Simjurids
Encyclopedia
The Simjurids were a Turkish
dynasty that served the Samanid
amirs of Bukhara
in the 10th century. They played an influential role in the history of eastern Iran
and southern Afghanistan
during this time, and by the second half of the 10th century they had built a semi-independent principality in Khurasan
.
region which acted as a permanent power base.
Their founder and eponym, Simjur al-Dawati, was appointed to various governorships in eastern and central Iran, and helped the Samanids to expand their authority in that region. His son Abu Ishaq Ibrahim was appointed as governor of Khurasan in 944
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, but only held it for a short time. After Ibrahim's death, his son Abu'l-Hasan Muhammad was invested with the governorship of Khurasan and served in that position for almost three decades.
With the ascension of the child Nuh ibn Mansur
to the Samanid amirate, Muhammad was able to gain greater autonomy from Bukhara for himself. He was a key figure in the struggles that wracked the Samanid state in the 970s
and 980s. When he died, his son Abu 'Ali al-Muzaffar took his father's place. Abu 'Ali completely renounced the sovereignty of the Samanids and was able to resist his enemies for some time, but was ultimately captured and executed by the Ghaznavids, another Turkish slave family, who then took over Khurasan.
Turkic peoples
The Turkic peoples are peoples residing in northern, central and western Asia, southern Siberia and northwestern China and parts of eastern Europe. They speak languages belonging to the Turkic language family. They share, to varying degrees, certain cultural traits and historical backgrounds...
dynasty that served the Samanid
Samanid
The Samani dynasty , also known as the Samanid Empire, or simply Samanids was a Persian state and empire in Central Asia and Greater Iran, named after its founder Saman Khuda, who converted to Sunni Islam despite being from Zoroastrian theocratic nobility...
amirs of Bukhara
Bukhara
Bukhara , from the Soghdian βuxārak , is the capital of the Bukhara Province of Uzbekistan. The nation's fifth-largest city, it has a population of 263,400 . The region around Bukhara has been inhabited for at least five millennia, and the city has existed for half that time...
in the 10th century. They played an influential role in the history of eastern Iran
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...
and southern Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
during this time, and by the second half of the 10th century they had built a semi-independent principality in Khurasan
Greater Khorasan
Greater Khorasan or Ancient Khorasan is a historical region of Greater Iran mentioned in sources from Sassanid and Islamic eras which "frequently" had a denotation wider than current three provinces of Khorasan in Iran...
.
History
The Simjurids originated as Turkish slaves (mameluks) for the Samanid amirs. They quickly rose to prominence thanks to their skills as military commanders and governors, along with their extensive estates in the QuhistanQuhistan
Quhistan or Kohistan was a region of medieval Persia, essentially the southern part of Greater Khorasan. Its boundaries appear to have been indeterminate, and the term generally seems to have been applied loosely....
region which acted as a permanent power base.
Their founder and eponym, Simjur al-Dawati, was appointed to various governorships in eastern and central Iran, and helped the Samanids to expand their authority in that region. His son Abu Ishaq Ibrahim was appointed as governor of Khurasan in 944
944
Year 944 was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Africa :* The city of Algiers is founded by the Zirid king Buluggin ibn Ziri....
/5
945
Year 945 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* The Buwayhid Dynasty takes control of Baghdad ....
, but only held it for a short time. After Ibrahim's death, his son Abu'l-Hasan Muhammad was invested with the governorship of Khurasan and served in that position for almost three decades.
With the ascension of the child Nuh ibn Mansur
Nuh II of Samanid
Nuh II was amir of the Sāmānids . He was the son of Mansur I.-Beginning and Middle of Reign:Having ascended the throne as a youth, Nuh was assisted by his mother and his vizier Abu'l-Husain 'Abd-Allah ibn Ahmad 'Utbi. Sometime around his ascension, the Karakhanids invaded and captured the upper...
to the Samanid amirate, Muhammad was able to gain greater autonomy from Bukhara for himself. He was a key figure in the struggles that wracked the Samanid state in the 970s
970s
-Significant people:* Mar Abdisho I, Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, held position 963–986* Eric the Red , Norse Explorer* Richard I of Normandy , Duke of Normandy, r. 942–996...
and 980s. When he died, his son Abu 'Ali al-Muzaffar took his father's place. Abu 'Ali completely renounced the sovereignty of the Samanids and was able to resist his enemies for some time, but was ultimately captured and executed by the Ghaznavids, another Turkish slave family, who then took over Khurasan.
List of Simjuirds
- Simjur al-Dawati
- Ibrahim ibn Simjur
- Muhammad ibn Ibrahim
- Abu 'Ali al-Muzaffar