Abi'l-Saj Devdad
Encyclopedia
Abi'l-Saj Devdad was an Abbasid
military commander and the eponym of the Sajid dynasty of Azerbaijan
. His father was named Devdasht.
Haidar during the latter's final campaign against the rebel Babak
in 837 AD. Over the next several decades he served the caliphs in various provinces. In 865 he sided with the caliph al-Musta'in
during the civil war of that year
, and was put in charge of the defense of al-Mada'in
. In the 870s he was sent to Khuzistan to battle the Zanj
rebels.
In 876 Abi'l-Saj joined the Saffarid amir Ya'qub bin Laith
, who had led his army into Khuzistan during his advance into Iraq
against the caliph. He was present during the Battle of Dair al-'Aqul
, which ended in a Saffarid defeat, and reportedly remonstrated Ya'qub after the battle for his bad tactics. Following the defeat, the caliphal regent al-Muwaffq
seized his properties in Iraq
.
In 879 Abi'l-Saj died. His two sons, Muhammad
and Yusuf
, would both go on to have distinguished careers, becoming the first and third, respectively, Sajid governors of Azerbaijan.
Abbasid
The Abbasid Caliphate or, more simply, the Abbasids , was the third of the Islamic caliphates. It was ruled by the Abbasid dynasty of caliphs, who built their capital in Baghdad after overthrowing the Umayyad caliphate from all but the al-Andalus region....
military commander and the eponym of the Sajid dynasty of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan (Iran)
Azerbaijan or Azarbaijan , also Iranian Azerbaijan, Persian Azarbaijan is a region in northwestern Iran. It is also historically known as Atropatene and Aturpatakan....
. His father was named Devdasht.
Career
A member of a Soghdian family from Usrushana, Abi'l-Saj entered into the service of the Abbasids and fought under the AfshinAfshin
Afshin is a common Persian and Turkish given name, derived from the princely title of the rulers of Ošrūsana at the time of the Muslim conquest...
Haidar during the latter's final campaign against the rebel Babak
Babak
Babak may refer to:* Babak Khorramdin , the leader of Khurramites movement who fought against the Abbasid Caliphate.*Babak *Babak Castle*Shahr-e-Babak in Kerman Province*Babek , Azerbaijan*Babek Rayon, Azerbaijan...
in 837 AD. Over the next several decades he served the caliphs in various provinces. In 865 he sided with the caliph al-Musta'in
Al-Musta'in
Al-Musta'in was the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad from 862 to 866. After the death of previous Caliph, al-Muntasir, the Turkish chiefs held a council to select his successor; they would have none of al-Mu'tazz, nor his brothers; so they elected him, another grandson of al-Mu'tasim.The Arabs and...
during the civil war of that year
Caliphal Civil War (865-866)
The Caliphal Civil War of 865-866 was an armed conflict between the rival caliphs al-Musta'in and al-Mu'tazz, fought to determine who would gain control over the Abbasid caliphate. The war, which lasted for about a year, largely revolved around a prolonged siege of Baghdad and ended with al-Mu'tazz...
, and was put in charge of the defense of al-Mada'in
Al-Mada'in
Al-Mada'in, meaning "The cities", is the name given to an ancient metropolis formed by Ctesiphon and Seleucia on opposite sides of the Tigris River in present-day Iraq...
. In the 870s he was sent to Khuzistan to battle the Zanj
Zanj
Zanj was a name used by medieval Arab geographers to refer to both a certain portion of the coast of East Africa and its inhabitants, Bantu-speaking peoples called the Zanj...
rebels.
In 876 Abi'l-Saj joined the Saffarid amir Ya'qub bin Laith
Ya'qub bin Laith as-Saffar
Ya'qub bin Laith as-Saffar or Ya'qub-i Laith Saffari was the founder of the Saffarid dynasty in Sistan, with its capital at Zaranj . He ruled territories that are now in Iran and Afghanistan, as well as portions of West Pakistan...
, who had led his army into Khuzistan during his advance into Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
against the caliph. He was present during the Battle of Dair al-'Aqul
Battle of Dair al-'Aqul
The Battle of Dayr al-`Aqul was fought on April 8, 876 between forces of the Saffarid amir Ya`qub bin Laith and the Abbasid Caliphate. Taking place some 80 km southeast of Baghdad, the battle ended in a decisive victory for the Abbasids, forcing Ya`qub to halt his advance into Iraq.The town of ...
, which ended in a Saffarid defeat, and reportedly remonstrated Ya'qub after the battle for his bad tactics. Following the defeat, the caliphal regent al-Muwaffq
Al-Muwaffaq (vizier)
Abu Ahmad ibn al-Mutawakkil , better known as al-Muwaffaq , was the brother and regent of the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mu'tamid....
seized his properties in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
In 879 Abi'l-Saj died. His two sons, Muhammad
Muhammad Ibn Abi'l-Saj
Muhammad al-Afshin , an Iranian appoined general of Mo'tazed, was the first Sajid amir of Azerbaijan, from 889 or 890 until his death. He was the son of Abi'l-Saj Devdad.-Early career:...
and Yusuf
Yusuf Ibn Abi'l-Saj
Yusuf ibn Abi'l Saj was the Sajid amir of Azerbaijan from 901 until his death. He was the son of Abi'l-Saj Devdad.-War with Armenians and Georgians:...
, would both go on to have distinguished careers, becoming the first and third, respectively, Sajid governors of Azerbaijan.