Khwaja Shams al-Din 'Ali
Encyclopedia
Khwaja Shams al-Din 'Ali (d. 1351-52) was the leader of the Sarbadars
of Sabzewar from 1348 until his death.
organization. In 1346 he led a group of pro-dervish Sarbadar chiefs in a coup against the leader of the Sarbadars, Muhammad Aytimur
, who was overthrown and executed on Shams al-din 'Ali's orders.
After the elimination of Muhammad Aytimur, Shams al-Din 'Ali decided not to formally take over the Sarbadar government; he no doubt realized that a counter-coup was probable and that he would not have enough support amongst the partisans of Wajih ad-Din Mas'ud
and the army to maintain his position. Instead he decided to install a compromise candidate, Kulu Isfandiyar
, as the head of the Sarbadars. Despite Kulu Isfandiyar's military credentials, he proved unsuitable as a ruler and was forcibly removed from power after only a year by supporters of Mas'ud's brother, Shams al-Din ibn Fazl Allah
.
One of the first actions of Shams al-Din 'Ali after ascending to the head of the government was to reform the tax administration. In order to avoid his predecessors' failure to pay the military, he increased the revenues of the state and made sure that officials and members of the army were paid in cash. This raised the morale of the military and made it more loyal to him, enabling him to take the offensive against the Ilkhanid claimant Togha Temur
and his allies. Togha Temur was eventually compelled to forfeit any claims of suzerainty over the Sarbadars. An attempt to seize Tus from the Jauni Kurban, a tribe allied to Togha Temur, was on the other hand unsuccessful.
Shams al-Din 'Ali's extreme Shi'i leanings as an associate of the dervish organization had a large influence of his administration of the Sarbadar state. Corruption by government officials was heavily suppressed, which helped increase the state finances and fund both the army and several public works programs. In addition, however, he also set up a system of watchers in the cities of the Sarbadars to look for moral violations. Prostitution, drugs, and alcohol were banned with strict consequences for those who violated the law. Still, after Shams al-Din 'Ali came to power the official religion of the Sarbadar state remained Sunni in order to avoid alienating the more moderate Shi'is and Sunnis of the state.
Although Shams al-Din 'Ali's reform program resulted in a level of prosperity not formerly known in the Sarbadar state, it also made him many enemies. Moderate Shi'is were alarmed with his radical moral restrictions, and corrupt government officials suffered under his harsh anti-corruption measures. Even some dervishes opposed him; one of them, Dervish Hindu-i Mashhadi, unsuccessfully rebelled in Damghan
. His reign came to a sudden end when a government official, Haidar Qassāb, organized his murder after being punished for allowing a tax account to fall into arrears. He was succeeded by a moderate, Yahya Karawi
, in 1351 or 1352.
Sarbadars
The Sarbadars were a mixture of religious dervishes and secular rulers that came to rule over part of western Khurasan in the midst of the disintegration of the Mongol Ilkhanate in the mid-14th century...
of Sabzewar from 1348 until his death.
Biography
Shams al-Din 'Ali was a member of the Sabzewar aristocracy and a leader of one of one of the city guilds. During Shaikh Hasan Juri's lifetime, he had been an adviser to him, and was a supporter of Hasan's dervishDervish
A Dervish or Darvesh is someone treading a Sufi Muslim ascetic path or "Tariqah", known for their extreme poverty and austerity, similar to mendicant friars in Christianity or Hindu/Buddhist/Jain sadhus.-Etymology:The Persian word darvīsh is of ancient origin and descends from a Proto-Iranian...
organization. In 1346 he led a group of pro-dervish Sarbadar chiefs in a coup against the leader of the Sarbadars, Muhammad Aytimur
Muhammad Aytimur
Muhammad Aytimur was the leader of the Sarbadars of Sabzewar from 1344 until his death.-Life:Aytimur was born into a lowly family. He rose to prominence within the Sarbadar state as a military commander under Wajih ad-Din Mas'ud...
, who was overthrown and executed on Shams al-din 'Ali's orders.
