Muhammad Ibn Abi'l-Saj
Encyclopedia
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
.
had long and active careers. In 879 Muhammad was appointed by the Saffarid Amr bin Laith
as his representative in Mecca
. When the amir of Egypt
Ahmad ibn Tulun
died, Muhammad took a leading role in a plot to seize the province from the amir's son Khumarawaih. Despite receiving Abbasid
support, however, the plan ultimately failed due both to defeat at the hands of the Tulunids and infighting between the campaign's leaders.
In 889 or 890 al-Mu'tamid
's brother al-Muwaffaq appointed Muhammad as governor of Azerbaijan. His first challenge came in the form of 'Abd-Allah b. al-Hasan b. al-Hamdani, a rebel who had taken control of Maragha. Muhammad convinced him to surrender in 893 by promising his safety, but once 'Abd-Allah did so he was executed by the Sajid. Maragha was afterwards made Muhammad's capital, though he usually resided in Barda
.
Smbat I
came to the throne of Armenia
in 890, Muhammad had sent him a crown and presents in the name of the caliph, asserting his own authority over Smbat in the process. In 892 Smbat sent diplomats to the Byzantine emperor, Muhammad threatened to attack him. Smbat managed to convince the Sajid not to through diplomatic means. Three years later, however, the Bagratid invaded Georgia
and Albania
. In response Muhammad seized Nakhchivan and Dvin
, but was then defeated and decided to make peace.
At some point in his career Muhammad decided to assert his independence from the caliph, probably by refusing to send the revenue due to Baghdad
. In 898 he assumed the title al-Afshin, the title previously used by the rulers of Ushrusana (Muhammad's family was originally from that province). Soon afterwards he decided to restore his loyalty to the caliph, and was confirmed as governor of Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Muhammad launched another campaign against Smbat, taking Kars
and capturing Smbat's wife and part of his treasury. Dvin was furthermore brought under control. In 899 Muhammad exchanged Smbat's wife for his son Ashot
. Shortly after this he forced the Ardzrunid ruler of Vaspurakan
, Sargis Ashot to submit to his authority. In the meantime his loyalty to the caliph again became uncertain. In 900 he invaded Vaspurakan again after Sargis Ashot's brother, whom Muhammad had taken as a hostage the last time he had invaded, escaped. He left a garrison in Vaspurakan after Sargis Ashot fled and returned to Barda. While preparing another campaign against Smbat, he died of an epidemic in 901. He was succeeded by his son Devdad
.
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....
, from 889 or 890 until his death. He was the son of Abi'l-Saj Devdad
Abi'l-Saj Devdad
Abi'l-Saj Devdad was an Abbasid military commander and the eponym of the Sajid dynasty of Azerbaijan. His father was named Devdasht.-Career:...
.
Early career
Like their father, Muhammad and his brother YusufYusuf 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:...
had long and active careers. In 879 Muhammad was appointed by the Saffarid Amr bin Laith
Amr bin Laith
Amr-i Laith Saffari was the second ruler of the Saffarid dynasty of Iran who ruled .In the beginning he was a mule-hirer. He was Yaqub bin Laith as-Saffar's younger brother who fought alongside his older brother and in 875 became Governor of Herat....
as his representative in Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
. When the amir of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
Ahmad ibn Tulun
Ahmad ibn Tulun
Ahmad ibn Ṭūlūn was the founder of the Tulunid dynasty that ruled Egypt briefly between 868 and 905 AD. Originally sent by the Abbasid caliph as governor to Egypt, ibn Ṭūlūn established himself as an independent ruler.-Biography:...
died, Muhammad took a leading role in a plot to seize the province from the amir's son Khumarawaih. Despite receiving Abbasid
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....
support, however, the plan ultimately failed due both to defeat at the hands of the Tulunids and infighting between the campaign's leaders.
In 889 or 890 al-Mu'tamid
Al-Mu'tamid
This article is about the Abbasid Caliph al-Mu'tamid of Baghdad. For the Andalusi Arabic poet who was also the Abbadid king of Seville, see Muhammad Ibn Abbad Al Mutamid...
