Muhammad bin Musafir
Encyclopedia
Muhammad ibn Musafir was the Sallarid
ruler of Tarum
(before 916–941) and Iranian Azerbaijan
(949). He was the son of Musafir, whose name appears to have been an arabicized form of his Persian
name Asfar/Asvar. Muhammad's original name seems to have been Sallar or Salar (Persian for 'commander'); 'Sallar' would later become a title used by his successors.
In 930 the Dailamite Asfar b. Shiruya ordered Mardavij
to seize Tarum from Muhammad. Mardavij invaded Tarum and laid siege to the fortress of Shamiran, but Muhammad was eventually able to persuade him to revolt against Asfar. With Sallarid support Mardavij killed Asfar's brother and then Asfar himself, taking the latter's territories and founding the Ziyarid
dynasty of northern Iran.
Muhammad's oppressive rule made him unpopular even to his own family. In 941 his sons Marzuban and Wahsudan confined him in a castle. Wahsudan took over the rule in Tarum, while Marzuban went on to conquer Azerbaijan. Muhammad was freed in 949, after Marzuban had been captured by the Buwayhids. Maruzban's Dailamite captains rallied among Muhammad, freeing him and setting him up in Ardebil. He was unable to maintain himself in Azerbaijan for long, however, as he quickly offended the Dailamites and was forced to flee to Tarum. There he was imprisoned for a second time by Wahsudan, and remained in prison until his death, which occurred some time before 953.
Besides his political career, Muhammad was known for building up the fortress of Shamiran. He did so by using expert workmen, promising them high pay but then reducing their status to that of forced laborers.
Sallarid
The Sallarid dynasty was an Islamic Iranian dynasty principally known for its rule of Iranian Azerbaijan and part of Armenia from 942 until 979...
ruler of Tarum
Tarum
Tarum is a moshav in central Israel. Located to the north of Beit Shemesh with an area of 1,800 dunams, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In 2009 it had a population of 568....
(before 916–941) and Iranian Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan (Iran)
Azerbaijan or Azarbaijan , also Iranian Azerbaijan, Persian Azarbaijan is a region in northwestern Iran. It is also historically known as Atropatene and Aturpatakan....
(949). He was the son of Musafir, whose name appears to have been an arabicized form of his Persian
Iranian languages
The Iranian languages form a subfamily of the Indo-Iranian languages which in turn is a subgroup of Indo-European language family. They have been and are spoken by Iranian peoples....
name Asfar/Asvar. Muhammad's original name seems to have been Sallar or Salar (Persian for 'commander'); 'Sallar' would later become a title used by his successors.
Life
Some time before 916 Muhammad became the ruler of Tarum. Like his predecessors, Muhammad forged a marriage alliance with the Justanids of Dailaman by marrying Kharasuya, daughter of the Justanid king Justan b. Wahsudan. This marriage allowed him to intervene in the affairs of the Justanids. In 919 he killed 'Ali b. Wahsudan, who had murdered Justan in order to take the throne for himself. Muhammad also killed Khusrau Firuz b. Wahsudan in battle, although Khusrau Firuz's son Mahdi was able to succeed him in spite of the Sallarid. Despite this, the power of the Sallarids increased at the Justanids' expense.In 930 the Dailamite Asfar b. Shiruya ordered Mardavij
Mardavij
Mardāvīj , was the founder of the Ziyarids dynasty, who successfully defeated the Abbasid's army firstly in Hamadan , and finally in Kashan and Isfahan...
to seize Tarum from Muhammad. Mardavij invaded Tarum and laid siege to the fortress of Shamiran, but Muhammad was eventually able to persuade him to revolt against Asfar. With Sallarid support Mardavij killed Asfar's brother and then Asfar himself, taking the latter's territories and founding the Ziyarid
Ziyarid
The Ziyarids, also spelled Zeyarids , were an Iranian dynasty that ruled in the Caspian sea provinces of Gorgan and Mazandaran from 928-1043 . The founder of the dynasty was Mardavij , who took advantage of a rebellion in the Samanid army of Iran to seize power in northern Iran...
dynasty of northern Iran.
Muhammad's oppressive rule made him unpopular even to his own family. In 941 his sons Marzuban and Wahsudan confined him in a castle. Wahsudan took over the rule in Tarum, while Marzuban went on to conquer Azerbaijan. Muhammad was freed in 949, after Marzuban had been captured by the Buwayhids. Maruzban's Dailamite captains rallied among Muhammad, freeing him and setting him up in Ardebil. He was unable to maintain himself in Azerbaijan for long, however, as he quickly offended the Dailamites and was forced to flee to Tarum. There he was imprisoned for a second time by Wahsudan, and remained in prison until his death, which occurred some time before 953.
Besides his political career, Muhammad was known for building up the fortress of Shamiran. He did so by using expert workmen, promising them high pay but then reducing their status to that of forced laborers.