After the elimination of Muhammad Aytimur, Shams al-Din 'Ali decided not to formally take over the Sarbadar government; he no doubt realized that a counter-coup was probable and that he would not have enough support amongst the partisans of Wajih ad-Din Mas'ud
Wajih ad-Din Mas'ud
Wajih ad-Din Mas'ud was the leader of the Sarbadars of Sabzewar from 1338/1339 until his death. Under his rule, the Sarbadar state developed its characteristic dual nature as both a secular and radical Shi'i state.-Early Reign:...
and the army to maintain his position. Instead he decided to install a compromise candidate, Kulu Isfandiyar
Kulu Isfandiyar
Kulū Isfandiyār was the leader of the Sarbadars of Sabzewar from 1346 until around 1347.-Career:Kulu Isfandiyar was a military commander under Wajih ad-Din Mas'ud and was one of his supporters. In 1346 was installed as head of state by Khwaja Shams al-Din 'Ali, the head of the pro-dervish party...
, as the head of the Sarbadars. Despite Kulu Isfandiyar's military credentials, he proved unsuitable as a ruler and was forcibly removed from power after only a year by supporters of Mas'ud's brother, Shams al-Din ibn Fazl Allah
Shams al-Din ibn Fazl Allah
Shams al-Din was the leader of the Sarbadars of Sabzewar from 1347 until around 1348.-Reign:Shams al-Din was the son of Fazl Allah and the brother of 'Abd al-Razzaq and Wajih ad-Din Mas'ud. As such, he had significant support amongst the members of the Bashtini gentry and the military. In 1347 they...
.
Head of State
Shams al-Din 'Ali was able to emerge from Kulu Isfandiyar's downfall mostly unscathed. When Shams al-Din ibn Fazl Allah proved himself incapable of paying the army, Shams al-Din 'Ali saw is chance and forced him to abdicate in around 1348. He then assumed control of the government.One of the first actions of Shams al-Din 'Ali after ascending to the head of the government was to reform the tax administration. In order to avoid his predecessors' failure to pay the military, he increased the revenues of the state and made sure that officials and members of the army were paid in cash. This raised the morale of the military and made it more loyal to him, enabling him to take the offensive against the Ilkhanid claimant Togha Temur
Togha Temür
Togha Temür , also known as Taghaytimur, was a claimant to the throne of the Ilkhanate in the mid-14th century. Of the many individuals who attempted to become Ilkhan after the death of Abu Sa'id, Togha Temür was the only one who hailed from eastern Iran, and was the last major candidate who was of...
and his allies. Togha Temur was eventually compelled to forfeit any claims of suzerainty over the Sarbadars. An attempt to seize Tus from the Jauni Kurban, a tribe allied to Togha Temur, was on the other hand unsuccessful.
Shams al-Din 'Ali's extreme Shi'i leanings as an associate of the dervish organization had a large influence of his administration of the Sarbadar state. Corruption by government officials was heavily suppressed, which helped increase the state finances and fund both the army and several public works programs. In addition, however, he also set up a system of watchers in the cities of the Sarbadars to look for moral violations. Prostitution, drugs, and alcohol were banned with strict consequences for those who violated the law. Still, after Shams al-Din 'Ali came to power the official religion of the Sarbadar state remained Sunni in order to avoid alienating the more moderate Shi'is and Sunnis of the state.
Although Shams al-Din 'Ali's reform program resulted in a level of prosperity not formerly known in the Sarbadar state, it also made him many enemies. Moderate Shi'is were alarmed with his radical moral restrictions, and corrupt government officials suffered under his harsh anti-corruption measures. Even some dervishes opposed him; one of them, Dervish Hindu-i Mashhadi, unsuccessfully rebelled in Damghan
Damghan
Damghan is a city in and capital of Damghan County, Semnan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 57,331, in 15,849 families.Damghan is situated from Tehran on the high-road to Mashad, at an elevation of...
. His reign came to a sudden end when a government official, Haidar Qassāb, organized his murder after being punished for allowing a tax account to fall into arrears. He was succeeded by a moderate, Yahya Karawi
Yahya Karawi
Yahya Karawi was the leader of the Sarbadars of Sabzewar from around 1351 until his death.-Reign:Yahya, an aristocrat, came to power after the assassination of Khwaja Shams al-Din 'Ali in around 1351. He had been informed beforehand about the assassination plot, and afterwards protected Shams...
, in 1351 or 1352.