The Buyid dynasty in
970
The Buyid dynasty, also known as the Buyid Empire
or the Buyids also known as Buwaihids, Buyahids, or Buyyids, were a
Sh?‘ah Persiandynasty that originated from Daylaman in Gilan.
They founded a confederation that controlled most of modern-day
Iran and Iraq in the 10th and 11th centuries.
The founders of the B?yid confederation were ‘Al? ibn B?yah
and his two younger brothers, al-Hassan and A?mad. Originally a
soldier in the service of the Ziy?r?ds of ?abarist?n, ‘Al?
was able to recruit an army to defeat a Turkish general from
Baghdad named Y?q?t in 934. Over the next nine years the three
brothers gained control of the remainder of the 'Abb?sid Caliphate.
While they accepted the titular authority of the caliph in Baghdad,
the B?yid rulers assumed effective control of the state.
The first several decades of the B?yid confederation were
characterized by large territorial gains. In addition to Fars and
Jibal, which were conquered in the 930s, and central Iraq, which
submitted in 945, the B?yids took Kerm?n (967), Oman (967), the
Jaz?ra (979), ?abarist?n (980), and Gorgan (981). After this,
however, the B?yids went into a slow decline, with pieces of the
confederation gradually breaking off and local dynasties under
their rule becoming de facto independent.
The approximate century of B?yid rule, coupled with the rise of
other Iranian dynasties in the region, represents a period in
Iranian history sometimes called the 'Iranian Intermezzo' since it
was an interlude between the rule of the 'Abb?sid Arabs and the
Seljuq Turks. Indeed, as Dailamite Iranians the B?yids consciously
revived symbols and practices of Persia's Sass?nid dynasty. In
fact, beginning with 'Adud al-Dawla they used the ancient Sass?nid
title Sh?hansh?h literally "king of kings".
The Buyid confederation was split between and governed by multiple
members of the dynasty. They nominally recognized the suzerainty of
caliphs of Baghdad, who in reality had no temporal power within the
state. The title used by the Buyid rulers was am?r, meaning
"governor" or "prince". Generally one of the am?rs would be
recognized as having seniority over the others; this individual
would use the title of am?r al-umar?', or senior am?r. Although the
senior am?r was the formal head of the B?yids, he did not usually
have any significant control outside of his own personal amirate;
each amir enjoyed a high degree of autonomy within his own
territories. As mentioned above, some of the stronger am?rs used
the Sass?nid title of Sh?hansh?h. Succession of power was
hereditary, with fathers dividing their land among their
sons.
The B?yid army consisted of their fellow Dailamite Iranians, who
served as foot soldiers, and of the Turkish cavalry that had played
a prominent role in the 'Abb?sid military. The Dailamites and Turks
often quarreled with each other in an attempt to be the dominant
force within the army. To compensate their soldiers the B?yid am?rs
often distributed iqt?'s, or the rights to a percentage of tax
revenues from a province, although the practice of payment in kind
was also frequently used.
Like most Daylamites at the time, the B?yids were originally Zayd?
or Fiver Sh?'as. After taking power in Iran and Iraq, however, they
began to lean closer to Twelver Sh?'ism, possibly due to political
considerations. In fact, the B?yids rarely attempted to enforce a
particular religious view upon their subjects except when in
matters where it would be politically expedient. The Sunn?
'Abb?sids retained the caliphate, although they were deprived of
all secular power. In addition, in order to prevent tensions
between the Sh?'a and Sunni from spreading to government agencies,
the B?yid amirs occasionally appointed Christians to high offices
instead of Muslims from either sect.
Buyid Soldier