's brother al-Muwaffaq appointed Muhammad as governor of Azerbaijan. His first challenge came in the form of 'Abd-Allah b. al-Hasan b. al-Hamdani, a rebel who had taken control of Maragha. Muhammad convinced him to surrender in 893 by promising his safety, but once 'Abd-Allah did so he was executed by the Sajid. Maragha was afterwards made Muhammad's capital, though he usually resided in Barda
Barda, Azerbaijan
Barda is the capital city of the Barda Rayon in Azerbaijan, located south of Yevlax and on the left bank of the Terter river. Once an Armenian town, and later the capital of Caucasian Albania perhaps since the end of the fourth century, Barda became the chief city of the Islamic province of Arran,...
.
Conflict Over Armenia
When the BagratidBagratuni Dynasty
The Bagratuni, Bagratid or alternatively Pakradouni royal dynasty of Armenia was a royal family whose branches formerly ruled many regional polities, including the Armenian lands of Sper|presently Ispir in Tayk Province of the Armenian Kingdom, Bagrevand in Ayrarat Province of the Armenian...
Smbat I
Smbat I
Smbat I , known as "the Martyr", was King of Armenia of the Bagratuni dynasty, son of Ashot I and the father of Ashot II Yerkat and Abas I. His rule was a period of unending wars against the Arab conquerors and the rebellious Armenian nobles...
came to the throne of Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
in 890, Muhammad had sent him a crown and presents in the name of the caliph, asserting his own authority over Smbat in the process. In 892 Smbat sent diplomats to the Byzantine emperor, Muhammad threatened to attack him. Smbat managed to convince the Sajid not to through diplomatic means. Three years later, however, the Bagratid invaded Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
and Albania
Caucasian Albania
Albania is a name for the historical region of the eastern Caucasus, that existed on the territory of present-day republic of...
. In response Muhammad seized Nakhchivan and Dvin
Dvin
Dvin was a large commercial city and the capital of early medieval Armenia. It was situated north of the previous ancient capital of Armenia, the city of Artaxata, along the banks of the Metsamor River, 35 km to the south of modern Yerevan...
, but was then defeated and decided to make peace.
At some point in his career Muhammad decided to assert his independence from the caliph, probably by refusing to send the revenue due 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...
. In 898 he assumed the title al-Afshin, the title previously used by the rulers of Ushrusana (Muhammad's family was originally from that province). Soon afterwards he decided to restore his loyalty to the caliph, and was confirmed as governor of Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Muhammad launched another campaign against Smbat, taking Kars
Kars
Kars is a city in northeast Turkey and the capital of Kars Province. The population of the city is 73,826 as of 2010.-Etymology:As Chorzene, the town appears in Roman historiography as part of ancient Armenia...
and capturing Smbat's wife and part of his treasury. Dvin was furthermore brought under control. In 899 Muhammad exchanged Smbat's wife for his son Ashot
Ashot II
Ashot II the Iron was an Armenian King, the son of King Smbat I. His reign was filled with rebellions by pretenders to the throne, and foreign invasions, which Ashot fought off successfully. This is how he got the epithet the Iron. In 914, Ashot II visited Constantinople to get aid from Byzantine...
. Shortly after this he forced the Ardzrunid ruler of Vaspurakan
Vaspurakan
Vaspurakan was the first and biggest province of Greater Armenia, which later became an independent kingdom during the Middle Ages, centered around Lake Van...
, Sargis Ashot to submit to his authority. In the meantime his loyalty to the caliph again became uncertain. In 900 he invaded Vaspurakan again after Sargis Ashot's brother, whom Muhammad had taken as a hostage the last time he had invaded, escaped. He left a garrison in Vaspurakan after Sargis Ashot fled and returned to Barda. While preparing another campaign against Smbat, he died of an epidemic in 901. He was succeeded by his son Devdad
Devdad Ibn Muhammad
Devdad was the Sajid amir of Azerbaijan for a period in 901. He was the son of Muhammad al-Afshin.Devdad was installed as emir by the army following the death of his father in 901. After a reign of five months he was removed from power by his uncle Yusuf Ibn Abi'l-Saj and the walls of Maragha were...
.