Abu-l-Aswar Shavur I bin al-Fadl I
Encyclopedia
Abu-l-Asvar Shavur I bin al-Fadl I ruled as emir of Dvin and then Ganja. Became vassal to Great Seljuqs. Married the sister of David Anholin, king of Tashir. The anonymous chronicle called the Ta'rikh al-Bab wa Sharvan says: "Abu-l-Asvar became strong and the situation of the subjects and the army became orderly." In 1053, he resumed the offensive against the Georgians
and took from them the fortress of Basra, which he supplied with "men, victuals and arms." That same year he sent out his son Abu-Nasr Iskander to assume the duties of viceroy over Dwin and its dependencies. Despite the fact that he now controlled all Arran and ruled over a united Shaddadid emirate, Abu'l-Aswar still found himself a pawn between the two expanding powers, Byzantine
and the Seljuk Turks. Like all the other princes, Kurdish
and Armenian
, who ruled buffer state
s between the two, he could anticipate only a future of vassalage to one or the other.
In 1055, Toghrul Beg advanced through Azerbaijan, stopping off at Tabriz
, where he received the submission of the Kurdish Rawwadid emir of Tabriz, Wahsudan ibn Mamlan. He moved on to Ganja
, where he acknowledged the like subservience of Abu'-Aswar Shawur. Abu'l-Asvar Sharvur (Shuwar), launched a sanguinary raid on Byzantine Armenia between 1055 and 1056. He (or his lieutenants) advanced into the province of Shirak, many inhabitants of which attempted to find shelter behind the walls of Ani. They hastened toward the principal entrance into the city, which led over the river Akhurian, and some made it inside. At nightfall, however, the sentries closed the gates, leaving a great throng of fugitives stranded outside the city. The Shaddadid army, refusing to break stride in the darkness, threw themselves upon the masses huddled at the gates of Ani. They slaughtered a large number without hindrance, took a multitude of captives and much spoil, and returned home in triumph.(see http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0SBL/is_18/ai_n13826854/pg_7, p. 7, p. 15. p. 20)
Georgians
The Georgians are an ethnic group that have originated in Georgia, where they constitute a majority of the population. Large Georgian communities are also present throughout Russia, European Union, United States, and South America....
and took from them the fortress of Basra, which he supplied with "men, victuals and arms." That same year he sent out his son Abu-Nasr Iskander to assume the duties of viceroy over Dwin and its dependencies. Despite the fact that he now controlled all Arran and ruled over a united Shaddadid emirate, Abu'l-Aswar still found himself a pawn between the two expanding powers, Byzantine
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
and the Seljuk Turks. Like all the other princes, Kurdish
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
and Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
, who ruled buffer state
Buffer state
A buffer state is a country lying between two rival or potentially hostile greater powers, which by its sheer existence is thought to prevent conflict between them. Buffer states, when authentically independent, typically pursue a neutralist foreign policy, which distinguishes them from satellite...
s between the two, he could anticipate only a future of vassalage to one or the other.
In 1055, Toghrul Beg advanced through Azerbaijan, stopping off at Tabriz
Tabriz
Tabriz is the fourth largest city and one of the historical capitals of Iran and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. Situated at an altitude of 1,350 meters at the junction of the Quri River and Aji River, it was the second largest city in Iran until the late 1960s, one of its former...
, where he received the submission of the Kurdish Rawwadid emir of Tabriz, Wahsudan ibn Mamlan. He moved on to Ganja
Ganja, Azerbaijan
Ganja is Azerbaijan's second-largest city with a population of around 313,300. It was named Yelizavetpol in the Russian Empire period. The city regained its original name—Ganja—from 1920–1935 during the first part of its incorporation into the Soviet Union. However, its name was changed again and...
, where he acknowledged the like subservience of Abu'-Aswar Shawur. Abu'l-Asvar Sharvur (Shuwar), launched a sanguinary raid on Byzantine Armenia between 1055 and 1056. He (or his lieutenants) advanced into the province of Shirak, many inhabitants of which attempted to find shelter behind the walls of Ani. They hastened toward the principal entrance into the city, which led over the river Akhurian, and some made it inside. At nightfall, however, the sentries closed the gates, leaving a great throng of fugitives stranded outside the city. The Shaddadid army, refusing to break stride in the darkness, threw themselves upon the masses huddled at the gates of Ani. They slaughtered a large number without hindrance, took a multitude of captives and much spoil, and returned home in triumph.(see http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0SBL/is_18/ai_n13826854/pg_7, p. 7, p. 15. p. 20)