Mihrabanids

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Mihrabanid dynasty
1236–1537
Mihrabanids 1236-Mid-16th century.png
Map of the Mihrabanid dynasty
Capital Zaranj
Common languages Persian
Religion
Sunni Islam
Government Kingdom
Malik  
• 1236–1255
Shams al-Din 'Ali ibn Mas'ud
• c. 1495-c. 1537
Sultan Mahmud ibn Nizam al-Din Yahya
Historical era Middle Ages
• Established
1236
• Disestablished
1537
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Blank.png Nasrid dynasty (Sistan)
Safavid Iran Blank.png

The Mihrabanid dynasty was a Muslim dynasty that ruled Sistan (or Nimruz) from 1236 until the mid-16th century. It was the third indigenous Muslim dynasty of Sistan, having been preceded by the Saffarid and Nasrid dynasties.

Contents

Overview

Most of what is known about the Mihrabanids comes from two sources. The first, the Tarikh-i Sistan, was completed in the mid-14th century by an unknown chronologist and covers the first hundred years of the dynasty's history. The other, the Ihya' al-muluk, was written by the 17th century author Malik Shah Husayn ibn Malik Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad and covers the entire history of the Mihrabanids' rule of Sistan.

The Mihrabanids used the title of malik during their rule of Sistan. A malik could inherit the throne or be appointed by the nobles and military commanders. Their capital was generally the city of Shahr-i Sistan. Outside of the capital, the Mihrabanids frequently had problems asserting their authority over the outer towns of the province, and on occasion had to resort to force in order to bring them into line. The maliks often gave control of these towns to other Mihrabanids. Sometimes the Mihrabanids managed to extend their influence beyond Sistan, such as when parts of Quhistan were conquered in the late 13th century.

Ilkhanate vassals

The Mihrabanids were often vassals of their more powerful neighbors. The Mihrabanids assumed control of Sistan in the wake of its subjugation by the Mongols. After the foundation of the Ilkhanate by Hulegu Khan in 1256 the maliks recognized the Ilkhans as their overlords. Under the Ilkhans, Sistan's distance from the capital gave the Mihrabanids a high degree of autonomy. During this time they intermittently fought against the Kartid maliks of Herat, who were also Ilkhanid vassals, and had replaced them in eastern Persia. [1] By 1289, all of Quhistan had been conquered by the Mihrabanids, with Nasir al-Din Muhammad giving it to his son Shams al-Din 'Ali as an appanage. [2] After the Ilkhanate's collapse in the mid-14th century the Mihrabanids were independent for almost half a century. This independence was ended by Timur, who invaded Sistan in 1383 and caused extensive devastation to the province. The Mihrabanids henceforth were Timurid vassals until the latter's overthrow by the Shaybanids in the first decade of the 16th century. The last malik of the dynasty decided to recognize the authority of the Safavids, eventually handing over control of Sistan and ending the Mihrabanids' governance of the region.

Both the Mihrabanids and the general population of Sistan were Sunni Muslims. In the early 16th century Malik Sultan Mahmud became a Safavid vassal; as a result certain Shi'i religious practices were introduced, such as the Shi'i call to prayer. This transition was disliked by many of the people of Sistan. [3]

Mihrabanid maliks

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Farhad Daftary, A Short History of the Ismailis: Traditions of a Muslim Community, (Edinburgh University Press, 1998), 163.
  2. ↑ Farhad Daftary, The Isma'ilis: Their History and Doctrines, (Cambridge University Press, 2007), 411.
  3. ↑ C.E. Bosworth, The History of the Saffarids of Sistan and the Maliks of Nimruz (247/861 to 949/1542-3), (Mazda Publishers, 1994), 475-6.

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Shams al-Din 'Ali ibn Mas'ud ibn Khalaf ibn Mihraban was the first Mihrabanid Malik of Sistan. He ruled from 1236 until his death.

Qutb al-Din Muhammad was the Mihrabanid malik of Sistan from 1330 until his death. He was the son of Rukn al-Din Mahmud.

Taj al-Din was the Mihrabanid king (malik) of Sistan from 1346 until 1350. He was the son of Qutb al-Din Muhammad.

Jalal al-Din Mahmud was the Mihrabanid malik of Sistan from 1350 until his death. He was the son of Rukn al-Din Mahmud.

Izz al-Din was the Mihrabanid malik of Sistan from 1352 until 1380. He was the son of Rukn al-Din Mahmud.

Qutb al-Din was the Mihrabanid malik of Sistan from 1380 until 1383. He was the son of Izz al-Din ibn Rukn al-Din Mahmud.

Nusrat al-Din Muhammad was the Mihrabanid malik of Sistan from 1318 until his death. He was the son of Nasir al-Din Muhammad.

Taj al-Din Shah-i Shahan Abu'l Fath or Shah-i-Shahan of Sistan was the Mihrabanid malik of Sistan from 1383 until his death. He was the son of Mas'ud Shihna.

Qutb al-Din Muhammad was the Mihrabanid malik of Sistan from 1403 until his death. He was the son of Shams al-Din Shah 'Ali.

Nasir al-Din Muhammad was the Mihrabanid malik of Sistan from 1261 until his death. He was the son of Mubariz al-Din Abu'l-Fath ibn Mas'ud.

Shams al-Din 'Ali was the Mihrabanid malik of Sistan from 1419 until his death. He was the son of Qutb al-Din Muhammad.

Shams al-Din Muhammad was the Mihrabanid malik of Sistan from 1480 until around the end of the 15th century. He was the eldest son of Nizam al-Din Yahya.

Sultan Mahmud was the last Mihrabanid malik of Sistan from c. 1495 until c. 1537.

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References

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