Saffarid dynasty

Saffarid dynasty
صفاریان
←   ← 861–1003 →   →
Saffarid dynasty at its greatest extent under Ya'qub ibn al-Layth al-Saffar
Capital		Zaranj, in what is now modern-day Afghanistan
Languages		Persian (mother tongue)
Religion		Sunni Islam
Government		Monarchy
Emir
•	861–879	Ya'qub bin Laith as-Saffar
•	963–1002	Khalaf I
Historical era		Medieval
•	Established	861
•	Disestablished	1003
Today part of		Countries today Afghanistan Iran Iraq Kyrgyzstan Pakistan Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan

The Saffarid dynasty (Persian: سلسله صفاریان‎‎) was a Muslim Persianate dynasty from Sistan that ruled over parts of eastern Iran, with its capital at Zaranj (a city now in southwestern Afghanistan). Khorasan, Afghanistan and Balochistan from 861 to 1003. The dynasty, of Persian origin, was founded by Ya'qub bin Laith as-Saffar, born in 840 in a small town called Karnin (Qarnin), which was located east of Zaranj and west of Bost, in what is now Afghanistan - a native of Sistan and a local ayyar, who worked as a coppersmith (ṣaffār) before becoming a warlord. He seized control of the Sistan region and began conquering most of Iran and Afghanistan, as well as parts of Pakistan, Tajikestan and Uzbekistan.

The Saffarids used their capital Zaranj as a base for an aggressive expansion eastward and westward. They first invaded the areas south of the Hindu Kush in Afghanistan and then overthrew the Persian Tahirid dynasty, annexing Khorasan in 873. By the time of Ya'qub's death, he had conquered the Kabul Valley, Sindh, Tocharistan, Makran (Balochistan), Kerman, Fars, Khorasan, and nearly reached Baghdad but then suffered a defeat by the Abbasids.

The Saffarid empire did not last long after Ya'qub's death. His brother and successor, Amr bin Laith, was defeated at the Battle of Balkh against Ismail Samani in 900. Amr bin Laith was forced to surrender most of his 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 dynasty began with Ya'qub ibn al-Layth al-Saffar (Ya'qub, son of Layth, the Coppersmith), a coppersmith who moved to the city of Zaranj. He left work to become an Ayyar and eventually got the power to act as an independent ruler. From his capital Zaranj he moved east into al-Rukhkhadj and Zamindawar followed by Zunbil and Kabul by 865. He then invaded Bamyan, Balkh, Badghis, and Ghor. In the name of Islam, he conquered these territories which were ruled mostly by Buddhist tribal chiefs. He took vast amounts of plunder and slaves from this campaign.

The Tahirid city of Herat was captured in 870 and his campaign in the Badghis region led to the capture of Kharidjites which later formed the Djash al-Shurat contingent in his army. Ya'qub then turned his focus to the west and began attacks on Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kerman (Southeastern Iran) and Fars (southwestern Iran). The Saffarids then seized Khuzestan (southwestern Iran) and parts of southern Iraq, and in 876 came close to overthrowing the Abbasids, whose army was able to turn them back only within a few days' march from Baghdad. These incursions, however, forced the Abbasid caliphate to recognize Ya'qub as governor of Sistan, Fars and Kerman, and Saffarids were even offered key posts in Baghdad.

In 901, Amr Saffari was defeated at the battle of Balkh by the Persian Samanids, which reduced the Saffarid dynasty to a minor tributary in Sistan.

In 1002, Mahmud of Ghazni invaded Sistan, dethroned Khalaf I and finally ended the Saffarid dynasty.

Culture

The Saffarids gave great care to the Persian culture. Under their rule, the eastern Islamic world witnessed the emergence of prominent Persian poets such as Fayrouz Mashriqi, Abu Salik al-Jirjani, and Muhammad bin Wasif al-Sistani, who was a court poet.

In the later 9th century, the Saffarids gave impetus to a renaissance of New Persian literature and culture. Following Ya'qub's conquest of Herat, some poets chose to celebrate his victory in Arabic, whereupon Ya'qub requested his secretary, Muhammad bin Wasif al-Sistani, to compose those verses in Persian.

From silver mines in the Panjshir Valley, the Saffarids were able to mint silver coins.

Rulers of the Saffarid dynasty

History of Afghanistan
Timeline
Ancient Indus valley civilization 2200–1800 BC Oxus civilization 2100–1800 BC Aryans 1700–700 BC Median Empire 728–550 BC Achaemenid Empire 550–330 BC Seleucid Empire 330–150 BC Maurya Empire 305–180 BC Greco-Bactrian Kingdom 256–125 BC Parthian Empire 247 BC–224 AD Indo-Greek Kingdom 180–130 BC Indo-Scythian Kingdom 155–80? BC Kushan Empire 135 BC – 248 AD Indo-Parthian Kingdom 20 BC – 50? AD Sasanian Empire 230–651 Kidarite Kingdom 320–465 Hephthalite Empire 410–557
Medieval Kabul Shahi 565–879 Principality of Chaghaniyan 7th–8th centuries Rashidun Caliphate 652–661 Umayyads 661–750 Abbasids 750–821 Tahirids 821–873 Saffarids 863–900 Samanids 875–999 Ghaznavids 963–1187 Ghurids before 879–1215 Seljuqs 1037–1194 Khwarezmids 1215–1231 Qarlughids 1224–1266 Ilkhanate 1258–1353 Chagatai Khanate 1225–1370 Khiljis 1290–1320 Karts 1245–1381 Timurids 1370–1507 Arghuns 1479–1522 Mughals 1501–1738 Safavids 1510–1709 Afsharids 1738-1747
Modern Hotaki Empire 1709–1738 Durrani Empire 1747–1826 Emirate of Afghanistan 1826–1919 Kingdom of Afghanistan 1919–1973 Republic of Afghanistan 1973–1978 Democratic Republic of Afghanistan 1978–1992 Islamic State of Afghanistan 1992–2001 Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan 1996–2001 Interim/Transitional Administration 2001–2004 Islamic Republic of Afghanistan since 2004
Book Category Portal

