The
Birth of the Government of the Samaniites
The details about the Samani dynasty
will follow later on. However, in order to remind the readers and to maintain
the sequence of events it is pertinent to say something about its origin here.
Asad bin Saman was a member of a
reputed and respectable family in Khorasan. He had four sons: Noah, Ahmad,
Yahya and Ilyas. During the period when Mamoon Rasheed was staying in Merv,
these four brothers called on him. On the suggestion of his Prime Minister
Fadal bin Sahal, he appointed them to important posts. When Mamoon Rasheed
proceeded to Baghdad after making Ghassan bin Abbad his deputy and the governor
of Khorasan, the latter deputed Noah, Ahmad, Yahya, and Ilyas as the rulers of
Samarkand, Farghana, Shash and Ashrosna, and Herat respectively.
When Mamoon Rasheed sent his famous
general Tahir ibn Husain as the governor of Khorasan, he also maintained the
status quo by retaining them in their posts. However, when Noah bin Asad died
Tahir annexed the regions of Samarkand to Yahya and Ahmad's territories. After
a short time, Ilyas died, this was during Tahir's governorship, Tahir made
Ilyas's son, Abu Ishaq Muhammad, the ruler of Herat. Ahmad bin Asad had seven
sons: Nasr, Yaqub, Yahya, Ismail, Abul Ashas, Ahmad Khanam, Hameed and Asad.
When Ahmad bin Asad passed away, his elder son Nasr succeeded him as the
Governor of Samarkand.
Nasr continued to be given the
governorship of this province until the Tahir family was dethroned from
Khorasan and Yaqub bin Laith Saffar captured it. In 261 A.H., Caliph Motamid
Alallah sent the letter of governorship of Samarkand to Nasr directly. The
Governor of this province used to receive the letter of Governorship from the
Governor of Khorasan. In view of losing control over Khorasan and Yaqub Saffar
gaining control over it, the Caliph thought it best that he should keep his
leadership in Mawaraunnahr. Therefore, the letter was sent from the Caliph's
court with the instruction that he should protect Samarkand from Yaqub Saffar.
Nasr bestowed the state of Bukhara on his brother Ismail and he himself
continued to rule over Samarkand. In 275 A.H., they developed resentment
against each other, which escalated into a military confrontation. Ismail won
and Nasr came to Ismail in chains. Ismail ran to him and kissed his feet, made
him sit on the throne and promised to obey him. They reconciled and both the
brothers began to govern under the name of Ismail. This same Ismail founded the
government of the Samanids, which will be dealt with later on in the narrative.
The
Oath for the Heir Apparent
In Shawwal 261 A.H., Caliph Motamid
held open court and made the proclamation before all the courtiers that his son
Jafar would be the heir apparent and after him his brother Ahmad Mowaffaq.
However, in case Jafar did not reach the age of discretion, then Mowaffaq would
be the Caliph first to be followed by Jafar.
Everyone took an oath on this
proclamation. Jafar was given the title Mufawwad illallah, and made the
Governor of Africa, Egypt, Syria, Mousil, Jazirah and Armenia. Musa bin Bagha
was made his deputy. Abul Wajid was entitled as Nasir li deenillah Al-Mowaffaq
and made the Governor of the Eastern countries, Baghdad, Kufa, the route to
Makkah, Yemen, Kaskar, Ahwaz, Iran, Isfahan, Rayy, Zanjan and Sindh. Two
different flags were made for them. After this oath, Caliph Motamid assigned
the task of punishing the rebel slaves to his brother Mowaffaq.
The
Battle of Saffar
Mowaffaq had hardly set out towards
the rebellious slaves when the Caliph received news that Yaqub Saffar after
capturing and consolidating Khorasan was marching towards the capital with his
army. The Caliph's brother Mowaffaq postponed his expedition against the rebels
and returned to the capital. The Caliph himself left the capital and stayed at
Zafranya and sent his brother Mowaffaq to fight with Saffar. The right flank
was controlled by Musa bin Bagha while the left one was commanded by Masroor Balkhi.
Mowaffaq was in the middle. They fought a very fierce battle from dawn to dusk.
Sometimes Saffar's army retreated and sometimes Mowaffaq's army fell back. The
battle remained indecisive. Meanwhile the Caliph sent another army to aid
Mowaffaq. The arrival of this fresh army spelled defeat for Yaqub bin Laith's
army. Yaqub and his soldiers fled. Mowaffaq and his army looted their camp.
After being defeated Saffar moved towards Khazistan and stayed at Jandisabor.
Mowaffaq could not follow Saffar and went to Wasit. He fell ill and returned to
Baghdad.
While Mowaffaq and Saffar were at
war, Muhammad bin Wasil who had fled after loosing Iran to Saffar found an
opportunity and rebelled, the field of opposition was empty and he recaptured
Iran.
When Saffar went to Jundisabor after
his defeat, the slaves sent a letter to Saffar, goading him to fight against
the Caliph and assuring him of their help. In reply to the letter Saffar quoted
following Verses of Qur'ān:
"Say O Unbelievers ........to
you your religion and to me my religion." (109:1-6)
And sent an army under the command
of Omar bin Sirsi to fight against Muhammad bin Wasil. Omar bin Sirsi expelled
Wasil from Iran and captured it. After fighting with Yaqub Saffar, Motamid sent
Musa bin Bagha to crush the rebellious slaves. Saffar sent a commander to
Ahwaz. It was at Ahwaz that the three armies, the Caliph's, Saffar's and the
slaves' clashed with one another. No one supported the other. Yaqub Saffar left
Jundisabor and went to Sajistan after deputing Aziz bin Sirri in Nishapur and
his brother Omar bin Laith in Herat. These events took place in 261 A.H.
The
Conquest of Wasit
After capturing Jundisabor and
deputing his administrator, Yaqub Saffar had gone to Sajistan. A commander had
been sent to Ahwaz. Finally, the slaves recognized Saffar's conquest of Ahwaz,
made peace with Saffar and turned to Wasit. In Wasit, a Turk commander was in
charge by the order of the Caliph. The Caliph's soldiers could not stand
against the slaves and they defeated him and conquered Wasit. This occurred in
263 A.H.
Ahmad
bin Tuloon's occupation of Syria
In 264 A.H., a Turk named Majoor
ruled over Syria. His son succeeded him after his death. Upon receipt of this
news Ahmad bin Tuloon left his son Abbas as his deputy in Egypt and he went to
Damascus. Majoor's son laid down his arms and Tuloon's men captured Damascus
and all their territories in 264 A.H. He stayed in Syria for two years and
after making satisfactory arrangements, he went back to Egypt in 266 A.H. From
this point, Ahmad bin Tuloon's territory included Egypt and Syria.
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