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The Saffarid dynasty

Hamza913

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The Saffarid dynasty was an Islamic Persianate dynasty from Baluchistan that ruled over all of Afghanistan as well as most of Iran and Pakistan. The dynasty started in 861 and ended in 1003, with the capital being Zaranj (a city in southern Afghanistan).

The dynasty was founded by Yaqub Ibn Layth Al Saffar, a coppersmith from Baluchistan who had moved the city of Zaranj. He had moved there to work as an Ayyar, but eventually gained the power to be an independent ruler. Once he became an independent ruler, Al Saffar, in the name of Islam, conquered all of Afghanistan and most of Pakistan which were at the time ruled mostly by Buddhist tribal chiefs. Al Saffar then went on to conquer large portions of Iran, and even came close to overthrowing the Abbasids. This resulted in the Abbasids being forced to accept Al Saffar as the legitimate ruler of previously Abbasid territories.

The dynasty was a great patron of Persian culture, with many famous poets such as Mashriqi, Al Jirjani and Al Sistani emerging under their rule. Once prominent display of their love of Persian culture was when Al Saffar told Al Sistani to compose verses in Farsi rather than Arabic was was originally intended (these verses were composed to celebrate the conquest of Herat).

Silver mines in the Panjshar valley of Afghanistan were used to mint silver coins for the dynasty.

Unfortunately, the dynasty did not last as a major player for long. Yaqub Ibn Layth Al Saffars successor (Amr Saffari) was utterly defeated by the Samanids in 901, reducing the Saffarid dynasty to a minor tributary in Baluchistan.

In 1002, the dynasty was finally ended by Mahmud Ghaznavi, who dethroned Khalaf Ibn Ahmed, the final Saffarid ruler.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saffarid_dynasty
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Saffarid-dynasty
 
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Yes the Iranian Intermezzo period is a very interesting topic. It doesn't get the attention it receives sadly.
 
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