Mohammed I of Persia
Encyclopedia
Muhammad ibn 'Ali was amir of the Saffarid amirate from 910
until 911
.
Early in 910
Muhammad’s brother, the Saffarid amir Al-Laith b. 'Ali
, led an army west towards Fars in an effort to wrest it from its ruler, the slave commander Sebük-eri. Since both al-Laith and another brother, al-Mu'addal, were participating in the campaign, Muhammad was left behind in the capital Zarang as al-Laith's representative. The campaign ended in disaster, with al-Laith being captured and sent to Baghdad
; when news of this reached Zarang in early September, Muhammad was hailed as amir in the provinces still part of the amirate. To cement his power, he imprisoned al-Mu'addal, who had managed to avoid being captured by Sebük-eri and had returned to Sistan
.
Shortly after his ascension, Muhammad was forced to deal with the Samanids under Ahmad, who had recently been given a caliphal diploma for Sistan and its subordinate territories in an effort to break the power of the Saffarids once and for all. In response to Ahmad building up his forces in Herat
, Muhammad raised an army himself. Due to financial constraints, much of the army consisted of peasants. He headed north to the frontier and had some minor engagements with the Samanids in March of 911
. However, he was eventually defeated and the peasant contingent fled, forcing him to abandon the expedition.
At this point Muhammad was persuaded by his advisors that he needed the support of al-Mu'addal, who was still in prison. Following his release, al-Mu'addal took control of Zarang, so Muhammad headed to Bust instead. Here a revolt due to excessive taxation by Saffarid authorities had started. It was led by an Ibrahim b. Yusuf-al'Arif, who declared his loyalty to the Samanids. An advance Saffarid army had difficulty putting down the revolt until Ibrahim suddenly disappeared in battle, allowing the Saffarids to retake control of Bust.
Muhammad shortly after entered Bust, but he himself used violently oppressive methods in a desperate attempt to raise money. As a result, the citizens of Bust grew hostile to the Saffarids, and when the Samanid Ahmad arrived before the city, they helped him take it. Muhammad fled but was soon captured and brought back to Bust. In response to the request of the caliph, Ahmad sent Muhammad to Baghdad
. His capture, coupled with the surrender of al-Mu'addal to another Samanid army, allowed the Samanids to briefly take over Sistan.
910
Year 910 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* August 5 – The allied forces of Mercia and Wessex defeat an army of Northumbrian Vikings in the Battle of Tettenhall...
until 911
911
Year 911 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.-Africa:* Rebellion of the Kutama Berbers against the Fatimid Caliphate...
.
Early in 910
910
Year 910 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* August 5 – The allied forces of Mercia and Wessex defeat an army of Northumbrian Vikings in the Battle of Tettenhall...
Muhammad’s brother, the Saffarid amir Al-Laith b. 'Ali
Laith
Al-Laith was amir of the Saffarid amirate from 909 until 910. He was the son of 'Ali ibn al-Laith.In 890 al-Laith and his brother al-Mu'addal helped their father 'Ali escape from imprisonment at the hands of the latter's uncle, the Saffarid amir Amr bin Laith...
, led an army west towards Fars in an effort to wrest it from its ruler, the slave commander Sebük-eri. Since both al-Laith and another brother, al-Mu'addal, were participating in the campaign, Muhammad was left behind in the capital Zarang as al-Laith's representative. The campaign ended in disaster, with al-Laith being captured and sent to Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
; when news of this reached Zarang in early September, Muhammad was hailed as amir in the provinces still part of the amirate. To cement his power, he imprisoned al-Mu'addal, who had managed to avoid being captured by Sebük-eri and had returned to Sistan
Sistan
Sīstān is a border region in eastern Iran , southwestern Afghanistan and northern tip of Southwestern Pakistan .-Etymology:...
.
Shortly after his ascension, Muhammad was forced to deal with the Samanids under Ahmad, who had recently been given a caliphal diploma for Sistan and its subordinate territories in an effort to break the power of the Saffarids once and for all. In response to Ahmad building up his forces in Herat
Herat
Herāt is the capital of Herat province in Afghanistan. It is the third largest city of Afghanistan, with a population of about 397,456 as of 2006. It is situated in the valley of the Hari River, which flows from the mountains of central Afghanistan to the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan...
, Muhammad raised an army himself. Due to financial constraints, much of the army consisted of peasants. He headed north to the frontier and had some minor engagements with the Samanids in March of 911
911
Year 911 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.-Africa:* Rebellion of the Kutama Berbers against the Fatimid Caliphate...
. However, he was eventually defeated and the peasant contingent fled, forcing him to abandon the expedition.
At this point Muhammad was persuaded by his advisors that he needed the support of al-Mu'addal, who was still in prison. Following his release, al-Mu'addal took control of Zarang, so Muhammad headed to Bust instead. Here a revolt due to excessive taxation by Saffarid authorities had started. It was led by an Ibrahim b. Yusuf-al'Arif, who declared his loyalty to the Samanids. An advance Saffarid army had difficulty putting down the revolt until Ibrahim suddenly disappeared in battle, allowing the Saffarids to retake control of Bust.
Muhammad shortly after entered Bust, but he himself used violently oppressive methods in a desperate attempt to raise money. As a result, the citizens of Bust grew hostile to the Saffarids, and when the Samanid Ahmad arrived before the city, they helped him take it. Muhammad fled but was soon captured and brought back to Bust. In response to the request of the caliph, Ahmad sent Muhammad to Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
. His capture, coupled with the surrender of al-Mu'addal to another Samanid army, allowed the Samanids to briefly take over Sistan.