Majd al-Daula
Encyclopedia
Abu Taleb Rostam, known as Majd al-Dawla, was the Buyid emir of Rayy
, a city in Iran
(997–1029). He was the eldest son of Fakhr al-Daula
. His reign saw the removal of the Buyids as a power in central Iran
.
Abu Taleb Rostam succeeded his father upon the latter's death in 997. At the time he was four years old. His younger brother, Abu Taher
("Shams al-Daula"), meanwhile, became the ruler of Hamadan
. Since both brothers were in the age of minority, power was assumed by their mother Sayyida. Both sons initially declared themselves independent and assumed the title of Shâhanshâh
, but by 1009 or 1010 at the latest had recognized the authority of Baha' al-Daula
, who controlled Fars and Iraq
, and abandoned the title.
In 1006 or 1007, with the assistance of his vizier Abu 'Ali ibn 'Ali, Majd al-Daula attempted to throw off the regency of his mother. Sayyida, however, escaped to the Kurd
Abu Najr Badr ibn Hasanuya, and together with Shams al-Daula they put Ray under siege. After several battles, the city was taken and Majd al-Daula was captured. He was imprisoned by his mother in the fort of Tabarak, while Shams al-Daula took to power in Ray. After a year, Majd al-Daula was released and reinstated in Ray; Shams al-Daula returned to Hamadan. Power continued to be held by his mother.
Majd al-Daula's reign saw the gradual shriking of Buyid holdings in central Iran; Gorgan
and Tabaristan had been lost to the Ziyarid
s in 997, while several of the western towns were seized by the Sallarids of Azerbaijan
. There were also internal troubles, such as a revolt in 1016 or 1017. Towards the end of her life, Sayyida had to prevent Shams al-Daula from seizing Ray from his brother.
When Sayyida died in 1028, the consequences of the political seclusion of Majd al-Daula became apparent. He was soon faced with a revolt by his Dailamite soldiers, and requested the assistance of Mahmud of Ghazni
in dealing with them. Mahmud came to Ray, deposed Majd al-Daula as ruler, and sacked the city, bringing an end to Buyid rule there. One of his sons, Fana-Khusrau
, would attempt to restore the power of the Buyids in the following years, but failed.
Ray, Iran
Rey or Ray , also known as Rhages and formerly as Arsacia, is the capital of Rey County, Tehran Province, Iran, and is the oldest existing city in the province....
, a city in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
(997–1029). He was the eldest son of Fakhr al-Daula
Fakhr al-Daula
Fakhr al-Dawla was the Buyid amir of Jibal , Hamadan and Gurgan and Tabaristan . He was the second son of Rukn al-Daula.-Rise to power and deposition:...
. His reign saw the removal of the Buyids as a power in central Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
.
Abu Taleb Rostam succeeded his father upon the latter's death in 997. At the time he was four years old. His younger brother, Abu Taher
Shams al-Daula
Abu Taher was the Buyid ruler of Hamadan from 997 to 1021. He was the son of Fakhr al-Daula.Fakhr al-Daula died in 997; his elder son Abu Taleb Rostam took power in the bulk of his father's possessions in Jibal. Abu Taher himself gained the governorships of Hamadan and Kirmanshah, and was hence...
("Shams al-Daula"), meanwhile, became the ruler of Hamadan
Hamadan
-Culture:Hamadan is home to many poets and cultural celebrities. The city is also said to be among the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities.Handicrafts: Hamadan has always been well known for handicrafts like leather, ceramic, and beautiful carpets....
. Since both brothers were in the age of minority, power was assumed by their mother Sayyida. Both sons initially declared themselves independent and assumed the title of Shâhanshâh
Shah
Shāh is the title of the ruler of certain Southwest Asian and Central Asian countries, especially Persia , and derives from the Persian word shah, meaning "king".-History:...
, but by 1009 or 1010 at the latest had recognized the authority of Baha' al-Daula
Baha' al-Daula
Baha' al-Daula was the Buyid amir of Iraq , along with Fars and Kerman . He was the third son of 'Adud al-Daula....
, who controlled Fars and 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....
, and abandoned the title.
In 1006 or 1007, with the assistance of his vizier Abu 'Ali ibn 'Ali, Majd al-Daula attempted to throw off the regency of his mother. Sayyida, however, escaped to the Kurd
Kürd
Kürd or Kyurd or Kyurt may refer to:*Kürd Eldarbəyli, Azerbaijan*Kürd Mahrızlı, Azerbaijan*Kürd, Goychay, Azerbaijan*Kürd, Jalilabad, Azerbaijan*Kürd, Qabala, Azerbaijan*Qurdbayram, Azerbaijan...
Abu Najr Badr ibn Hasanuya, and together with Shams al-Daula they put Ray under siege. After several battles, the city was taken and Majd al-Daula was captured. He was imprisoned by his mother in the fort of Tabarak, while Shams al-Daula took to power in Ray. After a year, Majd al-Daula was released and reinstated in Ray; Shams al-Daula returned to Hamadan. Power continued to be held by his mother.
Majd al-Daula's reign saw the gradual shriking of Buyid holdings in central Iran; Gorgan
Gorgan
Gorgan Some east of Gorgan is the Golestan National Park. The city has a regional airport and several universities. Gorgan Airport was opened in September 2005.-Etymology:...
and Tabaristan had been lost to the Ziyarid
Ziyarid
The Ziyarids, also spelled Zeyarids , were an Iranian dynasty that ruled in the Caspian sea provinces of Gorgan and Mazandaran from 928-1043 . The founder of the dynasty was Mardavij , who took advantage of a rebellion in the Samanid army of Iran to seize power in northern Iran...
s in 997, while several of the western towns were seized by the Sallarids of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
. There were also internal troubles, such as a revolt in 1016 or 1017. Towards the end of her life, Sayyida had to prevent Shams al-Daula from seizing Ray from his brother.
When Sayyida died in 1028, the consequences of the political seclusion of Majd al-Daula became apparent. He was soon faced with a revolt by his Dailamite soldiers, and requested the assistance of Mahmud of Ghazni
Mahmud of Ghazni
Mahmud of Ghazni , actually ', was the most prominent ruler of the Ghaznavid dynasty who ruled from 997 until his death in 1030 in the eastern Iranian lands. Mahmud turned the former provincial city of Ghazni into the wealthy capital of an extensive empire which covered most of today's Iran,...
in dealing with them. Mahmud came to Ray, deposed Majd al-Daula as ruler, and sacked the city, bringing an end to Buyid rule there. One of his sons, Fana-Khusrau
Fana-Khusrau
Fana-Khusrau was a son of the Buyid amir Majd al-Daula.Fana-Khusrau attempted to recreate his father's state in central Iran, which had been overrun by the Ghaznavids in 1029. However, despite the defeat of the Ghaznavids by the Seljuks in 1040, Fana-Khusrau was not successful in his attempts...
, would attempt to restore the power of the Buyids in the following years, but failed.