Part of a series on the
History of Iran
Mythological history Pishdadian dynasty Kayanian dynasty
Ancient period BC Kura-Araxes culture 3400–2000 Proto-Elamite 3200–2700 Elam 2700–539 Akkadian Empire 2400–2150 Kassites c.1500 – c.1155 Neo-Assyrian Empire 911–609 Urartu 860–590 Mannaeans 850–616
Imperial period Median Empire 678–550 BC (Scythian Kingdom) 652–625 BC Neo-Babylonian Empire 626 BC–539 BC Achaemenid Empire 550–330 BC Kingdom of Armenia 331 BC – 428 AD Atropatene 320s BC – 3rd century AD Seleucid Empire 312–63 BC Parthian Empire 247 BC – 224 AD Suren Kingdom 119 BC – 240 AD Sasanian Empire 224–651 Zarmihrids 6th-century – 785 Qarinvandids 550s – 11th century
Medieval period Rashidun Caliphate 632-661 Umayyad Caliphate 661–750 Abbasid Caliphate 750–1258 Dabuyids 642–760 Bavandids 651–1349 Masmughans of Damavand 651–760 Paduspanids 665–1598 Justanids 791–11th-century Alid dynasties 864 – 14th century Tahirid dynasty 821–873 Samanid Empire 819–999 Saffarid dynasty 861–1003 Ghurid dynasty pre-879 – 1141 Sajid dynasty 889–929 Sallarid dynasty 919–1062 Ziyarid dynasty 930–1090 Ilyasids 932–968 Buyid dynasty 934–1062 Ghaznavid Empire 977–1186 Kakuyids 1008-1141 Nasrids 1029-1236 Seljuq Empire 1037–1194 Khwarazmian Empire 1077–1231 Eldiguzids 1135–1225 Atabegs of Yazd 1141–1319 Salghurids 1148–1282 Hazaraspids 1155–1424 Mihrabanids 1236–1537 Kurt dynasty 1244–1396 Ilkhanate Empire 1256–1335 Chobanid dynasty 1335–1357 Muzaffarid dynasty 1335–1393 Jalayirid dynasty 1337–1376 Sarbadars 1337–1376 Injuids 1335–1357 Afrasiyab dynasty 1349–1504 Marashis 1359–1596 Timurid Empire 1370–1507 Kia'i dynasty 1389–1592 Qara Qoyunlu 1406–1468 Aq Qoyunlu 1468–1508
Early modern period Safavid Empire 1501–1736 (Hotaki dynasty) 1722–1729 Afsharid dynasty 1736–1796 Talysh Khanate 1747–1826 Zand dynasty 1750–1794 Qajar dynasty 1789–1925
Modern period Pahlavi dynasty 1925–1979 Interim Government of Iran 1979–1980 History of the Islamic Republic of Iran 1980–present
Related articles Name Monarchs Economic history Military history Wars Chronology

Titular Name	Personal Name	Reign
Independence from the Abbasid Caliphate.
Amir أمیر al-Saffar coppersmith الصفار	Ya'qub ibn Layth یعقوب بن اللیث	861-879 CE
Amir أمیر	Amr ibn al-Layth عمرو بن اللیث	879-901 CE
Amir أمیر Abul-Hasan أبو الحسن	Tahir ibn Muhammad ibn Amr طاھر بن محمد بن عمرو co-ruler Ya'qub ibn Muhammad ibn Amr	901-908 CE
Amir أمیر	al-Layth ibn 'Ali اللیث بن علي	908-910 CE
Amir أمیر	Muhammad ibn 'Ali محمد بن علي	910-911 CE
Amir أمیر	Al-Mu'addal ibn 'Ali المعضل ابن علي	911 CE
Amir أمیر Abu Hafs ابو حفص	Amr ibn Ya'qub ibn Muhammad ibn Amr عمرو بن یعقوب بن محمد بن عمرو	912-913 CE
Samanid occupation 913-922 CE.
Amir أمیر Abu Ja'far ابو جعفر	Ahmed ibn Muhammad ibn Khalaf ibn Layth ibn 'Ali	922-963 CE
Amir أمیر Wali-ud-Daulah ولي الدولة	Khalaf ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalaf ibn al-Layth ibn 'Ali	963-1002 CE
Conquered by Mahmud ibn Sebuktigin of the Ghaznavid Empire in 1002 CE.

Gallery

• 

  The Saffarid dynasty and its neighbors at its peak in 900 CE

• 

  Saffarid Soldier

See also

• Iranian Intermezzo
• Samanids
• Ghaznavids
• List of kings of Persia
• List of Sunni Muslim dynasties

External links

• Encyclopædia Iranica Saffarids