Saffarid dynasty

سلسله صفاریان Saffarid dynasty ← 861–1003 → Saffarid Emirate at its Greatest Extent Capital Zaranj Language(s) Persian Government Monarchy Emir  - 867-879 Ya'qub bin Laith as-Saffar  - 963-1003 Khalaf I Historical era Medieval  - Established 861  - Disestablished 1003

The Saffarids or the Saffarid dynasty (Persian: سلسله صفاریان), was an Iranian Persian empire^[1] which ruled in Sistan (861-1003), a historical region in southeastern Iran, southwestern Afghanistan and northwestern Pakistan.^[2]. Their capital was Zaranj.

The dynasty was founded by – and took its name from – Ya'qub bin Laith as-Saffar, a man of humble origins who rose from an obscure beginning as a coppersmith (saffar) to became a warlord. He seized control of the Seistan region, conquering all of Afghanistan, modern-day eastern Iran, and parts of Pakistan. Using their capital (Zaranj) as base for an aggressive expansion eastwards and westwards, they overthrew the Tahirid dynasty and annexed Khorasan in 873. By the time of Ya'qub's death, he had conquered Kabul Valley, Sindh, Tocharistan, Makran (Balochistan), Kerman, Fars, Khorasan, and nearly reached Baghdad but then suffered defeat.^[3]

The Saffarid dynasty and its neighbors in 900 AD.

History of Greater Iran
| until the rise of modern nation-states |
See also
Kings of Persia
Pre-modern
Pre-Islamic  BCE Prehistory Proto-Elamite civilization 3200–2800 Elamite dynasties 2800–550 Bactria-Margiana Complex 2200–1700 Kingdom of Mannai 10th–7th cent. Median Empire 728–550 Achaemenid Empire 550–330 Seleucid Empire 330–150 Greco-Bactrian Kingdom 250-125 Parthian Empire 248–CE 224 CE Kushan Empire 30–275 Sassanid Empire 224–651 Hephthalite Empire 425–557 Kabul-Shahi dynasty 565–670
Islamic  Patriarchal Caliphate 637–651 Umayyad Caliphate 661–750 Abbasid Caliphate 750–1258 Tahirid dynasty 821–873 Alavid dynasty 864–928 Saffarid dynasty 861–1003 Samanid dynasty 819–999 Ziyarid dynasty 928–1043 Buyid dynasty 934–1055 Ghaznavid Empire 975–1187 Ghori dynasty 1149–1212 Seljuk Empire 1037–1194 Khwarezmid dynasty 1077–1231 Kartids dynasty 1231-1389 Ilkhanate 1256–1353 Muzaffarid dynasty 1314–1393 Chupanid dynasty 1337–1357 Jalayerid dynasty 1339–1432 Timurid Empire 1370–1506 Qara Qoyunlu Turcomans 1407–1468 Aq Qoyunlu Turcomans 1378–1508 Safavid Empire 1501–1722* Mughal Empire 1526–1857 Hotaki dynasty 1722–1729 Afsharid dynasty 1736–1750 * or 1736

Iranian Persian Saffarid Soldier.

The Saffarid empire did not last long after Ya'qub's death. His brother and successor Amr bin Laith was defeated in a battle with the Samanids in 900. Amr bin Laith was forced to surrender most of their territories to the new rulers. The Saffarids were subsequently confined to their heartland of Sistan, with their role reduced to that of vassals of the Samanids and their successors.

Founding

The Saffarid dynasty started with Ya'qub-i Laith Saffari who as a coppersmith moved to the city of Zaranj. He later started his campaign as an Ayyar and eventually got the power to act as an independent ruler. From his capital Zaranj he captured vast lands in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan.

Rulers of the Saffarid dynasty

• Ya'qub bin Laith as-Saffar (867-879)
• Amr bin Laith (879-901)
• Tahir I (901-908)
• Laith (908-910)
• Mohammed I of Persia (910-912)
• Amr II (912-913)
• Ahmad I bin Mohammed (922-963)
• Wali-ud-Dawlah (a title) Khalaf I (963-1003)

See also

• History of Afghanistan
• History of Pakistan
• History of Iran
• List of kings of Persia
• List of Muslims

References

External links

• Britannica - Saffarid Dynasty
• Nancy Hatch Dupree - An Historical Guide To Afghanistan