Buyid dynasty

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The Buyids, also known as Buwayhids (البويهي), Buwaihids, Buyyids, or Āl-i Būya are an Iranian people who founded a Shi'a dynastic confederation of Persia from Daylaman, a region in northern Iran, on the southern shore of the Caspian Sea.

In pre-Islamic times they had served as mercenaries for the Sasanian kings of Iran, but were independent from their rule. They were considered a formidable military force, especially because of their ability as foot soldiers. Succession of power was hereditary, with fathers dividing their land among their sons. During the time of Harun al-Rashid, the Alid people sought refuge among them.

The start of the Buwayhid confederation was led by Ali b. Buya and his two younger brothers, al-Hasan and Ahmad. After having secured a partnership with an important Persian landowner named Zayd b. Ali al-Nawbandajani, Ali was able to recruit an army to defeat a Turkish general from Baghdad named Yaqut (General) in 934. After that they established power within the crumbling Abbasid empire in the form of a confederation rather than a new empire. The Buwayhids were Persian revivalists. While accepting the titular authority of the caliph in Baghdad, Buwayhid rulers assumed control as the "Grand Vizier". In fact, they used the ancient Sassanid title Shâhanshâh (شاهنشاه), literally king of kings.

During the 900s, Buwayhid dynasties took power in Fars (southwestern Iran, 934-1062); Rayy (977-1029); Jibal (932-1028); Kerman (936-1048). From 945-1055, a Buwayhid dynasty ruled Baghdad and most of Iraq.

During the mid-1000s, the Buwayhid dynasties all fell to the Seljuq dynasty or their allies.

Buwayhid amirs

Major amirs

Generally, the three most powerful Buwayhid amirs at any given time were those in control of Fars, Jibal and Iraq. Sometimes a ruler would come to rule more than one region, but no Buwayhid amir ever exercised direct control of all three regions.

Daylamids of Fars

''Power in Fars seized by the Shabankara Kurdish Chief Fadluya

Daylamids of Rey

To the Ghaznavids.

Daylamids of Iraq

To the Seljuks.

Minor Rulers

It was not uncommon for younger sons to found collateral lines, or for individual Buwayhid members to take control of a province and begin ruling there. Note: the following list is incomplete.

Buwayhids of Basra