Ziyarid
Encyclopedia
The Ziyarids, also spelled Zeyarids (زیاریان or آل زیار), were an Iranian dynasty that ruled in the Caspian sea provinces of Gorgan
and Mazandaran from 928-1043 (also known as Tabarestan). The founder of the dynasty was Mardavij
(from 927 to 935), who took advantage of a rebellion in the Samanid
army of Iran
to seize power in northern Iran. He soon expanded his domains and captured the cities of Hamadan
and Isfahan
.
Perhaps among the more interesting things from this era is that we know that Abu Rayhan Biruni, the great scientist of the Middle Ages, was supported by Qabus, the ruler of the Ziyarid state, in 1000 in Gorgan. In fact he dedicated his work Chronology to Qabus around 1000 and observed eclipses of the moon from there.
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Another feature is the tower Gonbad e Ghaboos built during this era. The tomb is one of the earliest architectural monuments with a dated inscription surviving in post-Islamic Iran. The tomb, built of fired brick, is an enormous cylinder capped by a conical roof. The circular plan, broken by 10 flanges, is 17 m in diameter, and the walls are 5.2 , thick. The height from base to tip is 49 m. Legend has it, that the body of Qabus was enclosed in a glass coffin which was suspended by chains from the interior dome inside the tower.
(literally Dome of Qabus).
Gorgan
Gorgan Some east of Gorgan is the Golestan National Park. The city has a regional airport and several universities. Gorgan Airport was opened in September 2005.-Etymology:...
and Mazandaran from 928-1043 (also known as Tabarestan). The founder of the dynasty was 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...
(from 927 to 935), who took advantage of a rebellion in 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...
army of 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...
to seize power in northern Iran. He soon expanded his domains and captured the cities of Hamadan
Hamadan
-Culture:Hamadan is home to many poets and cultural celebrities. The city is also said to be among the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities.Handicrafts: Hamadan has always been well known for handicrafts like leather, ceramic, and beautiful carpets....
and Isfahan
Isfahan (city)
Isfahan , historically also rendered in English as Ispahan, Sepahan or Hispahan, is the capital of Isfahan Province in Iran, located about 340 km south of Tehran. It has a population of 1,583,609, Iran's third largest city after Tehran and Mashhad...
.
Perhaps among the more interesting things from this era is that we know that Abu Rayhan Biruni, the great scientist of the Middle Ages, was supported by Qabus, the ruler of the Ziyarid state, in 1000 in Gorgan. In fact he dedicated his work Chronology to Qabus around 1000 and observed eclipses of the moon from there.
Ziyarid Kings
There were 6 rulers (amirs) in this dynasty who ruled as following:- MardavijMardavijMardāvīj , was the founder of the Ziyarids dynasty, who successfully defeated the Abbasid's army firstly in Hamadan , and finally in Kashan and Isfahan...
928-934 - Voshmgeer ZiyarVushmgirVushmgir was a ruler of the Ziyarids from 935 until his death. He was a son of Ziyar. Vushmgir means "quail catcher" in the local Caspian Iranian dialects.-Rise to power:...
934-967 - Zahirodoleh BehsotoonBisutunBisutun was the ruler of the Ziyarids . He was the eldest son of Vushmgir.During his father's lifetime, Bisutun was the governor of Tabaristan. Upon Vushmgir's death in 967 during a hunting expedition, he went to Gurgan to assume power...
967-976 - Shamsol-Mo'ali Abolhassan Ghaboos WushmgirShams al-Mo'ali Abol-hasan Ghaboos ibn WushmgirQabus ibn Wushmagir Qabus ibn Wushmagir Qabus ibn Wushmagir (full name and honorific abol-ḥasan qābūs ben wušmagīr ibn ziyar šams al-maʿālī, ; (r. 977–981; 997–1012, d. 1012) was the Ziyarid ruler of Gurgan and Tabaristan in medieval Iran...
976-1012 (the depicted towerGonbad-e QabusGonbad-e Qābus or Gonbad-e Kāvus ; formerly Dashte Gorgan) is a city in and the capital of Gonbad-e-Qabus County, in the province of Golestān in the northeast of Iran...
is his tomb) - Falakol-Mo'ali Manuchehr GhabusManuchihrManuchihr was the ruler of the Ziyarids . He was the son of Qabus.During his father's reign Manuchihr was appointed as governor of Tabaristan. When, in the early part of the 11th century, a group of army conspirators rebelled against Qabus and took control of the capital Gurgan, invited Manuchihr...
1012-1031 - Anushiravan ManouchehrAnushirvan Sharaf al-Ma'aliAnushirvan Sharaf al-Ma'ali was the ruler of the Ziyarids . He was the son of Manuchihr.Upon his father's death, Anushirvan became the Ziyarid ruler. His ascension was confirmed by Mahmud of Ghazna, in exchange for a promise that tribute would continue to be paid by the Ziyarids...
1031-1043
Family tree
Art and architecture
One of the most famous architectural works of Ziyarid is the Gonbad-e QabusGonbad-e Qabus
Gonbad-e Qābus or Gonbad-e Kāvus ; formerly Dashte Gorgan) is a city in and the capital of Gonbad-e-Qabus County, in the province of Golestān in the northeast of Iran...
(literally Dome of Qabus).
See also
- Full list of Iranian Kingdoms
- List of Shi'a Muslims dynasties