he raised a new army, but the two cousins then entered into negotiations. After a long while, 'Izz al-Daula was granted freedom of passage to Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, in exchange for a promise not to ally with the Hamdanids. When he broke that agreement, hostilities were resumed. Both 'Izz al-Daula and the Hamdanids were defeated in Samarra
Samarra
Sāmarrā is a city in Iraq. It stands on the east bank of the Tigris in the Salah ad-Din Governorate, north of Baghdad and, in 2003, had an estimated population of 348,700....
in the spring of 978, and the Buyid was captured. He was put to death soon after with 'Adud al-Daula's consent.